Srinagar, Dec 12: Veteran Gojri writer, poet, and researcher Iqbal Azeem Chowdhary passed away today at his residence at Babanagari village Village Kangan of Ganderbal district last night. He was 81. According to family sources he was suffering from chronic illness.
Iqbal was the grandson of renowned Gujjar Sufi Hazrat Baba Ji Sahib Larvi and Son of Ch Mohammad Akbar Bajran. He was the maternal uncle of former Minister Mian Altaf Ahmad.
His Nimaz e Jenazah was offered today at the graveyard located near the Zayarat Baba Ji Sahib at Baba Nagri, Wangat , Kangan which was attended by a large number dignitaries, writers of Gojri language, intellectuals. Those who aatended the last rites and condole the sad demise include Mian Aftaf Ahmad Ex-Minister , Dr. Javaid Rahi Noted Tribal Researcher, Mian Sarfar Ahmad , prominent Gojri writers Abdul Ghani Arif , Ch Hassan Parwaz Mohammad Mansha Khaki , G. R. Badana, Ch Ishtiaq Shouq, S.D. Bajjad and others.
Chowdhary Iqbal Azeem was an author of high repute . He contributed around one dozen books in Gojri , Punjabi and Urdu . His anthology – Raijh Kawalein was adjudged as best in State level a competition organized by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in 1979.
His main Gojri books are Reajh Kawalein, Kuli ni Faqer di vichoon, Tun aa bhi jaye, Kulyat e Iqbal Azeem and others.
As a researcher and head of the Gojri wing of the Academy he compiled first ever Gojri-Gojri Monolingual Dictionary comprising of six volumes wherein around one lack Gojri words are collected with their meanings in Gojri .
He was the member of many state level and national level committees of Sahitya Academy, Ministry of Culture Govt. Of India, Sangeet Natak Akademi, J&K Cultural Academy, State Board of School Education.
Naseem Poonchi was born in Wangat Village of Kangan Tehsil of Ganderbal District in 1940. He earned his early education from Kangan. Later he was appointed as Announcer in Radio Kashmir . He left Radio Job and In 1980 he was appointed as Researcher in Gojri Section of J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. He remained head of the Gojri wing of the Academy for 8 years. Later he was retired as Editor cum Cultural Officer in 2000.
He survived with two daughters and wife.
