Srinagar, October 15:
To commemorate the second death anniversary of the eminent poet, writer, translator, and journalist Ghulam Nabi Khayal, Wisdom First today hosted a poignant event titled “Remembering Ghulam Nabi Khayal: A Voice of Thought – A Tribute to a Distinguished Multilingual Writer, Author, Poet, and Journalist of South Asia” at the Amar Singh Club, Srinagar.
The gathering brought together a galaxy of literary figures, senior journalists, poets, writers, academicians, and socio-political personalities, all united in paying rich tributes to one of Kashmir’s most luminous intellectuals.
Opening the event, Bilal Bashir Bhat, Director Wisdom First and Editor of Daily Srinagar Jang, welcomed the guests and conveyed messages from Khayal Sahib’s family — Kamran Khayal, Irfan Khayal, and Dr. Saba Khayal. Wisdom First President Khurshid Qureshi then invited the panelists to the stage, marking the beginning of the tribute session, which was elegantly compered by noted journalist Rameez Makhdoomi.
Speakers at the event described Khayal as “a beacon of truth and creativity,” whose words shaped the conscience of Kashmir’s literary and journalistic traditions. They recalled him as a poet of depth, a translator of rare brilliance, and a journalist who never compromised on integrity.
“Through his writings, Khayal breathed new dimensions into language and expression,” one speaker remarked. “His poetry reflected the ache of human experience, while his prose radiated truth and courage — a light that continues to inspire journalists and writers across generations.”
Attendees highlighted Khayal’s versatility and the enduring relevance of his thought. They observed that his pen was not only an instrument of art but also a symbol of moral courage and intellectual resistance.
The distinguished gathering included writers and poets Hasrat Gadda, Dr. Satish Vimal, Prof. Farooq Fayaz, Shaukat Shafi, and Javed Kakro; senior journalists Saleem Pandit,(President kashmir press club)Imdad Saqi, Muhammad Aslam Bhat (KNS), Sanam Ijaz (Voice TV), and Nazim Nazir (Tameel Irshad); as well as Joint Director Information Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari, Dy Director Information Ehsan-ul-Haq Chishti, Cultural Officer DIPR Burhan Hussain, and other senior officials from the Information Department, PIB, and Doordarshan.
The event was also graced by prominent socio-political figures including Tahir Sayed (NC), Syed Tajamul (PDP), Manzoor Bhat (BJP), Imtiyaz Chishti (JKPC), Inam-un-Nabi (AIP), Firdous Baba, Jagmohan Singh Raina (JKAP), and Dr. Nawab Nasir (AAP), who collectively acknowledged Khayal’s unmatched contribution to the intellectual life of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a special segment organized by the Directorate of Information, vocalist Aqib Assad rendered some of Khayal’s ghazals, filling the evening with the lyrical beauty of his words and evoking heartfelt nostalgia among the audience.
Speakers unanimously lauded Wisdom First for organizing the event, calling it “a noble effort to keep alive the spirit of literary and journalistic excellence that Khayal embodied.”
As the evening drew to a close, one sentiment resonated deeply — that Ghulam Nabi Khayal was not merely a writer, but a movement; not just a name, but an enduring tradition of thought, truth, and creativity. His pen lives on, his words still breathe, and his ideas continue to guide and inspire generations to come.
