Renowned poet, writer, broadcaster Zahid Mukhtar passes away

Anantnag, Oct 9: Mukhtar Ahmad Qasid — the celebrated Kashmiri and Urdu poet, fiction writer, and broadcaster, known to many by his pen name Zahid Mukhtar — passed away on Thursday morning at his residence in Nai Basti, Anantnag. He was 73.

According to family and friends, Mukhtar had been battling neurological ailments for the past year. His death marks the end of a luminous literary journey that wove together the themes of identity, love, resistance, and human emotion with rare eloquence.

Born in 1952 to Haji Sana Ullah Qasid of Nai Basti, Anantnag, Zahid Mukhtar rose to prominence in the 1970s as one of South Kashmir’s most versatile literary voices. Over the decades, he distinguished himself as a poet, fiction writer, dramatist, editor, and independent broadcaster.

His poetry, written in both Kashmiri and Urdu, was known for its lyrical blend of classical form and contemporary thought. Deeply rooted in Kashmiri ethos, his verses reflected social consciousness and an abiding faith in the human spirit.

Mukhtar’s long association with broadcasting earned him wide admiration. His rich, resonant voice and dignified style of presentation made him a familiar and respected presence across generations of listeners. Colleagues remembered him as a “soft-spoken and creative soul” who mentored emerging writers and nurtured cultural expression in the Valley.

The news of his passing has cast a shadow over Kashmir’s literary and cultural circles. Tributes poured in from poets, artists, and broadcasters who hailed him as a guiding light of modern Kashmiri literature.

“The sudden news of Zahid Mukhtar sb’s passing has left me deeply shocked and saddened,” wrote writer and broadcaster Hussain Zaffar. “He was a highly talented individual — a great writer, poet, artist, producer, and director with a voice of gold. His legacy will live on.”

Renowned poet Bashir Dada also expressed his grief, saying, “May Allah bless the departed soul with all blessings.”

His funeral prayers were held at Sherbagh, Anantnag, on Thursday afternoon and attended by a large gathering of admirers, colleagues, and residents. Zahid Mukhtar was later laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard.

“He was a voice that spoke for every emotion of the Kashmiri heart,” said a tearful S Tariq, a well-known cartoonist.

Dr Rafeeq Masoodi summed up the collective sentiment: “Zahid’s legacy lives on, and his memory will forever be etched in our hearts. May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah.”