Literature of Kashmir

Literature of Kashmir has a long history, the oldest texts having been composed in the Sanskrit language. Early names include Patanjali, the author of the Mahābhāṣya commentary on Pāṇini's grammar, suggested by some to have been the same to write the Hindu treatise known as the Yogasutra, and Dridhbala, who revised the Charaka Samhita of Ayurveda.

In medieval times, philosophers of Kashmir Shaivism include Vasugupta (c. 800), Utpala (c. 925), Abhinavagupta, Kshemaraja, and Anandavardhana. If we talk about contemporary poetry of Kashmir there are many poets, which include Asif Tariq Bhat, Tashi Shah, Akeel Mohiuddin Bhat, and Zeeshan Jaipuri.

Kashmiri language literature

The below listed table marks Kashmiri language poets as per the book, A History of Kashmiri literature by Trilokinath Raina.

Name	Years	Birthplace	Period	Remarks
Lal Ded	1320–1392	Pandrethan/Padmanpore (modern Pampore)	Kashmir Shaivism	She was the Kashmiri mystic poet credited with pioneering Vaakh/Vatsun or Shrukh genre of Kashmiri literature.
Nund Reshi	1377–1438	Qaimoh, Kulgam	Sufism	Nund Reshi was among the founders of the Rishi order, a Sufi tradition of the region.
Habba Khatoon	1554–1609	Chandhur, Pampore	Lyricism	The Queen Poetess was popularly known as the "Nightingale of Kashmir".
Khwaja Habibullah Nowsheri	1555–1617	Nowshera, Srinagar	Sufism	He was a Hafiz Quran, and was very much fond of singing. He had written some notable Vaakhs too.
Rupa Bhawani	1621–1721	Khanqah-i-Shokta, Nawakadal (Srinagar at present)	Mysticism	Her Vaakhs reveal the influence of both Kashmir Shaivism and Islamic Sufism.
Sahab Kaul	b. 1629	Habba Kadal, Srinagar	Kashmir Shaivism	His Krishna Avtaar Charit is the first Kashmiri poem of Leela (Divine play) genre.
Nunda Dar	d. 1774	Village Kaathyul	Sufism	He and Syed Ullah Shahabadi are the only two poets who attempted the Ghazal writing successfully before Mahmud Gami.
Arnimal	1738–1778	Palhalan, Pattan Kashmir	Lyricism	She is the second poet after Habba Khatoon in the field of love lyrics.
Mir Abdulla Behaqi	d. 1798	N/A	Sufism	He is the first Kashmiri poet to adopt Mathnavi (rhyming couplets) as his medium in poetry.
Swocha Kral	1774–1854	Yendragam, Pulwama	Sufism	His poetry is an exposition of the philosophy of Wahdat-al-Wajood.
Momin Saeb	d. 1800	Bebagom, Pulwama	Sufism	To him belongs the honour of writing the first well-received Mathnavi in Kashmiri, entitled 'Mantaq-al-tayyar' based on Persian mathnavi of the same title by Attar.
Parmananda	1791–1864	Village Seer, Martand (Mattan at present)	Mysticism	His most notable works include Radha Swayamvara.
Shah Qalandar	d. 1850	Haigam or Wahthora, Chadoora dist. Budgam	Lyricism	Known for his popular mathnavi 'Adam ta Guljaan' (love-story of faqir Adam and Princess Guljaan).
Mahmud Gami	1765–1855	Dooru Shahabad, Anantnag, Kashmir	Lyricism	Popularly known as Jami of Kashmir, he had also translated Nizami's Layla Majnun into Kashmiri titled Lael Majnun.
Rahim Saeb	1775–1850	Teliwani Mohalla Sopore, Baramulla	Sufism	He belonged to the Qadri order of Sufism and was significantly influenced by Lal Ded and Nund Reshi.
Wali Ullah Motoo	d. 1858	Wuhan, Beerwah dist. Budgam	Sufism	He has written a Mathnavi based on the legend of Hemal and Nagrai.
Naem Saeb	b. 1805	Habba Kadal, Srinagar	Lyricism	Best known for his lyrical ghazals that have been sung by generation of Kashmiris.
Lakshman Joo Raina Bulbul	1812–1898	Malapora, Ganderbal Srinagar	Lyricism	Wrote the well-known razmia mathnavi Saamnaama, translation of Firdausi's Classic Shahnaama.
Karam Buland	d. 1899	Haanz Gund, Wahthora Budgam	Lyricism	He had great love of music, theatre and organizing musical sessions. The NGO- Karam Buland Folk Theatre Group in Budgam is also named after him.
Maqbool Shah Kralwari	1820–1877	Kralwara, Nagam Budgam	Sufism	He is best known for his mathnavi 'Gulrez'.
Rasul Mir	1840–1870	Dooru Shahabad, Anantnag, Kashmir	Romanticism	Rasul Mir formally inaugurated Ghazal into Kashmiri poetry. Gazals with rivers, valleys, birds, fruits and imagery of Kashmir are his forte.
