For our children, in our language

Izar Mubashir is a young writer and a literary activist well known in the concerned circles of Kashmiri language. A teacher and publisher by profession Izhar writes both poetry and prose. A writer in him is equally equipped with ample organizational skills and has been very active for past so many years in Maraz Adbi Sangam, the oldest and second most important literary organization of Kashmir after Kamraz Adbi Aangam. He is one of the few young writers of the area who have worked hard and refurbished this organization since last one decade and brought it back to literary scenario of the State by organizing so many literary events in the valley particularly so in Maraz area, the region which has been a birth place of most of the literary giants of Kashmir since ancient times.

By winning a children’s award for 2025 for his well acclaimed book Izhar Mubashir has been in the news for last few weeks.

Shur’ ta chirgyush published in the year 2021 containing thirteen short stories on varied subjects of children’s interest is written in simple and lucid language. The first two short stories about katiji and Zooni Log Thor….stir one’s mind about lost times, our heritage, traditions, architecture, and way of life. These are the best ones from this book with the most relevant theme, subject and expression. Look at some of his expressions :

Zuun aes gulnis aangnas manz roota gaemits. Yi aes na voan aangna pata aangna pheerith hekaan tikyaazi luukav aes pannyan aangnan thaed devaar ditmit.

Moon was just hanging in Gula’s backyard. It was not now able to move from one backyard to another, because people had covered their backyards with high rise walls.

The story Aes Kot Gatshav captures nicely the pollution of rivers and water bodies described through fish. It is an innovative and timely subject Izhar has chosen. It makes one to rethink about our responsibilities towards changing environment. Vakeel is about the mobile addiction among children, a very important issue of present times and kokur indicates importance of age old traditions where through, every living being is connected with day to day activities. Shoga, Doremaan, Kakuv and Mid Day Meal are the stories just from school which describe the day to day affairs of school and children vividly, and Izhar with a teacher in him has ably crafted the characters and events.

Yeh Laga Thaka is yet another story on most popular subject of street cricket, children of all times have remained busy with. In the present story children despite being ridiculed and forbade by people in the neighbourhood like Obdi Chacha continue to play and not only damage the nearby glass panes but shoot a ball straight on his head. Daedis Dava is a story on most relevant topic of ignoring our mother tongue and its importance as an emotional bond. Draag and Tulabaag are other stories on relevant topics, like takeover of farming land for orchards resulting in shortfall of paddy crops and cutting of trees and dwindling greeneries and forests.

This book by Izhar on a variety of very relevant topics of children’s interest written primarily for children is equally interesting for adults. An important feature of Izhar’s story writing is his ability of framing characters and sequences as determined by the subject and prospective readership. This book is an important addition to Kashmiri children’s literature. Wish all children and adults too read it.

Kashmiri language being not in the school curriculum for several decades in past has resulted in dearth of children’s literature in the language. However, the earliest works by Naji Munwar, S.N. Bhat Haleem (Balayaar), well known writers, have been milestones in the area of children’s literature. Haleem, a reputed broadcaster, had a typical art of story telling for children. G.N. Aatish, a well known and acclaimed writer of Kashmiri has come up recently with an important book on history of children’s literature in Kashmiri language. It surprises, by bringing together lot of such literature which was almost forgotten. Aatish himself has written such books like Kentshah Metshah, Nov Kentshah Metsha. We have a very good writer in Hamid Siraj who primarily writes children’s literature in Urdu but has written few very good books like Haari Jang, Yaarana and Madadgaar Doos, in Kashmiri as well.

Yusuf Jahangir who has written his opinion on the book has mentioned few more names of Kashmiri writers who have written interesting books adding to children’s literature. That way this genre of Kashmiri literature is receiving lot of attention from current writers and is likely to flourish in times to come.

Izhar Mubashir has the capability of writing some more good books for children and hope he will not remain silent after receiving much attention ,and a well deserving award of the Sahitya Academy on his work. This book has equally good forewords by our eminent writers Satish Vimal and Brij Nath Betab besides that of Yusuf Jehangir.

I wish good luck to Izhar Mubashir for his future endeavours and hope this book is widely read and appreciated.