Srinagar, March 10
Nearly 50 years have passed since he got the first award from the Sahitya Akademi for his collection of Kashmiri poems in 1958, today he stands distinguished with the first Jnanpeeth award ever bestowed on any litterateur from Jammu and Kashmir. The award was for his 1999 collection of poems “Siyah Roode Jaren Manz” (amid black showers). Over the decades he has got series of honours ranging from Padmashree to status of Professor Emeritus in Kashmiri at the University of Kashmir, where Prof Rehman Rahi rendered “tireless services to Kashmiri language”. Author of over 24 books at the age of 82, busy in his love for reading at Vecharnag residence on the city outskirts, he was informed about his greatest honour in recognition to his contribution on Friday morning. What has he common with many of his contemporaries is that he comes out with any couplet or verse of great poets of Persian, Urdu, English and Kashmiri depending upon the situation. He has no exact count of the publications, which he “safely” puts at over 24.

“Education, hard work and honesty and many more qualities to become a good human being, I have learnt from my grandfather”, comments his grand daughter, Farukh Faiza Mir, awaiting admission to the post-graduate Department of English at the University of Kashmir. Of the five grandchildren, she is the only one fascinated by her grandfather’s contribution to the literary world, while other grandchildren are abroad with their parents. Ms Farukh Faiza Mir, has been frequenting her grandparents and their youngest daughter, Mir Nausheen Nighat, associated with the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. Two elder doctor sons of the Kashmiri poet and critic, have been working in the USA and the Saudi Arabia, who along with their children are missed by grandparents at this moment of joy and honour. Like the poet and critic, the family members feel it was recognition not only of Prof Rahi’s works but honour to their mother tongue and Kashmiri speaking people.

For his wife, Zareena, it has been an unforgettable association for the past over 53 years. Coming from an educated family of Handwara town of north Kashmir, Mrs Zareena did not come in the way of a keen interest and love for reading and writing over the decades. “I did not stop him from devoting more and more time for the academic activities”, Mrs Zareena said with a smile. She adds that instead of spending time with friends and relatives, he would devote more time to his books as she being a housewife devoted time to the upbringing and education of children, three sons and a daughter. “She has suggested the title ‘Siyah Roode Jaren Manz’ for the collection of poems” that brought the highest honour in addition to other works, comments Rehman Rahi. The first award from Sahitya Akademy had come on his collection “Nau Roz Saba” in 1958. Saying that her husband had no time to devote to children, Mrs Zareena does not hesitate to add that it was his broader guidance in their children’s education. “Even now he finds time to guide, teach and give good pieces of advice to his grandchildren”, she comments. She always looked to her brothers, one of them having got a President’s award for being the best teacher two decades ago. Their daughter, Nausheen, associated with the State Cultural Academy, gives credit to her mother for allowing her father to contribute freely to Kashmiri language and literature.

Born on March 6, 1925, Professor Rehman Rahi married in 1953 and was soon appointed Lecturer in Persian and Urdu at the Gandhi Memorial College, Jammu. After a few months, he was transferred to Amar Singh College, Srinagar, where he served for nine years, and then shifted for a few months to Degree College, Sopore in north Kashmir. He then was shifted then to the then Jammu and Kashmir University at Srinagar in 1962 teaching Urdu and Persian. He also got Masters degree in English. He has been teaching at the University of Kashmir at Srinagar from 1962 to 1974 Urdu and Persian. He was soon shifted to head the newly introduced Department of Kashmiri at the university in 1974 from where he retired in 1985.

Srinagar, March 10
Two persons were killed in a shootout in a search at Aribal, Tral in the south Kashmir district of Pulwama this afternoon.

A Defence spokesman said troops received information that some militants were hiding in Aribal Tral village, 35 km from here, at 4.30 p.m.

Operation was launched to nab the militants, he said. When the area was being sealed, militants opened fire. The fire was returned and in the shootout two civilians were killed.

An exchange of fire between militants still present in the area and security forces, was on when reports came in last, the spokesman added.

However, villagers alleged the civilians were killed by security forces without provocation. — UNI

Srinagar, March 10
One person was critically injured in a mine blast in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district even as the police today arrested a suspected militant with two grenades, the police said.

Lateef Ahmed Shah was injured after he stepped over a mine planted by militants at Khundroo forest under the Achabal police station, 70 km from here. He has been hospitalised.

A police spokesman said a suspected militant, Javeed

Ahmad Mir, was arrested in Kupwara district and two hand grenades and a huge quantity of medicines which were to be supplied to Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists were recovered from his possession. — PTI