Abdul Ahad Nadim	1842–1911	Bandipora	Lyricism	Had written the social satire Shaharashob.
Wahab Khar	1842–1912	Pampore, Pulwama	Sufism	He came from a lineage of poets: his father and grandfather, both blacksmiths by profession, were also venerated Sufi poets.
Rahman Dar	d. 1897	Safa Kadal, Srinagar	Sufism	He is best known for his Mathnavi Sheeshrang.
Shamas Faqir	1849–1904	Zaindar, Srinagar	Sufism	He belonged to the Qadriya silsila of Sufism and had also written the mathnavi Mehrajnaama, recounting prophet Muhammad's Mehraj (spiritual journey) to God.
Pir Ghulam Mohammad Hanfi	1849–1937	N/A	Sufism	The Kashmiri translation of Quran which was published under the name of Maulvi Yusuf Shah was actually done by Hanfi.
Krishna Razdan	1850–1925	Wanpoh, Anantnag	Mysticism	He is known for his Shiv Puraan and Shiv Lagan.
Aziz Ullah Haqqani	1854–1919	Narparistan, Srinagar	Romanticism	His best known mathnavi is 'Mumtaaz Benazir', which had attained the same popularity as Maqbool Shah Kralwari's Gulrez.
Saif-ud-din Ariz	N/A	Pulwama	Lyricism	His mathnavi entitled Nav Bahaar, had been translated into Persian. Though, the manuscript remains undiscovered so far.
Haji Mohammad Alyaas	1881–1941	Tsrar Sharief, Budgam	Romanticism	He had been inspired by Aziz Ullah Haqqani, and wrote his rendering of the mathnavi Mumtaaz Benazir.
Mohammad Ismail Nami	1884–1940	Kavador, Srinagar	Lyricism	He was an extensive traveller of Tibet and had written Tibet Safarnama and Nizami's Sheeren Farhad in Kashmiri.
Prakash Ram Bhat	d. 1885	Devsar dist. Kulgam	Mysticism	He is the author of the first Razmia (war) mathnavi in Kashmiri literature, 'Ramavtaar Charit', based on Ramayana.
Akbar Bhat	d. 1910	Anantnag	Sufism	He roamed as a fakir all over the valley for two years and after this peregrination wrote the poem Saalgah.
Kaefi Shah	d. 1910	Kothar dist. Udhampur	Romanticism	Wrote a romantic mathnavi, 'Qissa Behraam Shah'
Abdul Rahim Aima	d. 1911	Nagam, Banihal	Sufism	His mathnavi 'Gulbadan' is a translation of Muhammad Ali Murad's Urdu mathnavi of the same title.
Pir Mohi-u-din Miskeen	d. 1915	Kulgam	Sufism	Had written 6 mathnavis, including Yusuf Zuleikha, Zeba Nigaar and Laal Majnoon.
Vishna Kaul	d. 1917	Kulgam	Mysticism	He had translated Valmiki's Ramayana into Kashmiri
Haji Mohi-ud-din Miskin	d. 1921	Srinagar	Sufism	His mathnavi 'Zeba Nigaar' has been credited to Rasul Mir by Abdul Ahad Azad in Kashmiri zuban aur shairi vol.II
Asad Mir	d. 1930	N/A	Sufism	He had written the popular ghazal Yeli Janaan Ralem
Abdul Qaadir Faarig	N/A	N/A	Sufism	He was the father of ex-chief minister, Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq
Ahad Zargar	1882–1984	Narvara, Srinagar	Sufism	His well known mathnavis include- 'Kaefir Sapdith Korum Iqraar', expressing the philosophy Wahadat-al-Wajood.
Zinda Kaul	1884–1965	Srinagar	Lyricism	He had won the Sahitya Akademi award, 1956 for his volume Sumaran (The Rosary).
Mahjoor	1887–1952	Mitrigam, Pulwama	Lyricism	Being a revolutionary poet, he is famously known as Shair-e-Kashmir.
Samad Mir	1892–1959	Haar Nambal, Narwara Srinagar	Sufism	His 'Aka Nandun' is the Kashmiri rendering of the legend of prophet Ibrahim and Ishmael.
Abdul Ahad Zargar	b. 1908	Srinagar	Sufism	Being a disciple of Samad Mir, his expression was also multi-lingual that assimilated Arabic, Sanskrit and Persian languages and brewed them with Kashmiri language.
Dina Nath Wali Almast	1908–2006	Badyar Bala, Srinagar	Progressive movement	His collection of poetry include Bala Yapair (This side of Mountains, 1955) and Sahaavukh Posh (Desert Flowers, 1981).
Abdul Ahad Azad	1909–1948	Chadoora, Budgam	Lyricism	He had written the essay Kashmiri zuban aur shairi.
Mir Ghulam Rasool Nazki	1910–1998	Bandipora	Sufism	His well known works include Namrodnama.
Ali Mohammad Gilkar	d. 1976	Nowhatta, Srinagar	Sufism	He was a great spiritual leader and a great Sufi saint, and popular among masses as Woast bab or Dassil bab. He is best known for his book Kaleed Ludni.
Mirza Ghulam Hassan Beg Arif	1910–2005	Anantnag	Progressive movement	Known for his satirical piece Aawaaz-i-dost.
