The death of
Mahjoor and Masterji closed one phase of Kashmiri poetry. With Nadim's
poetry, a new phase was introduced. Some people claim that Kashmiri poetry
is currently passing through an era which may be t.mp3ed "the Nadim
era".
Nadim* is fifty-four
years old. He was born in Srinagar in 1918.
*NOTE:
This book was published in 1973. Nadim died in 1988. |
Nadim grew up in poverty.
His father died when he was a child, and his mother raised him by herself.
His mother had a great influence on him. She was illiterate, but very
wise. While working at the spinning wheel, she would recite Lal Ded's
sayings to Nadim.
|
Nadim
pursued his studies in great poverty and hardship. He received his B.A.
degree in 1943 and obtained his B.T. degree in 1947.
From his childhood, he
was interested in politics, freedom and progressivism. He was deeply
influenced by the ideas of Bhagat Singh. His poetry is full of these
ideas.
|
The
following is illustrative:
Burn and burn like a
colorful field of  !
Roar and roar like a waterfall!
You are fire
A furious fire of burning youth
Come out
And cross the hills and dales
Raise a st.mp3!
Be a st.mp3!
|
Another
specimen is:
Why should the share
of a laborer
be taken by a capitalist?
Why should a honey bee
circle the flowers and take away their
honey?
|
Nadim
introduced various poetic styles into Kashmiri. He was the first Kashmiri
poet to write in blank verse,  ,
"I Shall Not Sing Today", is a good example of it.
In the beginning, Nadim
composed poetry in English, Hindi, and Urdu. But then he wrote only in
Kashmiri. |
Nadim
has used the Kashmiri language in his poetry with great grace and
craftsmanship. He depicted the beauty and the poverty of Kashmir in all of
his poetry. In this book you will read 
"The Song of a Boatwoman from Dal Lake". It is a good example of
nadim's craftmanship.
|
The
following is another example:
A lost stray cloud
Floating aimlessly with the moon
As if a beggar woman holds a leftover lump
of watery rice
In the corner of her headcover.
|
Nadim
has also composed poetry in the folkstyle. In these folk poems, he has
portrayed the dreams and longings of Kashmiris. The following is
illustrative:
 ,
.
Are we human?
Who says human!
The winter is ahead of us
The pocket is moneyless
The hovel is roofless
And the law is chasing us
Do you care?
I don't care!,
.
|
For
several years Nadim taught at the Hindu High School. After independence,
he was appointed the Assistant Director of Social Education. In 1971, the
Russian government gave him the Nehru award. He has also been a member of
the Sahitya Academy. He has travelled to Russia, China, and some other
countries as well.
|
Nadim
has been greatly influenced by communism and by progressive writers.
His poetry has
contributed to Kashmir's struggle for freedom. Nadim also wrote the first
opera in the Kashmiri language, entitled, 
"The Bumblebee and the Narcissus". |
Nadim
has greatly influenced the young Kashmiri poets of today. Even today, he
tries new styles of composing poetry in Kashmiri. Kashmiri poetry is still
going through the Nadim era.
|
Chapter
44
