Pearls From the ‘Prisoner’

From part Part 5 to 22, Shamshad Kralawari talks about the life and works of Aseer. Since Aseer has had a long career as a government official, his passion for writing and love of his mother tongue, in particular, and Urdu, in general, has been extraordinary.

Kralwari writes that Aseer has an equal competence in Kashmiri, Urdu and English, and he has a deep interest in the history and culture of his people (p. 65) which Aseer demonstrated by publishing some historical accounts. Aseer is a multifaceted personality who has tried his hand at many genres with confidence.

For instance, ‘Focus on Jammu and Kashmir’ is a description of the erstwhile State while ‘Tareekh e isha’ate Islam’ (2009) is about Islam since Adam. ‘Tareekh e auliyari Jammu wa Kashmir’ is about the saints of undivided Jammu and Kashmir while ‘Safr e harmain’ is a description of his pilgrimage to Makkah.

He has written books on Kashmiri poets which include his critical books on Nishat Kishtiwari, Janbaz Kishtiwari, a critical history of language and literature in Kashmir and Jammu, two collections of critical essays, ‘tavaazun’ (Balance) and ‘zikr o fikr’ (Description and Discussion). He has also a critical work on Urdu writers of Jammu to his credit. ‘farsh-e gul’ is his first collection of poetry.

Aseer has written critical books on the different Kashmiri and Urdu poets and writers of the Chenab Valley and ‘yaad-e nadeem’ is a commemorative volume on his son, Mohammad Arif Nadeem. As a columnist, Aseer has been contributing to Urdu and English dailies in Jammu and Kashmir.