SANJAY PANDITA
In every age, there comes a rare spirit whose music does not merely echo through instruments but vibrates through human hearts — who turns the ordinary pulse of life into a hymn of endurance, compassion, and divine expression. Among such radiant souls stands Dr. Ramesh Nirash, a name that quietly yet powerfully reverberates across the cultural corridors of Kashmir and beyond. He is not merely a composer or a poet; he is a seeker of light who has transmuted struggle into song, pain into poetry, and service into a lifelong spiritual performance.
Born in Srinagar in 1959, in the modest embrace of an average Kashmiri household, Ramesh Nirash’s story unfolds not as an ascent to fame but as a pilgrimage toward purpose. Even in his tender years, when most children were yet to identify the rhythm of their own voices, he had begun conversing with melody. His world was made of verses, his toys were words, and his playground was the boundless sky of imagination. The seeds of artistic brilliance had begun to germinate early, watered by intuition and guided by an invisible hand of destiny.
At the age when adolescence blooms with curiosity, Nirash’s literary impulse blossomed into his first book, “Tati Kyah Hisab Dimu Bagwanas”, written while he was still a student of the historic Lal Ded School in Srinagar. This debut work was not just a precocious achievement — it was a testament to a young boy’s awakening soul, to his innate understanding that art was not a profession but a prayer. Recognizing his extraordinary spark, his revered Guru, Shri Chand Narayan Bhat, not only blessed him but set his words to music, giving life to his devotional composition “Suli Vath Pooza Kar Ishwarsui” — a hymn that carried the fragrance of faith and humility.
Nirash’s Hindi poem “Vishw ke Navnirman Mein Layenge Naya Rang”, revolutionary in its tone, mirrored the optimism and courage of youth that dared to envision a renewed world. It was this fusion of reverence and rebellion — devotion and dynamism — that would later define the man’s entire artistic journey.
It is said that the true artist is not born of applause but of empathy. Even in his early years, Nirash was gifted with an emotional intelligence that made him deeply aware of others’ struggles. Perhaps it was this inward sensitivity that drew the admiration of literary giants like Dina Nath Nadim and Prithvi Nath Sayil, who recognized in him the rare promise of a poet-philosopher. Their blessings were not mere gestures — they were torches passed on to a younger pilgrim who would continue to light the path of Kashmiri creativity.
As he matured, so did his art — spreading from words to rhythm, from rhythm to compassion. Music became the mirror of his soul, and his compositions began resonating far beyond the boundaries of the Valley. It was no surprise that his creations found admirers in the highest echelons of power and art — from former Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee to music maestros Pandit Shivpuri and Bhajan Sopori. Great singers like Gurdas Maan and Hans Raj Hans too expressed deep affection and admiration for his work, sensing in it the sincerity and spiritual innocence that marks timeless art.
But Ramesh Nirash never sought celebrity. He remained what he had always been — a Karmyogi, a tireless worker whose devotion was to creation itself. For him, the Bhagavad Gita’s eternal counsel — “Karmanye Vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana” — was not a philosophical maxim but a lived truth. Work was worship; service was salvation.
Amidst the bustling world of performance and fame, Nirash nurtured another world — one of education and selfless guidance. He established the Nar Nari Kala Kendra, a creative haven where music became both an art and a therapy, a bridge between the physical and the spiritual. For decades, he has trained, inspired, and mentored countless young talents, teaching them not only how to sing, but how to feel the song — how to breathe art into existence.
His versatility was as astonishing as his humility. A recipient of several distinctions — Best Yogacharya, Best North Region Scout, Best Actor — Nirash embodied a rare synthesis of physical discipline and spiritual grace. His deep engagement with Yoga and Ayurveda was not ornamental but organic, an extension of his belief in the harmony of body, mind, and soul. Even in his public appearances, his posture carried the serenity of a yogi; his voice, the warmth of a teacher; his eyes, the quiet fire of one who knows that service is the highest art.
It was, however, through music and poetry that Ramesh Nirash reached his zenith. His title song for the popular serial “Awlad” — “Maji Hundi Baguk Golab”, sung by the legendary Chand Narayan Ji and Veena Bhan Ji, became a cultural anthem, drenched in the fragrance of maternal affection and nostalgia. Through such compositions, Nirash gave Kashmiri audiences something precious — songs that healed rather than entertained, songs that evoked the sacred tenderness of home, heritage, and belonging.
Over the decades, his musical odyssey expanded across Doordarshan and All India Radio, where he earned the prestigious A-grade classification, an honor reserved for the most accomplished contributors in the field. He participated in more than fifty national-level programs, countless regional and state events, and even international cultural showcases. Yet, every performance bore the same quiet signature — the sincerity of a man who sings not for the stage, but for the soul.
What distinguishes Nirash from the ordinary artist is not his mastery, but his magnanimity. His heart beats for the Divyang community, for those whose physical limitations could not limit their spirits. Since his youthful days, he has worked tirelessly to bring the joy of art and music to differently-abled individuals, helping them find dignity and expression through melody. To them, he is not merely a teacher; he is a friend who listens to their silence and translates it into sound.
