Srinagar, July 12, 2025 (Saturday Afternoon):
The 333rd session of the Fiction Writers’ Guild was held at the Guild’s city office located at Heera Manzil, Central Market, Abi Guzar, Lal Chowk, Srinagar.
The session was presided over by the eminent Kashmiri language scholar, researcher, and critic, Professor Majrooh Rasheed.
Distinguished guests included Mr. Malik Basheer Athar, a former officer of Prasar Bharati and a renowned broadcaster, and Dr. Qaseem Akhtar, a celebrated Urdu poet and writer from Bihar, both of whom graced the presidential dais.
During the session:
• Dr. Nazir Mushtaq presented his Urdu short stories titled “Kyun” (Why), “Raye” (Opinion), and “Tarjeeh” (Preference).
• Dr. Rafiya Wali read her Urdu short story “Buloori”.
• Jahangir Ayaz Haali presented his Kashmiri short story “Thar”.
• Mohammad Yousuf Shaheen read his satirical and humorous Kashmiri essay titled “Shaal Kaka Dadi Ho”.
An in-depth discussion followed on the presented stories and essays, appreciating their literary strengths while also drawing attention to a few constructive points for the writers.
Presiding over the session, Professor Majrooh Rasheed spoke about the short stories being written in the Kashmiri language. He emphasized that more focused attention is needed on the development of Kashmiri fiction as part of the broader literary discourse.
Guest of Honour Malik Basheer Athar shared his thoughts on the presented works, stating that each piece of literature is a rare gem, provided it meets the essential elements of language, technique, and literary depth.
Dr. Qaseem Akhtar, another guest of honour, appreciated the continued efforts of the Guild, noting that organizing such literary sessions consistently over the years is a significant achievement. He congratulated all the Guild members for their dedication.
The session was attended by several noted literary figures including Khurshid Kazmi, Shakeel ur Rehman, Engineer Shafee Ahmad, Masooda Rajpuri, Sufi Basheer Bashar, Shafiq Qureshi, Tasneem Akhtar, Arshad Mushtaq, Tanveer Ajasi, Ghulam Nabi Shahid, Mohammad Ashraf Khan, Mr. Shah, Suhail Salim, and Abu Aala.
From the younger generation of literary enthusiasts, participants included Saqib Shaban, Mohammad Saqlain, Insha Zahra, Iqra Zahra, Musafah, Faizan, and Yasir.
At the conclusion of the session, the renowned fiction writer and General Secretary of the Fiction Writers’ Guild, Mr. Nasir Zamir, thanked the president of the session, the guests of honour, all participating writers, and the audience on behalf of the Guild. He reaffirmed the Guild’s commitment to the promotion and preservation of fiction across various languages.
The session was conducted in a distinctive and engaging manner by noted journalist and writer Mr. Riyaz Masroor, said Media Coordinator Zubair Qureshi , in a statement
