Prem Nath Dar / Biography

Prem Nath Dar (July 25, 1914 – September 6, 1976) was known in the Indian subcontinent as an Urdu language short story writer from the Kashmir Valley. His short stories are generally recognised as progressive writings of mid twentieth century [(page 463 para 2.75 ^[1]& ^[2]] ^[3] He was a multifaceted personality who contributed his bit in the politics by joining “Kashmir Movement”, lead by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah during the late 1930s and1940’s, for social & political reforms. In the later stages of his life, in his spare time, he used to write short stories^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9] besides being always involved with Kashmiri cultural and social activities Delhi. He was the President of the Kashmiri Sahayak Samiti, New Delhi, for a very long time.^[10]^[11] He was also the President of Kashmiri House Building Society, New Delhi, where he was instrumental in ensuring the then Kashmiris settled in a colony in Delhi. which is now known as Pamposh Enclave.

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[edit]Early years in the Kashmir Valley

Prem Nath Dar was born on July 25, 1914 in a Kashmiri Pandit family settled in Badiyar Bala near Ganpatiyar, Habbakadal, Srinagar, Kashmir (J & K, India). His mother was Shrimati Jaimala and father Pandit Ramchand Dhar,who was a known Persian poet of his time in Kashmir. He was a posthumous child who was brought up by his paternal uncle Pandit Shivji Dhar, who later adopted him as his son. His primary schooling was in P. Model School,Fateh Kadal, Srinagar in the native state of Kashmir. After completing primary education he was enrolled in Pratap High School, Srinagar for further schooling. For his degree in Bachelor of Arts (Graduation) he joined S. P. College, Srinagar and chose following subjects- Philosophy, English, History and Urdu. After graduation he faced unemployment problem in the Kashmir valley as at that time the economic and industrial development in Kashmir was very low. Sheir e Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah's party Muslim Conference was agitating against the state government and to widen the struggle he invited non muslims to join this politico-social struggle, and re named the party to the "National Conference". Prem Nath Dar was among the first batch of non muslims to join him ^[12] and he proposed a secular party flag for the new party- National Conference, which was immediately accepted.^[13] The party, even in the year 2011 has the same flag. In the year 1975 when the party constitution had to be revised, he, as the Adviser to the then Chief Minister Mr. Sheikh Abdullah, was part of the team led by Dr. Farooq Abdullah, which contributed in revising the party constitution.

[edit]Settling down in Delhi

Meanwhile, the agitation against the Maharaja intensified during the late 1930s and to link this movement with the Congress party's strong national movement against the British in India, he left Kashmir State to the British India. The Indian political leaders of national level in Delhi, could not support National Conference’s struggle in Kashmir as it was against the native Maharaja and not the British. While in Delhi, he married his land lord's daughter Kumari Lalita Bhatt (name changed after marriage- Mrs Prem Pratima Dar)of Chaurasi Ghanta, Bazaar Sitaram, Delhi. Subsequently from this marriage there were seven children. Two died in infancy and the rest five surviving children were Nirmala, Veena, Yug Prakash, Pragati and Jag Prakash, in descending order. As of March 2011, Yug Prakash, Pragati and Jag Prakash are living.

He worked as a journalist in The Hindustan Times and it is here that his writing abilities and creative expressions reached excellent dimensions. But, in his own heart and soul he knew that it was in Urdu writing that he would always be in his best, as he was groomed in the Urdu language from the childhood. Also, Urdu was commonly read and spoken in Delhi and was the national language of British India. He later joined the Statesman. After India's independence he worked in the All India Radio.

[edit]Transformation to a short story writer

in early 1940s, while in Delhi he got in touch with Urdu literary circle Halqae Arbab Zauq and started writing short stories in Urdu. To make his characters alive and closer to reality he took help from his wife in getting familiar with spoken phrases and terminologies in day to day life of Delhi city. This helped him in creating different characters of society living in Delhi, at various levels of social system. The writers of Halqae Arbab Zauq used to meet at his house in Sita Ram Bazaar which was attended by some known writers of that time, to name a few- Devendra Satyarthi, Josh Malihabadi, Arsh Malciani Jagan Nath, Sagar Nizami, Rewati Sharan Sharma, besides others. The venue later changed to Delhi College, Delhi. After 1960s his responsibilities at the All India Radio kept him occupied leaving less time for literary activities. [^[14] ,^[15],^[16]] and ^[17]

[edit]Writing style

His writings were deeply influenced by the Marxist writings of the then progressive writers of India and his readings of the Russian literature, which left deep impressions of the socialistic ideology. The socio-political movements and the social structure of that time in India also played a significant role in molding his writing style. His association with the then progressive writers of Halqae Arbab Zauq galvanised his writings to give strong messages of social reforms.

