Kashmiri Poet Sarvanand Koul Premi Awarded Life Time Achievement By J&K Govt, 23 Personalities Awarded

Premi, a poet killed during the Kashmiri Pandit exodus gets lifetime achievement award. His son on this day calls to "eliminate hatred" and "strengthen the love and brotherhood in the country."

Image: From the monograph of Pandit Sarvanand Koul 'Premi'

The government of Jammu and Kashmir released a list of 23 people that were selected for government awards. Poet, teacher and social reformer, late Sarvanand Koul Premi is also one of them. He has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award!

Late Harbans Lal Maini, retired chief engineer has also been awarded the same award, posthumously. 

Sarvanand Koul Premi was born in 1924. He, along with his elder son, Virender was kidnapped and murdered by extremists from his ancestral village of Soaf-Shali in South Kashmir's Anantnag district in 1990. Premi, who fought for secular values and "Kashmiriyat" for all his life has admirers across religions and ideologies. Thus, his death sent shock waves to people who believe in the ideal of an inclusive Kashmir. 

"Really a proud moment on this belated lifetime achievement award in favour of great literature. My father was a poet, patriot,  nationalist, freedom fighter, a torchbearer of peace and brotherhood in our country and especially in J&K," Rajinder, the son of Sarvanand Koul Premi told ABP Live. 

Premi wrote in Kashmiri, Urdu, and Hindi. He is well known for his Urdu translation of the Ramayana and the Kashmiri translation of the Mahabharata. 

The famous Kashmiri poet, Mahjoor gave the title "Premi" to Sarvanand Koul Premi. He wrote about nature, love, Kashmiriyat among other things. His love for his village, Soaf-Shali is reflected in his poem: “Tren- andun hendi baal shooban qodratik devar zan, Loleh dariyavas bathis pethgah cho travan myon Gaam” (Mountains in three directions looking majestic walls of bounteous nature, on the Love-shore of the River is situated my village so glittering). 

Premi - The Nationalist

Sarvanand Koul Premi was a freedom fighter who worked alongside many eminent personalities. He had the privilege to meet and interact with the towering personalities of undivided India including Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad,  Ali Mohammad Jinnah, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Bakhshi Ghulam Mohammad, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Rabinder Nath Tagore, etc. 

He participated in the Quit India movement and was arrested six times. His poems on Kashmir evoke a sense of love for the motherland. His poem "Hal waale pyaare zhande, tujhko salaam mera" (The loving flag of Kashmir, I salute you) talks about his love for Kashmir.

He was an advocate of secular values and believed in maintaining unity. One can have a better understanding of his life from the fact that he laid the founding stone of the dargah (shrine) of Hazrat Baba Naseeb-ud-din Gazi in his village. He was reverred by the villagers as he was the only teacher in their village. 

"May this spiritual light of this great soul enlighten us all and eliminate the hatred and strengthen the love peace and brotherhood in the whole of the country," said Rajinder Koul Premi said.

Although Premi's story is inspirational in so many ways, his son, Rajinder feels that it is a belated gesture and that his family is still void of the actual compensation that they ought to receive post the exodus of Kashmiri pandits from the valley. "Although it is the beginning of the recognition of his untiring services to humanity, not only in Kashmir but outside also, we hope and pray that full delayed justice will be restored to this frontline family of terrorism in Kashmir," Rajinder said. 

"Our respectful salute to great man, the martyred soul, who will always be rememberd by posterity for his selfless services buy all generations to come," he added.

Here Is The List Of Other Award Winners:

Pandit Sarvanand Koul Premi will continue to serve as an inspiration for the generations to come.