Dina Nath Nadim	1916–1988	Srinagar	Progressive movement	Had written an anti-war poem Mae Chhum aash paghich.
Fazil Kashmiri	1916–2004	Srinagar	Progressive movement	As a versatile poet he had proven his command or mastery in all genres of poetry – Ghazal, Nazm, Rubai, Qata, Marsiya, Munajat, Na'at, Manqabat, Leela etc.
Mohiuddin Hajni	1917–1993	Bandipora	Progressive movement	His play Grees Sund Ghar is the first play in Kashmiri language.
Lal Aragami	1923–1988	Chattibanday Aragam, Bandipora	Sufism	His well known works include Sareth Rahbar Lobum Moula.
Abdul Khaliq Tak Zainageri	1924–1989	Hardishiva, Zaingeer Sopore	Sufism	It was in 1972 that he laid the foundation of the J& K Yateem Trust. He has also written poems for children, depicting his love for the orphans and the weak.
Sarwananda Koul Premi	1924–1990	Sarf Shali, Kokernag Anantnag	Progressive movement	Mahjoor gave him the name "Premi" (meaning Lover) because his poetry was full of love for Kashmir.
Amin Kamil	1924–2014	Kaprin, Shopian	Progressive movement	His notable works include the collections Beyi Sui Paan and Padis Pod Tshaayi.
Arjan Dev Majboor	1924–2015	Zainpora, Pulwama	Progressive movement	He had translated Kalidas's Meghadootam into Kashmiri.
Rahman Rahi	1925–present	Srinagar	Progressive movement	His Navroz-e-Saba had won the Sahitya Akademi award, 1961.
Pushkar Bhan	1926–2008	N/A	Progressive movement	As a playwright he had collaborated 3 times with Som Nath Sadhu.
Ali Mohammed Lone	1927–1987	Drogjan, Dal Gate Srinagar	Progressive movement	He was a prominent dramatist of Kashmiri language and had written the plays Te Vyeth Rooz Pakaan and Suyya.
Ghulam Nabi Firaq	1927–2016	Naushera, Srinagar	Progressive movement	Adapted play Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe into Kashmiri language.
Akhtar Mohiuddin	1928–2001	N/A	Progressive movement	He had written the first novel in Kashmiri language, entitled Dod Dag (1957), and was a prominent short story writer in Kashmiri.
Ghulam Rasool Santosh	1929–1997	Chinkral, Habba Kadal Srinagar	Kashmir Shaivism	As a poet he had been the recipient of Sahitya Akademi award for his poem Be Soakh Rooh (1978).
Moti Lal Kemmu	1933–2018	Srinagar	Progressive movement	Being a multi-faceted artist, he had worked as a choreographer for Dina Nath Nadim's Bombur Yembarzal, and Himal Nagrai.
Naji Munawar	1933–2021	Kaprin, Shopian	Modern-age	Best known for his collection Mwokhta lar, a book of stories for children.
Autar Krishen Rahbar	1934–2020	Fatehkadal, Downtown Srinagar	Modern-age	He was a dramatist, and had written the famous play Badshah.
Zeba Zeenat	1934–present	Nadihal, Bandipora	Sufism	She is a mystic poet whose work is based on self-exploration.
Hari Kishan Kaul	1934–present	Srinagar	Modern-age	He is a well-known playwright and short story writer in Kashmiri. He is best known for his play Yeli Watan Khur Chu Yevan.
Ghulam Nabi Gauhar	1934–present	Charar-e-Sharief, Budgam	Modern-age	He had written the second novel in Kashmiri language, entitled Mujrim (1971).
Muzaffar Aazim	1934–present	N/A	Modern-age	His notable works include a play titled Havas ta Haasil.
Pran Kishore Kaul	N/A	N/A	Modern-age	He had written the screenplay for the popular Doordarshan Television series Gul Gulshan Gulfaam.
Som Nath Sadhu	1935–1982	N/A	Modern-age	Apart from being a significant playwright, he had also won the Padma Shri (fourth highest Indian civilian award) in 1974.
Taj Begum Renzu	1935–2015	Srinagar	Modern-age	She is the first Kashmiri female fiction writer and journalist.
Mohammad Yousuf Taing	1935–present	Shopian, Kashmir	Modern-age	His work, Mahjoor Shinasi (A criticism on Mahjoor) won him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1998.
Moti Lal Saqi	1936–1999	Bijbehara, Anantnag	Modern-age	He received the Sahitya Akademi award in 1981 for Mansar.
Sajood Sailani	1936–2020	Nowgam, Srinagar	Modern-age	He served as a member of Sahitya Akademi's advisory board from 1973 to 1977 and in 1990.
Chaman Lal Chaman	1937–1999	N/A	Romanticism	He had represented Kashmir at the National Conference of poets in 1960.
Ayub Sabir	N/A	N/A	Modern-age	For his famed book Gulalan Shaadmani, Sabir was awarded children's best literature award by Sahitya Academy New Delhi in 2013.
