Srinagar, Nov 27 (JKNS): A one-day literary seminar in memory of renowned fiction writer, playwright, and journalist Shams-ud-Din Shamim was organised at the auditorium of Shehanshah Palace, Srinagar, by the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) in collaboration with the Daily Ghadyaal, Srinagar.
The inaugural session was presided over by Prof. Farooq Fayaz, while Shabir Mujahid, graced the occasion as Chief Guest, with well-known playwright Wahshi Saeed as Guest of Honour and Ideel Saleem, Additional Secretary JKAACL, also present in the presidium.
At the outset, Ideel Saleem welcomed the dignitaries and highlighted Shamim’s contributions to Kashmiri fiction and cultural journalism, appreciating his fearless voice and commitment to society’s collective conscience.
The keynote address was delivered by Mushtaq Ahmad Mushtaq, who described Shamim’s fiction as an archive of lived experiences, rooted in realism rather than rhetorical decoration, portraying Kashmiri society caught between political anxieties, social transitions, and moral dilemmas.
He emphasized Shamim’s ability to convert internal conflicts into compelling dialogues as a playwright, while his journalistic writings stood as testaments of integrity and cultural responsibility, remarking that Shamim is “a foundation on which the contemporary Kashmiri narrative must continue to build.” Tributes were also paid by dignitaries including Shabir Mujahid and Wahshi Saeed, who described Shamim as a multi-dimensional literary and journalistic figure with rare clarity and human depth.
In the presidential address, Prof. Farooq Fayaz said that Shamim “resisted silence” and narrated the unspeakable, stressing that celebrating his writings is not merely a literary act but a cultural responsibility, urging institutions to ensure research and publication of Shamim’s unpublished works.
The vote of thanks for the inaugural session was presented by Arshid Rasool, Chief Editor Daily Ghadyaal, who appreciated JKAACL for honouring an uncompromising literary voice and assured continued collaboration to preserve Kashmir’s intellectual heritage.
The first session was presided over by Prof. Gulshan Majeed, with Prof. Rattan Lal Talashi and Jawaid Iqbal (Editor Kashmiri, JKAACL) in the presidium, while research papers were presented by Rahim Rehbar, Shafiq Qureshi, Prof. Mehfooza Jan, Prof. R. L. Talashi, Nisar Naseem, and others on themes including sociological realism, marginal voices in Shamim’s fiction, structural precision in drama, journalistic integrity in public discourse, comparative analysis of Kashmiri fiction, and scope for academic research on his lesser-known works. Esteemed literary and media personalities such as Nasir Mirza, Dildar Ashraf Shah, Saleem Salik, Shakeel-ur-Rahman, Farooq Wani, and Jb. Ahsan Chishti (CEO Manasbal) shared personal memories emphasizing Shamim’s ethical discipline, wit, ideological clarity, and mentorship of young writers, recalling that he never compromised truth and continuously groomed new storytellers.
The concluding vote of thanks was presented by Jawaid Iqbal, Editor (Kashmiri), JKAACL, who expressed gratitude to scholars, media representatives, partners, staff, and attendees, stating that literature survives when society chooses to engage with its thinkers and that Shamim’s legacy is “a living dialogue that must continue,” while appreciating the Daily Ghadyaal for its collaboration. Both sessions of the seminar were conducted by Dr. Gulzar Ahmad Rather, Assistant Editor (Kashmiri), JKAACL. (JKNS)