Prem Nath Dar’s first collection of short story Kaghaz Ka Vasudev aur dighar afsaaney was the first presentation of Halqae Arbab Zauq, Delhi (Halqae Arbab Zauq ki paheli pesh kash.) Halqae Arbab Zauq was a popular literary circle in Delhi providing a platform to budding writers in Urdu.^[18] It was an instant success and was appreciated in literary circles. Cover Pages of Books "Kaghaz Ka Vasudev" and "Neeli Ankhen" Authored by Mr. Prem Nath Dar, Which gives Criticm by Leading Urdu Writers of that time from India- Salahuddin Ahamad, Syyed Ahtesshan Hussein, Josh Malihabadi and Pakistan- Maulana Salahuddin Ahamad, editor Adabi Duniya, Lahore ^[19]^[20]^[21]^[22]^[23]

His second collection of short stories was Neeli Aankhen.

The Urdu Department of University of Kashmir has prescribed his short story "Kaghaz ka Vasudev" for their M.A. Programme (Urdu)^[24]. He established his name as an Urdu short story writer in the entire subcontinent. Kaghaz ka Vasudev was followed by many more short stories depicting harsh realities of social life in Kashmir and in Delhi through various characters and situations existing in the middle era of the 20th century, which are relevant even today.

[edit]Literary works

a) Some of his famous short stories written by him were-
1. Kaghaz ka Vasudev
2. Doodh,
3. Uttarai,
4. Aakh Thoo^[25], ^[26],
5. Jawan,
6. Zanshirin,
7. Gidh,
8. Chadawa,
9. Kofta,
10. Neeli Aankhen,^[27]
11. Geet Ke Chaar Bol,
12. Paani se Gadha Lahu,
13. Bhoot Pret,
14. Faayada be Faayada,
15. Beech Andherey,
16. Zindagi ke Ghoont,
17. Neeli Botal,
18. Dinon ka Pher,
19. Tehalil Nafsee,
20. Ghalat Phehami,
21. Turdi Bus and various other short stories.
22. Khirki ^[28]
b) His first collection of short stories was published as a book in 1949 titled as “Kagaz Ka Vasudev”.
Subsequently, his second collection of short stories was published in 1960s titled “Neeli Aankhen”.
c) He also wrote a novel in Hindi “Ghar Ki Baat’.
d) In Kashmiri he wrote an opera titled “Zui Gabar” (two sons), on a secular theme characterising two sons of the same soil of Kashmir, one chose Islam while the other Hinduism.
e) After his death in 1976 his sons Y.P. Dar and J.P. Dar published his selected short stories of his life titled “Chinaron Ke Saye Mein”.

[edit]Epilogue

His occupation to support his family was mainly as a journalist and a media expert. After marriage in 1940 he joined Hindustan Times as a sub editor. Later in 1947 he joined The Statesman and after Statesman he was appointed the editor of The Indian Listener, a weekly periodical issued by the All India radio, which was published in Urdu and English languages. He was later absorbed in the Central Information service of the Government of India and made Officer on Special Duties, All India Radio. In 1973 he retired as the Deputy Director General of Audio Visual Publicity. When the Sheikh Abdullah signed an accord in 1975 with the then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, he remembered his old comrade. The Sheikh recalled him to Srinagar, J&K, to serve him and the National Conference party, as his Press & Publicity Advisor and he was given the status of a State Minister. He died in September 1976 at his residence in B 20 Pamposh Enclave, New Delhi, due to heart failure. As an obituary Mr. Shamim Ahmed Shamim, ex Member Parliament from Srinagar wrote an article named "Prem Nath Dar- Mera Yaar" (Prem Nath Dar- My Pal), which was printed in the Urdu daily "Aina" published from Srinagar on 10th September. This article sums up Mr. Prem Nath Dar's personality, beautifully^[29].