SherleneGirardi at 20:40, 2 December 2025

2025-12-02T20:40:18Z

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{{short description|17th century Persian-language poet}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox writer
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| name = Gani Kashmiri
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| birth_name = Muhammad Tahir Gani Ashai
| birth_date = {{Birth date text|1630}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = c. {{Death year and age|1669|1630}}
| death_place = [[Srinagar]], [[Kashmir Subah]], Mughal Empire
| resting_place = Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| occupation = Poet
| language = [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]], [[Persian language|Persian]]{{efn|He also contributed to the development of [[Urdu]] and [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] literature, but his most produced work was in Persian language.}}
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| period = Mughal Empire
| genre = {{hlist|[[Gazal]]|[[Rubaʿi]]|[[Rekhta]]}}
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'''Gani Kashmiri'''{{efn|Also spelled '''Ghani Kashmiri'''.}} ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|aː|n|i|_|k|æ|ʃ|ˈ|m|iːɹ|i}} {{respell|GAH|nee|_|kash|MEER|ee}}; born '''Muhammad Tahir Gani Ashai''';{{efn|Also spelled '''Mulla Mohammad Tahir Ashai'''.}} {{circa|1630}} {{endash}} {{c.|1669}}), was a [[Persian poetry|Persian-language poet]] from [[Kashmir]]. His uncertain authorship, including [[gazal]]s and 100,000 verses,<ref name="greaterkashmir.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/more/news/gani-kashmiri-poet-who-defied-aurangzeb/|title=GANI KASHMIRI: Poet who defied Aurangzeb|date=March 14, 2015|website=Greater Kashmir}}</ref> consist of some single tazmins, ninety-two [[rubaʿi]]s, two maṯnavis, and one twenty-eight [[couplet]]s{{efn|"tazmin" and "maṯnavi" are possibly poetic genres or form in Persian, but their status is currently unknown}}<ref name="gbook"/> and some verses in [[rekhta]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BzhuAAAAMAAJ&q=Gani+Kashmiri|title=Jammu and Kashmir State: Kashmir region|date=July 11, 2003|publisher=State Gazetteers Unit, Government of Jammu and Kashmir|via=Google Books}}</ref> and [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri.]]<ref>Page 105, Kaeshir Zabaan ti Adbuk Tawareekh by Naji Munawwar and Shafi Shauq, {{ISBN|9788194692973}}</ref> His writings have been reinterpreted by [[Muhammad Iqbal]], [[Mir Taqi Mir]], [[Saadat Hasan Manto]], and by a rebellion Mughal poet, [[Ghalib]], who is believed to have translated around forty of his couplets into [[Urdu]] language.

In [[Literature of Kashmir|Kashmiri literature]] besides Persian and Urdu, he is often recognized one of the greatest poets of the Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in [[Kashmir Valley]], a place he lived his life.<ref name="greaterkashmir.com"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiq_DQAAQBAJ&q=Gani+Kashmiri%2C+Persian+poet&pg=PA229|title=Beyond Me|first=Professor Abdul Ghani|last=Butt|date=5 December 2016 |publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=9781365592485|via=Google Books}}</ref>

He was born around 1630 as Muhammad Tahir Gani Ashai in Ashai family and lived in Rajouri Kadal, [[Srinagar]]. He produced most of his work during the reign of [[Shah Jahan]] and [[Aurangzeb]]. It is believed he preferably did not complete any [[Nonformal learning|nonformal]] or [[Formal learning|formal education]] outside Srinagar,<ref name="greaterkashmir.com"/> though he received his education from [[Mohsin Fani]], a Persian historian who taught him medicine, literature and philosophy.<ref name="gk">{{Cite web|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/srinagar/govt-remembers-gani-kashmiri/|title=Govt remembers Gani Kashmiri|date=March 14, 2015|website=Greater Kashmir}}</ref>

==Influences==
Aurangzeb, the sixth [[Mughal emperor]], who retained the royal position over [[Indian subcontinent]] for a period of 49 years, invited him via his governor Saif Khan to his residence to know about his writing style, and asked to recite [[marsiya]] for the king.<ref name="gbook">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ne9JQ9xATsEC&q=Gani+Kashmiri|title=The Captured Gazelle: The Poems of Ghani Kashmiri|date=June 15, 2013|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=9788184759952|via=Google Books}}</ref>

