Fayaz Dilbar
(1957-2025)
Kashmir on November 9, evening lost one of its most versatile creative minds with the passing of playwright, poet, journalist, and filmmaker Fayaz Dilbar, who died in Srinagar after a major heart attack. He was 68. Dilbar, who had been battling chest-related ailments, suffered the fatal attack around 8 pm. His funeral was held on Monday morning in his native Darbagh, Harwan. He is survived by his wife, artist and printmaker Nasreen Mohsin, and their son.
Born in Maharaj Gunj in 1957, Dilbar grew into a creative force whose work spanned journalism, literature, theatre, and filmmaking. He began his career at Srinagar Times before co-founding the Kashmir News Bureau with writer Imdad Saqi, establishing one of the most active news agencies of the early 1980s. Later, on the suggestion of Vinod Dua, he moved to Delhi in 1988 to join The Sunday Observer, entering a phase in which his journalistic discipline fused with his deepening love for poetry, fiction, and theatre. He went on to work with Hindustan Times, Video News Magazine, and the Observer News Channel, shaping a distinguished media career.
A profoundly gifted storyteller, Dilbar was known for the warmth and wit that coloured both his personality and his prose. Writers and friends recall how he motivated younger voices, listening patiently to poems and stories, offering suggestions, and doing so with a rare charm that blended affection with gentle rebuke. His own literary work, ranging from the Kashmiri Ghazal collection Haarnis Taapas Andar to fiction such as Azizan Bai, Parwaaz, and Rabtaay, was marked by emotional depth and a keen understanding of human relationships.
As a filmmaker, he illuminated social, cultural, and humanitarian themes in documentaries such as Mind Your Steps for the ICRC, Mewat… The Entity for the Aga Khan Foundation, and Know Their Land for SPWD, screened at the Environment and Wildlife Film Festival in New Delhi. His moving film Living Legends documented the Drokpas, while Koshish paid tribute to Indian social activists. He also created a widely appreciated feature on major painters and musicians of India, capturing icons like MF Husain, SH Raza, Ustad Bismillah Khan, and Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Dilbar wrote screenplays and dialogues for works including Bandhan, Tanha Tanha, Lakeerein, and Sone Ka Khazana, and earned acclaim for stage plays such as Mai Tu Oor Amrita and Gudiya Na He Rowayghe. His stories, drawn from everyday life, possessed the clarity and colour of an artist’s canvas.
In recent years, he devoted himself to the Kashmir Art and Artists Foundation, which he co-founded with his wife. The initiative, home to Kashmir’s first printmaking studio, brought young artists into dialogue with leading Indian printmakers and reflected his enduring commitment to nurturing talent “without leaving home.”
Friends remember him as a man of intellect, laughter, and compassion, a motivator whose presence lifted others. “Life has once again turned a page,” one friend wrote, recalling how Dilbar listened to stories with care, coaxing better writing through his patient, thoughtful guidance.
Fayaz Dilbar leaves behind a legacy vast in form and generous in spirit, one that will continue to shape Kashmir’s literary, artistic, and cinematic imagination for years to come. May Allah grant him eternal peace.
In Jammu and Kashmir, 5,413 of the 13,579 rooftop solar consumers have already received zero electricity bills, marking clear progress under the scheme.
SRINAGAR
Jammu and Kashmir Police ordered the attachment of former Kashmir High Court Bar Association president Mian Abdul Qayoom’s property under the UAPA. The action relates to a 2009 case at Shaheed Gunj police station, filed after Qayoom participated in a seminar marking the death anniversary of Pakistan’s founder, an event police say was organised by separatist leaders and featured anti-India speeches. Investigators stated that Qayoom and others delivered inflammatory remarks advocating secession. A subsequent search of his residence allegedly yielded banned literature and a letter from Syed Salahuddin, leading to the addition of UAPA Sections 38 and 39. Police maintain that Qayoom’s house was used to conceal incriminating material and falls within the definition of “proceeds of terrorism.” Qayoom, aged 80, is already jailed in the 2020 murder case of advocate Babar Qadri, in which he is accused of conspiracy.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the Textiles Ministry has sanctioned Rs 51 lakh for 100 specially designed IICT-Srinagar modified steel carpet looms, each costing Rs 51,000.
SRINAGAR
Bollywood actor Imran Khan was spotted in Srinagar shooting for an upcoming web series on the banks of Dal Lake. Calling Kashmir his “second home,” he said he visits the Valley twice a year and has deep personal ties through friends, family, and childhood memories. Khan welcomed the return of tourists, urging people not to let fear shape their choices. He recalled how his grandfather, filmmaker Nasir Hussain, shot several classics in Kashmir, making the place emotionally significant for him. Describing the weather as “beautiful,” he said he felt honoured to create new memories in a place that has always been close to his heart.
LUDHIANA
Wahida Tabassam, 19, from Poonch, already devastated by losing her father and brother in Operation Sindoor shelling, was dealt another blow when she was diagnosed with a rare bone tumour. Coming from an underprivileged family, the Rs 1.5–2 lakh treatment seemed impossible. In Punjab, a compassionate doctor at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Dr Anubhav Sharma, not only took over her case but also arranged the entire cost through family, friends, and a welfare trust. He performed a scar-free CT-guided Radiofrequency Ablation with precision. For Wahida’s family, it was a miracle of generosity, resilience, and restored hope.
