Critical Evaluation Of "Gash I Maler" Wani Nazir

Critical Evaluation Of "Gash i Maler"

Wani Nazir 

Wani Nazir

The book "Gash i Maler" best translated as streams of light by Mr Farooq Shaheen is a creative and critical evaluation of the best chosen literary pieces and personalities of diverse streams of prose and poetry.Ever since its publication it has received a national focus of literary circles and has succeeded in winning Sahitya Academy Award in the year 2012.The very title of the book is suggestive of fact that its concious reading would surely help whet the literary tastes and scintillate the critical faculties of the readers to an unimaginable extent.The title of the book is not only darigueur but also de-facto for the author has taken every care to get his readers across the literary valleys of art and literature.The course of study of the book reveals that the author has made a deliberate choice with regard to content selection.This pick and choose aimed at adding variety has purposefully done to make it all inclusive with a total focus on appealing the general aesthetic sense of the readers.

Theamatically the author has touched upon authenticating the renowned literary figures of Kashmiri art and literature.

Besides introducing less explored voices of art and literature.The author has taken a lot of trouble to stimulate the readers to get acquainted with the literary inheritance of Kashmiri literature.The main effort is at disentangling the confusing ambiguous and dilematic matters of life and literature for specification of enlightened pathways through critical approach.The consolidation of experience and the stretching the horizon of thought through critical judgement of Kashmiri literature is one of the crucial themes of the book at centre stage. Citing refrence in support of his point is a distinguishing characteristics of a good critic. 

Critically reviewing the book comes to know that the author has made a fair use of established principles of criticism. Figures of literary merit have been used as touchstones while evaluating the contents. It is not only a thought / an idea that is important but also a due expression of it and more importantly collection and dissemination of it.

Through tharough and apt analysis, evaluation and square glossing so that it can be presented before the readers like a bridge of merit to be appreciated. Giving a critical touch to one of the chapters of this book i'e Qaseed ie Burda shareef (panegyric) translated by Movlana Noor u din Qari ,the author quotes the reference of Dr Rashid Nazki one of the eminent kashmiri scholars to highlight the technical flaws of the literary piece. Here is the translated version of the original kashmiri text," I applied all admirable brio of Kashmiri invocation (darood) and structurally i applied a form spritual couplets (Masnavi) to the panegyric (Qaseeda) it made possible for me it be translated in ideas instead of words so that instead of structure,a spirit takes its forms." Another eminent kashmiri scholar Dr Gh Rasool Malik remarks: " As for as tecnical and poetic facet of the panergyric Qaseeda Burda shareef is a concerned as an impartial student of art and literature one has to admit that panergyric is very fragile.The language used is not confirming to the Quran and Hadith. There is absence of similies, rhymes and unhesitating currency in it.

Another important chapter "Loke adab akh Mutalah" (folklore of Kashmir a study) is very intresting and relivant for it portrays, social, economical, politics and cultural values of Kashmiri and the aspirations of the people of Kashmir living in the days of yore. It is infact history of ancient Kashmiri in fewer words.The style of portrayal is so tough that one feels as if he is himself experiencing whatever he is going through the author has wonderfully succeeded in getting across the message that folklore of Kashmir is more powerful than its tecnical art.

To appeal and develop the as esthetic sence of the readers a high degree of glossing has been done. If the picked and chosen contents of the book are its calyx, through the critical treatment the author has dressed them up with corrolla.

Dr Majrooh Rashid an authentic literary voice of Kashmir opines that the author of the book has rightfully acknowledged the workdone on kashmiri literature ahead of him and has a deep sence of it. Moreover he states that the author has judiciously taken care of which subject/topic warrants which type of language Mr Mohammed Yousuf Teng another meritorious literary figure of Kashmir states about the book that there is a due appraisal of the services rendered by the preceding literary writers and the author has overcome all the bars of prejudice and bios by making a due mention of them. He counts it as a constructive change in the mindset of new kashmiri writers. It is no point for me to decide the merit of the book when it is already decided by the matters of Kashmiri language and literature.

As for my take on the book is concerned,the review of the book has lead me to conclude that it surely going to ignite the imagination of the readers besides consolidating their experience and stimulating their sence of belongingness. I hope that it is great beginning on part of the author and more such sustained endeavorsin this direction will prove a big leap towards progression and subsequent perfection.

( The writer is a teacher in School Education department Kashmir and can be contacted on

waninazir36@gmail.com)