Sufi Ghulam Mohammad, the esteemed founder-editor of the ‘Srinagar Times,’ was not only a prominent journalist but also an impressive short story writer. Known for his integrity and amiable personality, Sufi embarked on his journalistic career as a reporter for the Congress mouthpiece ‘Khidmat.’ Over time, he served as the president of the Kashmir Press Club and the Daily Newspaper Editors Conference, showcasing his leadership and dedication to the field. In 2002, his contributions were recognized when he was nominated for the J&K Legislative Council by then Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.
Born in Drogjan, Srinagar in 1927, Sufi Ghulam Mohammad initially wrote in Urdu until 1950. His first Urdu short story, titled “Jawani ka Janaza,” was published in the magazine “Nizam” in Bombay in 1948. His interest in writing in Kashmiri blossomed during his participation in various literary activities of ‘The Cultural Front Organization.’ Immersed in the company of eminent Kashmiri writers, he found inspiration and began writing in his mother tongue. His debut Kashmiri story, “Chunichoor,” was published in the magazine “Pamposh” in 1950, marking the beginning of a prolific journey. Until 1964, Sufi continued to write in Kashmiri, penning around 50 stories that garnered acclaim. His story collections, “Shish-Ta Sangisthan” and “Lusymit Tarak,” were widely praised, with the latter even earning him the prestigious State Cultural Academy Award. Notable works such as ‘Malded’ and ‘Tunz Khor’ have solidified his place in the history of Kashmiri short-story writing. Sufi Ghulam Mohammad’s stories distinctively revolve around the lives of characters within middle-class society, portraying their surroundings rather than focusing solely on individual personalities.
An incident from the 1980s comes to mind when prominent newspapers in Kashmir with large circulations included ‘Aftab,’ ‘Srinagar Times,’ and ‘Khidmat.’ Sufi Ghulam Mohammad, the chief editor of ‘Srinagar Times,’ was a cheerful and generous person who held profound respect for writers and authors. May be that he was a creative writer himself. My Hindi translation of his stories ‘Tunz-khor’ and ‘Malded’ gained tremendous popularity and found a place in the book “Kashmir Ki Shreshth Kahaniyan” (Rajpal & Sons, Delhi), which I had the privilege to edit and translate.
During my visits to Kashmir during summer vacations, I would make it a point to meet Sufi Sahib, who resided near Dal Gate then. Both at his home and office, he would warmly welcome me and offer tea with great hospitality.
During those days, a remarkable coincidence occurred. I was granted an appointment to meet Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, and present to her some of my books. Around the same time, the Bihar Official Language Department honored me for my Hindi translation of the Kashmiri Ramayana, “Ramavtarcharit.” These noteworthy events received coverage in the press. When Sufi Ghulam Mohammad Sahib learned about these achievements, he insisted that his deputy editor publish a news story about me on the front page, accompanied by my photograph. Although it has been nearly fifty years since that day, the memories of both Indira Ji and Sufi Sahib remain vivid in my mind. How delightful it is to reminisce and immerse oneself in cherished memories of the past!
The writer is former Fellow,IIAS,Rashtrapati Nivas,Shimla, Ex-Member,Hindi Salahkar Samiti,Ministry of Law & Justice (Govt. of India), Senior Fellow, Ministry of Culture (GOVT.OF INDIA).