BANDIPORE
The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has upheld the preventive detention of Shaista Maqbool, a Bandipora resident accused of acting as an overground worker for the banned LeT and of having had a romantic relationship with slain militant Musaib Lakhvi. A Division Bench ruled that the December 2023 detention order under the Public Safety Act suffered from no procedural flaws. Dismissing Maqbool’s claims of vague grounds and improper consideration of her representation, the Court reiterated that judicial review cannot substitute the detaining authority’s subjective satisfaction. It accepted the State’s contention that her alleged covert activities made gathering concrete evidence difficult, and that ordinary criminal laws were insufficient to address such threats. The appeal was dismissed on November 6.
DUBAI
Ten-year-old Atiqa Mir from Jammu and Kashmir made history in Abu Dhabi by taking pole position and finishing third in the opening round of the Formula 1 Academy-backed COTFA UAE karting series. The first Indian supported by Formula 1, Atiqa became the first female globally to secure pole in the COTFA mini class and also won a Heat before claiming a podium in the final. Coming off strong October performances, she said she would learn and improve. Her father, Asif Mir, India’s first National Karting Champion, called it a bittersweet but encouraging weekend, noting her strong pace and hard racing.
SRINAGAR
Spiritual leader and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar began his Srinagar visit with an interaction with civil society members, including Mirwaiz, where he discussed the social pressures facing Kashmiri youth and the need for community-led efforts to promote peace and emotional resilience. Later, he addressed one of the largest youth gatherings in recent years as the Higher Education Department, in collaboration with the Youth Services and Sports Department, organised a major Edu-Youth Meet at Bakhshi Stadium, attended by more than 20,000 students from colleges and universities across Kashmir. The event aimed to confront the rising challenge of substance abuse while promoting holistic and value-based education.
DELHI
Jammu and Kashmir created history by defeating Delhi for the first time in 65 years of Ranji Trophy encounters, securing a seven-wicket win at the Feroz Shah Kotla. The victory was shaped by a complete team performance, highlighted by opener Qamran Iqbal’s unbeaten 133 that made the final-day chase effortless. Jammu and Kashmir had controlled the match from the start, with fast bowler Auqib Nabi’s five-wicket haul skittling Delhi for 211, followed by captain Paras Dogra’s century and Abdul Samad’s quick 85 that ensured a strong first-innings lead. Delhi’s attempted revival in the second innings collapsed as Vanshaj Sharma triggered a dramatic batting slide with 6 for 68. The win reflects Jammu and Kashmir’s growing maturity, improved infrastructure, and rising self-belief, carrying them closer to a second successive Ranji quarterfinal. For Delhi, marred by selection issues and internal discord, the defeat marked a new low in their domestic cricket decline.
SRINAGAR
Former Sub-Inspector Jagdesh Singh was convicted by a Srinagar court for fraudulently altering his birth year to extend his police service by two years. The Economic Offences Wing proved he had manipulated official records, leading to a three-year simple imprisonment sentence and fines for offences under Sections 420, 468, and related RPC provisions.
JAMMU
The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has held that the consent of family or community is irrelevant when two adults choose to marry. Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi observed while hearing a plea from a couple seeking protection from harassment by their relatives. The couple said they had married under Muslim Law out of free will and feared violence. The court said that a consensual partnership between adults is protected under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution and cannot be overridden by clan or community honour. It directed the authorities to provide security and verify the marriage.
MUMBAI
The Jammu and Kashmir State Investigation Agency has arrested Mohammad Arshad alias Asif, the alleged kingpin of a major cross-border narco-terror network, at Mumbai airport. Arshad, a resident of Poonch’s Degwar Terwan village, had been absconding since 2023 and was reportedly operating from Saudi Arabia. His arrest follows a 2023 operation in the Pir Panjal region in which four terrorists were caught and 29 kg of heroin, arms, and explosives were seized. Arshad is accused of acting as the key link between Pakistan-based handlers and operatives in Jammu and Kashmir, facilitating travel for co-accused and organising meetings to revive narco-terror activity. He was wanted under a Look-Out Circular and a non-bailable warrant. Officials say his arrest marks a breakthrough in dismantling cross-border narco-terror networks.
URI
The Indian Army has transformed the Government Middle High School in Chotali, Baramulla, by upgrading its infrastructure and introducing smart classrooms in this remote border village. The initiative includes new furniture, digital learning tools, and modern teaching aids, bringing the school on par with urban institutions. The move has been widely welcomed by parents, teachers, and students, who say it has infused new energy and hope into the community. The project aims to empower border youth, improve learning outcomes, and strengthen civil-military ties, with similar support planned for other frontier schools.
JAMMU
The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has denied bail to retired SP Sheikh Mehmood alias Modi, who is facing trial for the 2024 murder of Sikh youth Avtar Singh during a land dispute. Citing medical reports, the court said his ailments can be managed in jail. Nearly a dozen accused are involved, with the trial court also naming three more individuals. Multiple bail pleas and revision petitions were disposed of, while the court held that the unarmed nature of the assailants does not rule out murder at this stage.
JAMMU
An eagle smashed the front glass of a Baramulla–Banihal train near Bijbehara on Saturday, injuring loco pilot Vishal and forcing an emergency halt at Anantnag for inspection. Officials called it a rare bird-hit incident in the Valley, adding that the pilot is stable and all safety protocols on the newly opened USBRL route were followed.
SRINAGAR
JK Bank said the RBI has approved S Krishnan’s appointment as its part-time chairman from November 13, 2025, to March 26, 2028. The bank’s board cleared his name in August. Krishnan, an independent director, earlier headed Punjab and Sind Bank and later became MD and CEO of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank.