Mishal Sultanpuri	1937–2020	Sultanpur, Baramulla	Modern-age	In 2009 he got the Sahitya Academy award for his book Vont on literary criticism.
Marghoob Banihali	1937–2021	Bankoot, Banihal	Modern-age	He had returned his Sahitya Akademi award in 2015, for his Partavistan (1979), a collection of poetry.
Hriday Kaul Bharti	1937–2020	Sopore	Modern-age	He is best known for his contemporary short stories including- Doan athan hinz dastaan.
Ghulam Nabi Khayal	1938–present	N/A	Modern-age	He became the first Kashmiri writer to return the Sahitya Akademi award in 2015, for his Gashik Minaar (Luminaries), 1975.
Ali Mohammad Shahbaz	1939–1996	Shathgund, Handwara	Resistance literature	His literary work pictured and voiced the agony of Kashmir conflict.
Rasool Pampur	1940–2015	Hassenpora, Bijbehara	Sufism	He was very much inspired by the Sufi compositions of Lal Ded and Sheikh-Ul-Alam.
Farooq Nazki	1940–present	Bandipora	Modern-age	He is the son of Ghulam Rasool Nazki.
Shafi Shaida	1941–2015	Akilmir Khanyar, Srinagar	Modern-age	As a prominent dramatist, he scripted 26 episodes of Habba Khatoon- the first Urdu drama from Kashmir which was broadcast on DD Kaeshur.
Omkar Nath Koul	1941–2018	Kulgam	Modern-age	He was a prominent linguist of Kashmiri language.
Zareef Ahmad Zareef	1943–present	Aali kadal, Downtown Srinagar	Modern-age	Had won the Sahitya Akademi award for Tchoonch poot.
Shahnaz Rasheed	1947–present	Sopore	Modern-age	He released his first book Doad Khatith Guldanan Manz (Pain concealed in flower vases) in 2006, and was highly acclaimed by critics.
Rafiq Raaz	1950–present	Srinagar	Modern-age	He is the author of Arooz Kashir Zaban (Prosody of Kashmiri language).
Shafi Shauq	1950–present	N/A	Modern-age	He is the author of Kaeshur Lugaat (Dictionary of Kashmiri language).
Naseem Shafaie	1952–present	Srinagar	Modern-age	She is the first Kashmiri women to win the Sahitya Akademi award.
Basheer Asrar	1953–2021	Malaknag, Anantnag	Modern-age	He is the founder of 'The District Cultural Association Anantnag’ which is considered to be one of the best forums for new comers as well as senior literary figures.
Shad Ramzan	1956–present	Kulgam	Modern-age	He had won the Sahitya Akademi award for 'Kore Kaakud Gome Pushrith' (2014).
Aadil Mohi-ud-din	N/A	Sumbal, Bandipora	Modern-age	He had received the Sahitya Akademi award for his literary criticism entitled- Zol Dith Sadras (2016).
Aziz Hajini	1957– 2021	Hajin, Bandipora	Modern-age	He was the former Secretary of Jammu Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and languages (JAACL).
Madhosh Balhami	1965–present	Balhama, Pampore Pulwama	Resistance literature	He is particularly known for his recitation of elegies composed for the funerals of militants in Kashmir.
Zareefa Jan	1966–present	Poshwari, Sonawari Bandipora	Sufism	Her poetic world is as fascinating as her mystifying appearance. Her poetry treasure includes a few of her notebooks filled with circles. Those circles or codes can be read by her only.
Sunita Raina Pandit	1967-present	Anantnag	Modern-age	Her book 'The Call of Silence' was released in collaboration with Jammu Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and languages (JAACL).
Haleema Qadri	1972–present	Churmujur, Budgam	Sufism	In 2015, she had self-published her collection of poetry, entitled Ishq-e-Nabi.
Nighat Sahiba	1983–present	Anantnag	Modern-age	She had won the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar for her Zard Paniek Daer (2017).
Sofi Ghulam Mohd	1986-present	Charari Sharief	Modern-age	A critic, short-story writer, translator. He is also the author of Sadre Tchakis tal, Wande Bavath, Sari Harf, pragash etc.
Rumuz	N/A	Srinagar	Modern-age	As soon as she devoted herself to poetry writing, her verses reflected self-reliance, empowerment, and struggle amidst the valley's strife backdrop.
Asif Tariq Bhat	2000–present	Duderhama, Ganderbal	Modern-age	Asif's work began to get published on a larger scale ranging from the college magazine to Sangarmaal, the sole Kashmiri literary journal of Kashmir.

