Fayaz Tilgami: A Celebrated Voice In Contemporary Kashmiri Literature

Fayaz Tilgami: A Celebrated Voice In Contemporary Kashmiri Literature

Bisma Ashraf 

In the serene village of Tilgam tucked in the folds of Kashmir’s poetic landscape, a boy named Ali Mohammad Mir grew up surrounded by the quiet rhythm of mountain life and the compelling cadence of written words, later known by his literary name Fayaz Tilgami, he would become one of the most enduring voices in Kashmiri literature. 

“I was always drawn to words from a young age,” Fayaz shared with a warm smile, seated among piles of handwritten manuscripts and dog-eared books. “The journey into the world of literature began humbly but powerfully with mountain rhythms, newspaper columns, and Panchayat Ghar stories, that Tilgami’s love for the written word first took root, everything around me was a story waiting to be told.”

Tilgami, with a glint in his eye that matched the richness of his prose, reminisced about the beginning, “I was just seventeen,” he said, “Newspapers like Akbar-e-Khidmat opened windows to wisdom and emotions mentored by renowned Urdu teacher and poet Manzoor Hashmi, my writtings began to flourish, poems and articles were regularly published in the Sunday editions, earning widespread admiration, each printed word made me feel alive.”

“Hashmi Sahab didn’t just teach me language,” he said, smiling. “He taught me how to listen to silence and translate it in words.”  

A life-changing endorsement soon followed,“One of my poems caught the eye of esteemed scholar Prof. Mohi-ud-Din Hajini,” Tilgami recalled. “His kind words gave my journey wings. They led me straight into the education department and into a career that shaped everything that followed.”

As a retired lecturer from the Department of Kashmiri, Tilgami’s scholarly contribution spans over five decades. But it’s his soul-penned 11 books like Fatah Kral (1973), Ghaashi-Taruq (1984), Han Han Talaash,Haraf Haraf Chu Naat Khaan,Lajawab, Kariv Aalov Hussainus, and a children's special Asi Chi Pagheek Pasbaan that echo across generations where folklore blends with personal longing.

“Each book is a piece of my soul,” Tilgami confessed. “They’re not just stories, they’re tributes to what Kashmir feels like when it rains, sings, and weeps.”

“Writing in Kashmiri isn’t just about language,” he said. “It’s about remembering who we are.”

Projects such as Kulyaati Razaq Dar and Nishat Ansar Monologue showcase his vivid storytelling and dedication to preserving Kashmiri language and culture. His work doesn’t merely reflect personal experiences it channels the spirit of his homeland

Beyond the page, tilgami’s voice echoed through dramas aired on Doordarshan Srinagar and Radio Kashmir, bringing literature to life. His 50-year collaboration with Adbee Markaz Kamraz (AMK) and presidency of Bahar-I-Adab Tilgam have made him a pillar in the literary community. His Ministry of Culture fellowship led to the curation of poetry from 20 North Kashmiri poets, showcasing his role as both guardian and guide.

Even financial struggles never managed to dim his creative fire.  “Hardships came and went. What stayed was the urge to write,” he said.

“Our village has birthed poets from every generation,” Fayaz proudly states, connecting himself to a legacy that spans centuries from Shahi-Ibrahim and Fateh Kral to the rising voices of today and beyond. “Poetry runs through the veins of our village,” he declared. “Each generation adds its own verse.”

Today, Fayaz Tilgami isn’t just a literary figure he’s a living archive of Kashmiri emotion. His words ring out in classrooms, echo from radio stations, and settle into the hearts of villagers, keeping the soul of Kashmiri language alive.

The writer Can Be reached bismaashraflone@gmail.com