His recent creative surge stands as proof that art ages not with the body but with the spirit. In January 2025, when Dr. Nirash presented his Kashmiri poetry at Saigal Hall, Jammu, at a JKAACL-organized event, the audience witnessed not just a poet reciting verses, but an artist in communion with his language — a man who spoke through metaphors but meant every word literally. His poetry carries the fragrance of Kashmiri earth — lush, melancholic, and eternal. He has published around eighteen books, each a reflection of a lifetime steeped in experience and empathy.
Among his latest contributions are the books “Aacthman” and “Nabad” in Kashmiri, and “Swarandra” in Hindi — the latter launched in a grand ceremony at Jammu’s Abhinav Theatre, where the Hon’ble Governor of J&K, Shri Manoj Sinha, honored him personally. These works are not mere collections of verse; they are living archives of Kashmiri sensibility, woven with philosophy, rhythm, and the pulse of people’s pain and hope.
Dr. Nirash’s artistic journey also extends into the digital era with remarkable grace. On platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube (through his channel “Abrizak Productions”), he remains vibrantly active — sharing his creations, engaging with admirers, and ensuring that his art continues to reach young audiences in their own language. While many veterans resist the tide of modernity, Nirash embraces it with humility, turning technology into yet another instrument for creative communion.
Former Union Minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank” once described his performances as “an ocean of colors in a pot” — a metaphor that beautifully encapsulates the essence of Nirash’s artistry. Every color in that ocean represents an aspect of his being: the discipline of a yogi, the depth of a poet, the devotion of a karmyogi, and the compassion of a philanthropist. Similarly, Omar Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of J&K, hailed him as one of the most vibrant custodians of the region’s cultural heritage.
Indeed, to watch Dr. Ramesh Nirash perform is to witness art merging with meditation. The touch of his fingers on the harmonium seems to summon unseen energies; the cadence of his voice carries a peace that descends like dawn over troubled hearts. There is no flamboyance in his style, no self-conscious artistry — only purity of intent, the sacred rhythm of someone who knows that sound itself is divine.
For years, he also served as a music teacher at Navodaya Vidyalaya, where generations of students discovered not just scales and notes, but lessons in humility, perseverance, and the beauty of inner balance. His students remember him not as a strict instructor but as a gentle philosopher who believed that music could transform character. To him, every child was a hidden symphony waiting to be awakened.
What perhaps sets him apart from the crowd of artists is his unshakable modesty. Despite the numerous accolades — the awards, the governmental recognition, the reverence of peers — he remains unassuming, grounded, and deeply spiritual. His smile carries the same innocence it did in his youth; his words retain the same gentleness that has always defined him. For him, art is not achievement, it is service — a medium through which he returns to society the blessings he has received from it.
There is something profoundly symbolic about his chosen surname — Nirash, meaning “without despair.” For a man whose life has been marked by struggle, perseverance, and endless effort, this name becomes a spiritual declaration. He is, indeed, not a man of despair but an ocean of hope, one who believes that creativity is a form of prayer and that every note sung with sincerity adds a drop to the sea of human compassion.
In a world where artists often chase popularity, Dr. Ramesh Nirash stands apart as an embodiment of purity and purpose. His art heals rather than dazzles; his songs uplift rather than entertain. He has created, in his own quiet way, a spiritual cartography of Kashmir’s cultural soul — blending its ancient mysticism with modern sensibilities, its sorrow with its sanctity, its silence with its song.
To encounter his poetry is to listen to the earth itself speak. To hear his compositions is to feel the unseen forces of life align in rhythm. To know him personally, as those fortunate few do, is to witness what it truly means to live by the ideals of Karma Yoga — unselfish work done with love, for love.
And so, when the story of contemporary Kashmiri art and culture is written, Dr. Ramesh Nirash will stand not as a chapter but as a refrain — a recurring melody that reminds generations that art is not an end in itself but a means toward light. His legacy lies not merely in his books, performances, or awards, but in the countless lives he has touched — the students he has mentored, the differently-abled he has inspired, the devotees he has awakened, and the community he has served.
Every great artist ultimately seeks immortality, but few achieve it through humility. Dr. Ramesh Nirash has achieved it effortlessly — by surrendering himself to his craft, by making his life itself a work of art. In the quiet echoes of his harmonium, in the rhythm of his verses, and in the silent gratitude of those he has healed, one can still hear the eternal refrain of his life’s philosophy:
“Work is worship, love is melody, and service is the truest song.”
And that, perhaps, is the most enduring truth of Dr. Ramesh Nirash — the artist with a difference, the poet with a cause, and the human being whose every breath is a prayer for beauty, balance, and hope.
Sanjay Pandita is a poet, columnist & critical analyst , can be reached at sanjaypanditasp@gmail.com