The use of the Kashmiri language began with the work Mahānaya-Prakāsha by Rājānaka Shiti Kantha (c.1250), and was followed by the poet Lalleshvari or Lal Ded (14th century), who wrote mystical verses in the vaakh or four-line couplet style. Another mystic of her time equally revered in Kashmir and popularly known as Nund Reshi wrote powerful poetry. Later came Habba Khatun (16th century) with her own style. Other major names are Rupa Bhavani (1621–1721), Paramananda (1791–1864), Arnimal (d. 1800), Mahmud Gami (1765–1855), Rasul Mir (d. 1870), Maqbool Shah Kralawari (1820–1877). Also, the Sufi poets like Shamas Faqir, Wahab Khar, Soch Kral, Samad Mir, and Ahad Zargar. Among modern poets are Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor (1885–1952), Abdul Ahad Azad (1903–1948), and Zinda Kaul (1884–1965).

During the 1950s, a number of well educated youth turned to Kashmiri writing, both poetry and prose, and enriched modern Kashmiri writing by leaps and bounds. Among these writers are Dinanath Nadim (1916–1988), Amin Kamil (1923–2014), Sarwanand Kaol Premi (1924–1990), Rehman Rahi (born 1925), Ghulam Nabi Firaq (1927–2016), Ali Mohammed Lone (1928–1987), Akhtar Mohiuddin (1928–2001), Ali Mohammad Shahbaz, Avtar Krishen Rahbar (born 1933), Sajood Sailani, Som Nath Zutshi, Muzaffar Aazim. Some later day writers are Hari Kishan Kaul, Majrooh Rashid, Rattanlal Shant, Hirdhey Kaul Bharti, Omkar N Koul, Roop Krishen Bhat, Rafiq Raaz, Tariq Shehraz, Shafi Shauq, Showkat Shehri, M.H Zaffar, G.M Azad, Anis Hamdani, Barkat Nida, Majrooh Rashid, Shafi Sumbli, Bashar Bashir, Shenaz Rashid, Shabir Ahmad Shabir, Shabir Magami, Tariq Ahmad Tariq, and Moti Lal Kemmu.

