Prof Rehman Rahi Sahab: Literary Legend of 21st Century

We were like an A4 size paper page when we came to this world. In fact this world is full of fun, sorrows, excitements, emotions, sentiments, full of strange things, full of lofty objects and the world is full of mysterious stories as well and all that we have to observe and notice with the passing of every moment. In our surroundings there are a number of stories related to a particular person. It depends how much we observe keenly every event, every happening, every serendipity and every accidental hazard. Behind all this there is divine power of nature which shows the supremacy of Almighty Allah. So all that what happens on this planet is being controlled by some spiritual power. Life, death, health, any disorder is the blessing of Almighty Allah. We humans are dependent even for a little piece of food, a drop of water, breath of Oxygen and in short this world is full of observation for those who look at them carefully and keenly. Today on 09th of January-2023 we have lost a a scholar, poet, critic, translator, writer, a good teacher, a great patriot, and a renowned professor Dr Rahman Rahi sahib. Rahman Rahi Sahib born in Srinagar’s Downton (Nowshera) area on 6th of May 1925. Rahi sahab immensely contributed to Kashmiri literature and his contribution are acknowledged both within and outside Jammu & Kashmir . As Kashmiri language is touching new heights day after day throughout the world because of the dedicated works of our great litarians and educationists and Prof Rehman Rahi is one among them . Prof Rahi has an immense role in boosting the Kashmir culture through his poetry. Rahi sahab was awarded a number of prestigious national awards for his unforgettable contribution in various fields and every Kashmir will remember him for forever and promote his literature work among every single individual. Rehman Rahi is the only Kashmir writer awarded the ‘’Jnanpith Award’’, one of the highest literary awards, awarded in the country for his poetic collection ‘’Siyah Rood Jaeren Manz’’. Rahi Sahab was also awarded with a number of prestigious awards for his great contribution to literature, poetry etc. But unfortunately we lost him, his great contribution always helps us in various ways. I salute Rahi sahab’s work, contribution, dedication which he has dedicated for the country. May almighty Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah? (Ameen). With the grace of almighty Rehman Rahi Sahab’s literature will be available in school libraries, colleges, public libraries and every bit will be kept under safe hands. As our new generation lacks the knowledge of our towering, prominent and great scholars who have done great roles in uplifting the education sector in several ways, we are getting benefits today because of their great contribution for their country. During the school period most of us get motivated through our teachers, friends towards some extraordinary work. Some trying to become poet because gets inspired by the renowned poet like Allama Iqbal (RA), Mirza Asad Ullah khan Ghalib, Mir Taki Mir, Arsh etc. every poet has contributed for the sake of humanity and for the sake of their mother land where they spent their childhood days, spent their great memories, lived their life.
In childhood days Rehman Rahi Sahab showing little interest to studies but fortunately one day when he was in 9th standard he opened Urdu text book and got inspired by the Allama Iqbal (RA) poetry “Maa Ka Khawb” source (recorded in Rehman Rahi’s interview with radio Kashmir). Rehman Rahi used poetic title as “RAHI” as every poet do. Suggestion: in our Kashmir valley our present generation is full of potential, full of positive energy so it is our turn to mould our youth towards the right path and motivate them towards righteous activities so that our future will be in safe hands. We have observed the interest of our young buds and mould them accordingly. As there is great scope in a number of fields like poetry, literature work etc. we are supposed to make things very convenient for our young generation so that they will get good results in future and play pivotal roles for their country. Rahman Rahi made his name a brand in Kashmir valley for the last couple of decades and everyone knows him by his great contribution towards the literature, his write ups, for his critic poetry nature. But again it is very unfortunate that Kashmir has lost its crown and it will take centuries to produce such a great towering poet in the valley. In Sha Allah we hope for the best and wish to almighty that every gap may fill soon and bestow us with immense patience so that we will contribute in the upliftment of our nation in all aspects. Rahi sahab’s loss is quite irreparable and it will take us centuries to fill this gap. Day by day we all about Kashmir’s cultural ethos as we are moving away from our own cultural tradition. These days western culture prevails due to our negligence and the day is not way when may almighty save us. The day is not far away when we will lose our real identity and adopts the western culture. It will bring destruction to this part of the world and we will lose our real ethics, morals and so many things. Our culture is safe and secure because of the great, towering personalities like Rahman Rahi Sahb and many others whose contributions will go down in golden letters in the annals of Kashmir’s Cultural history. May Almighty grant them highest place in Jannat. Aameen…….
(The author a resident of Raiyar Budgam is a freelancer .The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are author’s own and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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