Noted broadcaster, writer from Ladakh, Abdul Gani Sheikh passes away

Kargil, Aug 20: Reputed broadcaster, writer, and historian, Abdul Gani Sheikh passed away at his home in the Leh district of Ladakh on Tuesday.

Born in Leh on March 5, 1936, Sheikh worked for the upliftment of the Urdu language and penned several books. Sheikh was a versatile writer, translator, and fiction writer besides a famous research scholar who has not only served the medium of radio in Ladakh but also contributed immensely to Ladakhi literature.

He also worked as a correspondent, ANE and NE with RNU AIR and DD Srinagar.

His novel ‘Dil Hi Tau Hai’ received the best book award from the J&K Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages.

After completing of his primary education at Government Middle School Leh, Sheikh developed a taste for writing. During his school days, he was able to publish his write-up in an Urdu magazine. Sheikh passed his matriculation in 1951.

In 1952 as a Stock Assistant in Veterinary Sciences, he joined his training session at Srinagar where he met eminent writers like Prof Rahman Rahi and Brij Prem.

In 1954, Sheikh performed in a side role in a drama at the National Dramatic Club.

In 1955, he emerged as a fiction writer and published many short stories in Urdu.

His three stories: ‘Lovsar Aor Ansoun’, ‘Arzounien’, and ‘Noori’ were published and widely appreciated.

Sheikh joined the Education Department as a Headmaster. Well-versed in Political Science, he worked as a Field Publicity Officer at Leh in the Information Department. Sheikh was awarded by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages for his booklet on Mahatma Gandhi.

In 1976, his first collection of short stories ‘Zojila Ke Aar Paar’ hit the stands. In 1977, Sheikh’s novel ‘Woh Zamana’ was published and in 1978 one more novel ‘Dil He Tou Hain’ was followed by two more literary works on children's literature: ‘Kitaboun Ki Duniya’ and ‘Ladakh Ki Sair’.

In 1980, he compiled a book ‘Sonam Narboo’.

In 1985, Sheikh interviewed prominent actors, Dev Anand, Shabana Azmi, Sanjay Khan, and Sunil Dutt, lyricist Javid Akhtar, and singer Jagjit Singh for the radio.

He visited Germany in 1995 to attend the International Association for Ladakh Studies event.

Sheikh proved his mettle as a scriptwriter when he presented his script for two documentaries ‘The Nomads’ and ‘The Dards’.

He also wrote a regular column ‘Ladakh Diary’ on demand of veteran writer Gulam Nabi Khayal.

His research article: ‘The Islamic Architecture of Ladakh’ was published in Ladakh Culture at the Cross Roads. In 2007, he attended the IALS Conference in Rome and presented his paper: ‘Traditions of Sufism in Ladakh’.

In 2011, his two books ‘Tibet and Central Asia’ and ‘Reflections on Ladakh’ were published by the National Book Trust of India.

In 2021, he visited Iran and wrote a travelogue. An M Phil dissertation on Sheikh was conferred to a research scholar Fayaz Ahmad, a fiction writer from Indore University.

Sheikh’s demise was widely condoled across Ladakh and J&K.

Former Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages and former Additional Director General (ADG) Doordarshan, Rafeeq Masoodi condoled his demise and expressed heartfelt sympathies with his family.

“The family of All India Radio and Doordarshan Srinagar stand with the family of Sheikh in this hour of grief and pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul,” Masoodi said.