Bilal Bashir Bhat
Writers are said to be the mirrors of society, and so was Ghulam Nabi Khayal, a veteran journalist, writer, poet, scholar, and author, who throughout his career has been concerned only with professional activities. With no sideshows, no sycophancy, no self-praising on social media, and even in his old age he devotes his time and expertise to important literary causes, making him one of the rare principled professionals in the field.
Born in Gojwara, Hawal area of Old City Srinagar to Jalal ud Din Meer and Taja Begum on March 4, 1939, Ghulam Nabi Khayal did his schooling at Islamia School, Rajouri Kadal Srinagar. Khayal a degree holder from the Kashmir University was well versed with English, Urdu, Persian, and Kashmiri languages. He had been a visiting professor at the Oriental College, Srinagar, and the Department of Journalism, University of Kashmir, Srinagar.
Ghulam Nabi Khayal received the prestigious Sahitya Akademi (Indian Academy of Letters) Award for his Kashmiri book Gaashiry Munaar (Luminaries), in 1975, however, steadfast and loyal to his principles he returned the award by joining the ranks of writers across the country in 2015 in protest against the murder of Kannada writer MM Kalburgi as well as against what he believed “the spiral of intolerance in country.”
He contributed his mite in the fields of literature and journalism for the last 65 years. He has published about three dozen books in English, Urdu, and Kashmiri languages.
Besides being a veteran literary figure, Ghulam Nabi Khayal was a well-known name in journalism in Kashmir who edited Kong Posh and Gulrez, two literary magazines in Kashmiri published in 1955 and 1961 respectively, and Mahaaz, an Urdu weekly, Srinagar, 1964. In a way, he became the pioneer of Kashmiri journalism when he founded the first Kashmiri newspaper Wattan 1965-68, and Iqbal Urdu weekly, 1968.
At the last leg of his life, Khayal was editing English weekly Voice of Kashmir, since 2003, where I had the privilege to mark the beginning of my journalistic career in 2008-09.
As a renowned journalist, Khayal has also been a J&K correspondent for TIME magazine, India Today, New Delhi, Statesman, New Delhi, The Guardian, London, Voice of America, Illustrated Weekly of India, etc.
Khayal throughout his life never endorsed the cosmetic approach of personalities, besides never hesitating to call a spade a spade. There are so many examples wherein he dared to show mirror to concocted storytellers, and opportunist politicians.
Khayal in Jail
Ghulam Nabi Khayal was jailed for two years against a false accusation of lynching the then premier of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Muhammad Bakhshi’s servant Mohiudin in a rally in Dargah Hazratbal Srinagar addressed by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
Khayal was among the dozens of people who were arrested in 1959 on charges of murdering/lynching Bakshi’s servant. However, soon after Khayal completed the translation of the Kashmiri Translation of Rubaiyat-e-Omar Khayyam in jail he was released by the Bakshi Government. He later was given a job at the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, which he quit after two years.
Style of Writing
Influenced by Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Khayal undoubtedly mirrors society and carefully weighs the impartial implications of his writings in English, Urdu, or Kashmiri. He always demonstrates empathy and compassion for others. His regard for veterans like Akhtar Mohi ud Din, Amin Kamil, and Dina Nath Nadim tells his taste of liking. His writings possess a unique combination of traits and qualities that set him apart from the crowd.
90’s era
During the peak of militancy, Khayal reported on several major breaking news stories — most notably, he was ‘kidnapped’ by gunmen to interview Mastgul in Charai Sharief of Budgam. He showed tremendous courage in covering extremely complex and dangerous issues.
Khayal played a vital role in an Israeli tourist’s rescue facing death threats in Srinagar in 1991.
13 July 1964 Event
On July 13, 1964, a big rally was held at Martyrs’ graveyard in Khawaja Bazar Srinagar. Ghulam Nabi Khayal read his poem, “Soan Wattan,” The poem reads:
Yi chchu choun wattan,
Yi chchu myon wattan,
Yemi watnik dawa daar chchi asy.