Contemporary Kashmiri literature appears in such magazines as "Sheeraza" published by the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, "Anhar" published by the Kashmirri Department of the Kashmir University, and an independent magazines/portals like "The Kashmir Tales". "Mountain Ink", Inverse Journal Neab International Kashmiri Magazine published from Boston, Vaakh (published by All India Kashmiri Samaj, Delhi) and Koshur Samachar (published by Kashmiri Sahayak Sammiti, Delhi).

Ancient writers in Sanskrit

• Lagadha, between 1400 and 1200 BC. Wrote Vedanga Jyotisha, the earliest Indian text on astronomy.
• Charaka, c. 300 BC. One of the most important authors in Ayurveda.
• Vishnu Sharma, c. 300 BC. Author of Panchatantra.
• Nagasena, c. 2nd century BC. One of the major figures of Buddhism, his answers to questions about the religion posed by Menander I (Pali: Milinda), the Indo-Greek king of northwestern India (now Pakistan), are recorded in the Milinda Pañha.
• Tisata, c. 500 AD. A medical writer.
• Jaijjata, 5th century, a medical writer and probably the earliest commentator (known) on the Sushruta Samhita, later quoted by Dalhana.
• Kalidasa, c. 5th century. Widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language.
• Vagbhata, c. 7th century. Considered one of the 'trinity' (with Charaka and Sushruta) of Ayurveda.
• Bhamaha, c. 7th century
• Ravigupta, 700–725. "Ravigupta is, perhaps, the earliest among the Buddhist philosophers of Kashmir..."
• Anandavardhana, 820-890
• Vasugupta, 860-925
• Somananda, 875-925
• Vatesvara, b. 880, author of Vaṭeśvara-siddhānta.
• Rudrata, c. 9th century
• Jayanta Bhatta, c. 9th century
• Bhatta Nayaka, c. 9th-10th century, considered by Sheldon Pollock to be the greatest author on aesthetics in the pre-modern period
• Medhātithi, c. 9th-10th century, one of the most influential commentators of the Manusmriti
• Utpaladeva, 900-950
• Abhinavagupta, c. 950-1020
• Vallabhadeva, c. 10th century. Wrote, amongst other works, Raghupanchika, the earliest commentary on the Raghuvamsa of Kalidasa.
• Utpala, c. 10th century. An important mathematician.
• Kshemendra, c. 990-1070
• Kshemaraja, c. late 10th century/early 11th century
• Kathasaritsagara, c. 11th century
• Bilhana, c. 11th century
• Kalhana, c. 12th century
• Jalhana, c. 12th century, the author of Mugdhopadesa (not to be confused with Jalhana who commissioned the Suktimuktavali)
• Sarangadeva, c. 13th century. A musicologist, he wrote Sangita Ratnakara, one of the most important text when it comes to Indian music.
• Kesava Kashmiri Bhattacharya, c. 14th century, a major Vedantic philosopher.
• Mamatta
• Kaihata
• Jaihata
• Ralhana
• Shilhana
• Malhana
• Ruiyaka
• Kuntaka
• Ruchaka
• Udbhatta
• Sankuka
• Gunadhya
• Somvadeva
• Pingala
• Jayadata
• Vamana
• Kshiraswamin
• Mankha
• Pushpadanta
• Jagadhar Bhatta
• Ratnakara
• Manikyacandra

