Srinagar: Adbi Markaz Kashmir (AMK) and Jammu Kashmir Cultural Confederation (JKCC) Saturday expressed grief and shock over the death of noted writer and poet Ghulam Nabi Naazir Kulgami of Yaripora Kulgam, who died in the morning after protracted spell of illness at SKIMS, Soura.

Soon after the news of 88-year-old Kulgami’s demise came, AMK and JKCC held special condolence meetings, recalled his services to Kashmiri language and literature and prayed for the peace of his departed soul.

Chairing a condolence meeting, AMK President, Dr. Syed Shujaat Bukhari termed Kulgami’s demise as an irrepressible loss to the Kashmiri language and literature and said that he was widely respected and held in very high esteem in literary circles of Kashmir and considered as one of the most prominent writer-poet in the Valley.

Bukhari said Kulgami, a Sahitya Akademi Award winner, had contributed a lot to Kashmiri and Urdu literature with more than 50 books to his name.

He also expressed his sympathy with Kulgami’s bereaved family and prayed for grating forbearance to the family members to come to the grips of this loss.

JKCC also held a condolence meeting over the death of Kulgami during which Vice Chairman (South Kashmir Chapter) Ali Shera and General Secretary Prof. Farooq Fayaz expressed grief and shock over his death.

Speaking on the occasion, they said Kulgami had made Kashmiris proud when he was conferred the coveted Sahitya Akademi Award in 1991 for his poetry collection, Achhre Tsange.

They said his works were a treasure for Kashmiri literature lovers and his translation of Deewan-e-Ghalib was a treat to read.

Condoling Kulgami’s demise, JKCC members expressed solidarity with the family and prayed for the peace of the departed soul. (KNS)