Sheikh Abdullah who was presiding over the meeting suddenly got into a kind of emotion & got up and started clapping his hands in appreciation of Khayal’s composition with this highly charged scene lasting for more than 15 minutes. He then hugged him and said, “We are proud of you.” The air rented with clipping with many of the participants in a one lakh audience reciting Khayal’s verses loudly:
Yi chchu choun wattan,
Yi chchu myon wattan,
Yemi watnik dawa daar chchi asy.
(This is our motherland, my motherland, we are the claimants of this land).
Electronic Media
Khayal is the script and screenplay writer of the most popular 104-episode TV serial titled Shab Rang. He has produced, directed, and also presented himself another popular weekly programme Newsweek for the same Kendra.
Khayal has been associated with Radio Kashmir and television for the last four decades.
Other television serials produced and directed by Ghulam Nabi Khayal include Zareen Qalam, Meeraas, Gaaye Ja Kashmir, Gaashiry Munaar, The Curse of Dowry etc.
Distinctions
Delegate to International Bangladesh Conference, New Delhi, 1971.Chief guest Jashn-e-Khayal. Organized by Women’s Literary Society, Moradabad, UP, February 1976.
Secretary, All India Urdu Editors Conference, 1976.
Presided over All India Conference on Humour and Satire, Bhopal, October 1982.
Member, General Council, All India Urdu Writers and Journalists Forum, Patna, 1985.
Visited Iraq as the leader of the Indian Press Delegation in 1979 and again in 1989.
Represented the Kashmiri language in All India National Symposium of Poets, New Delhi, January 1982.
Member, Urdu Advisory Committee, National Book Trust, New Delhi, 1986.
Member: Advisory Committee, Iqbal Institute, University of Kashmir
Member: Urdu Advisory Committee, University of Kashmir
Contributions
Ghulam Nabi Khayal’s contributions both in URDU poetry and prose have appeared in magazines like Ajkal New Delhi, Akhbar-e-Nau Delhi, Baaz Yaaft Srinagar, Biswin Sadi Delhi, Insha Calcutta, Pagdandi Amritsar, Tahreek New Delhi, Tameer Srinagar, Hurmat Islamabad, Rahi Jallandhar., Ravi London, Ruby Delhi, Sab Ras Hyderabad, Shabkhoon Allahabad, Shaair Bombay, Sheeraza Srinagar, Saba Hyderabad, Sada London, Fikr-o-Tahqeeq New Delhi, Muaasir Lahore, Maah-e-Nau Lahore, Nigaarish Amritsar, Naya Daur Lucknow, Naya Safar Allahabad, Nida-e-Millat Lahore, Qaumi Digest Lahore, Urdu Duniya New Delhi, and Zindagi Lahore.
Publications:
KASHMIRI: Loluk Partav, Rubaiyat-e-Omar Khayyam, Pragaash, Poetica, Vyoor, Saam Nama, Zanjoori Hund Saaz, Son Adab, Mahmood Gami, Kaashur Nasr, Gaashiry Munaar, Aka Nandun, Medea, Qalam Paarah, Ilhaam, Rubaiyat-e-Omar Khayyam. URDU: Iqbal Aur Tahreek-e-Azadi Kashmir, Khayabaan-e-Kashmir, Karvaan-e-Khayal, Izhaare-Khayal, Fikr-e-Khayal, Khayalaat. ENGLISH: Leaves of Chinar, Chinar Rang, Progressive Literary Movement in Kashmir, My Story My Kashmir
Demise
Ghulam Nabi Khayal passed away at his residence in Sanatnagar on Sunday Morning 15 October 2023, at the age of 85. He is survived by his better-half Rafiqa Jabeen, two sons Kamran and Irfan, and a daughter.
Undoubtedly, with courage, Khayal ventured where others feared to tread, On many occasions as a journalist he unveiled hidden stories, his ink flowed like a river, from his heart to the pages, while crafting poetry, stories, reportage, and articles, in a nutshell, a powerful outrage.
Khayal being my first teacher in journalism, I embrace the beauty and power of his unwavering dedication to the values that underpin our society. Khayal’s work serves as a timeless reminder that, as long as the quest for truth endures, the light of justice and compassion will continue to shine brightly in our part of the world.