Writers in Persian

See also: Persian language in the Indian subcontinent

After Sanskrit and before the coming Urdu, because of the adoration and patronising policy of foreign culture by the Mughals, Persian became the literary language also of the region. Kashmir was very richly represented in that tradition, as already before the end of the 18th century "Muhammad Aslah's tazkira of the Persian-writing poets of Kashmir, written during the reign of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah (1131-61/1719-48), alone lists 303 poets". Late scholar from Pakistan, Pir Hassam-ud-Din Rashidi, edited, translated, and enlarged this work later, and had it published by the Iqbal Academy.

The most famous of them was Muhammad Tahir Ghani (d. 1669), better known as Ghani Kashmiri, whose poetry was recently translated into English, for the first time, by Mufti Mudasir Farooqi and Nusrat Bazaz as 'The Captured Gazelle' in the world-renowned Penguin Classics list. Ghani influenced many generations of Persian-and Urdu writing poets in South Asia including Mir Taqi Mir, Ghalib and most importantly, Iqbal. Ghani's "forte" lies in creating delightful poetic images, usually by stating an abstract idea in the first hemistich and following it up with a concrete exemplification in the other. He also stands out for his multi-layered poems, which exploit the double meaning of words.

Another name in the field of Persian-language writers from Kashmir is Sheikh Yaqub Sarfi Ganai (1521-1595), a 16th-century Sufi poet-philosopher who was internationally acknowledged and who had for students, amongst others, well-known religious scholar Ahmad Sirhindi (more particularly, he taught him hadith) and Persian-language poet Mohsin Fani Kashmiri (d. 1671 or 1672) (himself the teacher of Ghani Kashmiri and author of the pivotal work of comparative religion, the Dabestan-e Mazaheb).

Other of the well-known and influential Persian-language poets of Kashmir would include Habibullah Ghanai (1556-1617), Mirza Dirab Big Juya (d. 1707), Gani Kashmiri (1630–1669), Mirza Beg Akmal Kamil (1645-1719), Muhammad Aslam Salim (d. 1718), Mulla Muhammad Taufiq (1765), Muhammed Azam Didamari (d. 1765), Mulla Muhammad Hamid (1848) or Birbal Kachru Varasta (d. 1865), amongst a myriad. Of course, Kashmiri Pandits too played a role in that school, and one exceptional case was Pandit Taba Ram Turki (1776–1847), who was a celebrity as far as Central Asia.

Writers in Urdu

Despite being a numerically small community, the Kashmiri Pandits are over-represented in their contribution to Urdu literature. One important early example is Daya Shankar Kaul Nasim (1811–1845), a renowned Urdu poet of the 19th century, and hundreds of others followed his path.

Some eminent Urdu literary personalities of Kashmiri origins (from both the Valley and the diaspora) include (in chronological order):

