The Literary Forum Bandipora (LFB) on Wednesday announced its prestigious yearly literary awards for 2025, recognizing two renowned Poets and Scholars of Kashmiri literature.
The late poet and former Director of Doordarshan, Farooq Nazki, has been posthumously awarded the Nazki Award for his exceptional contributions to Kashmiri literature. Prof. Naseem Shifaye has been chosen for the Charaag-i-Sukhan Award for her acclaimed book “Bu Vanyeth Zaan Kass”.
The announcement was made after a day-long meeting and consultation session chaired by Mir Tariq Rasool, Vice President of LFB and Chairman of the Awards Committee. Other notable members present included Mubashir Saleem Nazki, Dr. Adil Mahiuddin, Sufi Showkat, Rouf Ghayal, Dr. Bashrat Fakir, Dr. Asrar, Mansur Muntazir, and others.
“We have nominated Farooq Nazki for Nazki Award and Prof Naseem Shafie for her book after a detailed discussion and deliberations after receiving name of many poets and writers” Mir said adding ” the awards are conferred on merit, content and contribution,” Mir said while speaking on the selection process.
Mir said LFB has been honouring eminent writers at award functions being held in Bandipora for the past 10 years. The award was instituted, in 2015, in memory of Prof Rashid Nazki a poet, academician and founder of Adbi Markaz Kamraz.
The Nazki Award, established in memory of Prof. Rashid Nazki, a poet, academician, and founder of Adbi Markaz Kamraz, honors poets and writers who have made substantial contributions to literature.
The Charaag-i-Sukhan Award recognizes poets or writers for outstanding publications in the preceding year.
Speaking on the Occasion Mir highlighted that previous recipients of the Nazki Award include luminaries like Prof. G. R. Malik, Prof. Shafi Shouq, and Shahnaz Rashid.
He said the grand award ceremony will take place during the annual Nazki Day event, now scheduled for the last week of February 2025 in Bandipora. Initially planned for January 5, the event has been deferred due to severe weather conditions.
“Nazki Day is a yearly tradition to honor the memory of Prof. Rashid Nazki and celebrate literary achievements. Proper invitations will be sent to the awardees or their representatives for the ceremony,” Mir said.
He said this year’s awards reinforce Bandipora’s role as a hub for literary and cultural enrichment, furthering the district’s legacy and Forum’s will in promoting Kashmiri literature.
