by Suhail Saalim
Mir Naushad Rasool, teacher and Urdu columnist, combined literary insight, social observation and humane values, leaving behind a distinctive voice in Kashmir’s literary tradition.
Of medium height, fair-skinned and handsome, with a round face, golden complexion, a few white hairs on his head, small ears, a small nose, a fearless pen, a smile on his lips and sweet chatter on his tongue, Ghulam Rasool Mir was a teacher, writer and man rich in ethics and manners. Among the gems that adorned the Urdu language and literature of the Valley of Kashmir, one rare name was Mir Naushad Rasool.
Mir Naushad was among those columnists who devoted themselves to Urdu column writing in Kashmir. His real name was Ghulam Rasool Mir. He was born on March 4, 1952, in Khanyar, Srinagar. He passed his matriculation examination in 1967 in his own area and completed his B.A. from Kashmir University in 1974. He then joined the Education Department, served in various positions and retired as a Senior Teacher in 2010.
Naushad Sahib began his literary life around 1975, and his first story, titled Broken Mirrors of Time, was published in Aftab. He wrote that he remained indebted to Aftab and the late Khwaja Sahib because reading the newspaper instilled in him the desire to pick up a pen and write. He began with small pieces of correspondence before testing his pen in fiction and later writing articles on various subjects.
Initially, he would give his writings to the manager of the Aftab office, Khwaja Abdul Salam. He hesitated to meet Khwaja Sahib because he had heard that he was a reclusive, soft-spoken and awe-inspiring personality. After five or six years of continuous writing, he gathered the courage to take his work directly to him. He recalled entering Khwaja Sahib’s spacious room around four or four-thirty. If Khwaja Sahib was speaking to someone, he would sit silently on the sofa before eventually standing up and placing his creation on the table when asked about the purpose of his visit.
In this way, Naushad Rasool’s first story entered the Urdu literary world. He presented deceit, trickery and human psychology in his columns. An excellent example was his column Valley Travel Agencies. While reading it, one encounters feelings, emotions and observations. The column reflects the journeys of selected people, their temperaments, and their principles.
Writing about travel agencies that advertised heavily in print and electronic media, Naushad Rasool observed that people who were not selected in the draw for the Hajj pilgrimage often turned to such agencies, which then made loud claims about providing better facilities, “but alas…” (Daily Aftab, January 18, 2011).
His columns dealt with feelings, pain and sorrow, ruined humanity, ethics, sociology and a life increasingly drowned in conscienceless. His columns combined literary observation with a close reading of everyday life, allowing ordinary social experiences to become reflections on character, morality and changing values in Kashmir society.
Mir Naushad Rasol extended the hand of friendship and tried to remain away from the path of enmity, even blessing his enemies with messages of friendship. His circle of friends was wide. Dr Shah Faisal says it would be appropriate to describe him as a personality trained by Daily Aftab. His identity as a writer began with that newspaper, which gave him his first opportunity to write. Later, he remained associated with Kashmir Uzma and other newspapers, continuing his intellectual writings at the confluence of journalism and literature for years.
Dr Shah Faisal notes that most of his writings were destroyed in the devastating floods of 2014. Efforts were later made to recover what remained, but a large part of his literary capital was lost to the floods. Mir Naushad Rasool died on November 28, 2022. He would, Dr Faisal says, be remembered not only as a hardworking teacher but also as a serious writer and a tasteful human being.
His reading was extensive, showing that he was well-read. He studied history and politics extensively and developed considerable expertise on social issues. His heart was generous and soft. He did not divide people on the basis of religion, sect or caste.
In his columns, the inner and outer beauty of the Valley of Kashmir appears in its full glory. Another special trait was his encouragement of the new generation.
After travelling through his creative universe, one can recognise Mir Naushad Rasool as not only a serious writer and artist but also a great human being. On November 28, 2022, Mir Naushad Rasool departed from this mortal world. His passing marked the end of a life devoted to education, literature, friendship and humane values. May Allah Almighty forgive him. Amen.
(This has been translated from Urdu into English. The translator is the Chief Editor of the quarterly literary journal Kohi Maraan.)