• Mir Tafazzul Hussain Khan Kashmiri (1727-1800), originally from Kashmir, born in Sialkot where his parents moved and himself based in Lucknow where he served as Prime Minister (or diwan) to the Nawab of Oudh Asaf-ud-Daula thanks his erudition. He was called "khan-e-allama" (the Scholarly Khan) due to his deep scholarship on many subjects but is best known today for having translated Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica from Latin into Arabic.
• Mufti Sadruddin Khan 'Azurda', 1789–1868, apart from being the Grand Mufti of Delhi, he was also a personal friend to Ghalib (whose own mother was from Kashmir) and himself a poet of note in Urdu as well as in Arabic and Persian. He also wrote a tazkira (biographical anthology of poets).
• Momin Khan Momin, 1801–1852, considered one of the three pillars of the Delhi school of Urdu poetry, with Ghalib and Zauq. Other fields where he was competent included mathematics, geomancy, astrology, chess or music.
• Daya Shankar Kaul Nasim, 1811–1845
• Ratan Nath Dhar Sarshar, 1846-1903
• Brij Mohan Datatriya Kaifi, 1866-1955
• Muhammad Iqbal, 1877–1938
• Agha Hashar Kashmiri, 1879–1935 (called "the Shakespeare of Urdu" for his works as playwright)
• Brij Narayan Chakbast, 1882–1926
• Aziz Lucknawi, 1882-1935
• Khalifa Abdul Hakim, 1896-1959 (a philosopher who has the honour of writing the only book on the metaphysics of Persian mystical poet Jalaluddin Rumi)
• Patras Bokhari, 1898–1958
• Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum, 1899–1978
• Justice Anand Narain Mulla, 1901-1997
• Muhammad Din Taseer, 1902-1950 (short-story writer, literary critic and Iqbal scholar. Father of slain Pakistan's Punjab governor Salman Taseer and first individual from the Sub-continent to get a PhD in English Literature from Cambridge University)
• Shaikh Abdullah, 1905–1982
• Bashir Ahmed Dar, 1908-1979 (a philosopher and Iqbal scholar)
• Meeraji, 1912-1949
• Saadat Hasan Manto, 1912–1955
• Aariz Kashmiri, 1916-1965
• Agha Shorish Kashmiri, 1917-1975
• Zaheer Kashmiri, 1919-1996
• Syed Akbar Jaipuri (Mujahid-E-Urdu), 1923-1998
• Razia Butt, 1924-2012
• Anwar Shemza, 1928-1985
• Hakeem Manzoor, 1937–2006
• Obaidullah Aleem, 1939-2008
• Muhammed Amin Andrabi, 1940–2001, a scholar who belonged to the Traditionalist School of metaphysics, inspired by authors like Ibn Arabi, Muhammad Iqbal, Frithjof Schuon, Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Henry Corbin.
• Allama Mustafa Hussain Ansari, 1945–2006
• Mirza Muhammad Zaman Azurdah, b. 1945, influential contemporary writer from the Valley
• Abid Hassan Minto
• Muhammad Asim Butt, novelist, translator and critic.
• Muhammad Younis Butt, writer of the most popular political satire show in Pakistan, Hum Sub Umeed Se Hain
• Rasheed Amjad
• Shahid Nadeem

Writers in Hindi

• Amar Nath Kak
• Chandrakanta (author)
• Omkar N. Koul
• Rattan Lal Shant
• Hari Krishen Kaul
• Shashi Shekhar Toshkhani
• Bhushan Lal Koul
• Shiban Krishen Raina
• Agnishekher
• Maharaj Krishan Santoshi

Writers in English

• I. K. Taimni
• M. P. Pandit, prolific writer who authored some 150 books and as many articles exposing in English the thought of Sri Aurobindo.
• Chiragh Ali, reformist Islamic scholar
• Taufiq Rafat, called the 'Ezra Pound of Pakistan' for both his innovative writings and his position as one of - if not the - greatest English-language poets of Pakistan.
• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
• Krishna Hutheesing
• Gopi Krishna
• Subhash Kak
• Nayantara Sahgal
• M.J. Akbar
• Salman Rushdie
• Hari Kunzru
• Kailas Nath Kaul
• Agha Shahid Ali
• Basharat Peer
• Adeeba Riyaz
• Sahil Mudasir

See also

• List of Kashmiri poets
• List of topics on the land and the people of Jammu and Kashmir
• Kashmir Shaivism - philosophy gives Kashmir its soul, God is universal, in all equally.
• Kashmiriyat - a socio-cultural ethos of religious harmony and Kashmiri consciousness.