==Literary work==
Sometimes, he used to sing besides writing, and during the time, he used to close all doors and leave them open while on the go.<ref name="greaterkashmir.com"/> His poetry is believed to have strong influences across [[Afghanistan]], [[Iran]], [[Turan]] an [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110702/jkplus.htm|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - J&K PLUS|website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref><ref name="iranicaonline">{{Cite web|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/gani-kasmiri|title=ḠANI, MOLLĀ TĀHER KAŠMIRI – Encyclopaedia Iranica|website=www.iranicaonline.org}}</ref> Gani's literary work was covered in a book titled ''Title The Captured Gazelle: The Poems of Ghani Kashmiri'' by Mufti Mudasir Farooqi, which was published in 2013. The book includes translation of the Persian poems into English language.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/opinion/the-captured-gazelle/|title=The Captured Gazelle|date=March 14, 2015|website=Greater Kashmir}}</ref>

== Death ==
He died around 1669 and is buried near Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar, [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In 2009, the [[government of Jammu and Kashmir]] ordered construction of [[wall]]s and tomb, however the [[Srinagar Municipal Corporation]] was accused for delayed work, leading the construction to complete in a period of one year. The ''[[Greater Kashmir]]'' argued that involved constructor defaced the tomb in an attempt to complete the signed contract within deadline.<ref name="greaterkashmir.com"/>

===Death date===
Scholars and historians have different opinions about his actual death date. Some scholars said he died at 41, while some argue he lived long.<ref name="gk"/>

==Legacy==
===Institutions===
On 30 June 2001, the state-owned agency, Department of Libraries & Research established [[Gani Memorial Library & Reading Centre]], a [[public library]] in Srinagar named after Gani. The library was initially set up in a house in 1971 as a reading room for students. However, the project was later shifted to another rented house over dilapidated condition. The new library, which cost [[Indian rupee|₹]]41 million, consist a collection of 8000 books and a special Career Corner for the students to prepare for the [[competitive examination]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jkpubliclibraries.nic.in/activity4.htm|title=Department Of Libraries & Research, Govt Of J&K|website=www.jkpubliclibraries.nic.in}}</ref>

In 2017, the department showcased 700 year old writings of [[Sanskrit]], [[Persia language|Persian]], and [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] in the library. It also include the [[handwriting|handwritten]] [[Quran]] with gold, [[Bhagavad Gita]], and a detailed account of some living creatures in [[papier-mâché]]. Some historical books written around 1870 on textile in Kashmiri language, including [[Luqman]]'s 100 advises to his son were also made available in the library.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://risingkashmir.com/news/rarest-of-rare-books-put-on-display|title=Rarest of rare books put on display|website=Rising Kashmir|access-date=11 July 2020|archive-date=14 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714221911/http://risingkashmir.com/news/rarest-of-rare-books-put-on-display|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Places===
In 2015, the government along with associated state-owned agencies upgraded the [[Gani Memorial Stadium]], a [[Stadium|place or venue]] built and named after Gani Kashmiri in Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar.<ref name="Greater Kashmir 2015">{{cite web | title=Gani Memorial Stadium mocks at indifferent Govt | website=Greater Kashmir | date=2015-03-13 | url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/sports/gani-memorial-stadium-mocks-at-indifferent-govt/ | access-date=2020-07-13}}</ref> Later in 2019, the government spent ₹12 [[million]] for installing 120 [[floodlight]]s across the stadium, making it to become the first place in Rajouri Kadal equipped with broad-beamed lights.<ref name="Kashmir Life 2019">{{cite web | title=Floodlights worth Rs 1.24 Cr installed at Gani Memorial Stadium in Shehre-e-Khas | website=Kashmir Life | date=2019-07-10 | url=https://kashmirlife.net/floodlights-worth-rs-1-24-cr-installed-at-gani-memorial-stadium-in-shehre-e-khas-214704/ | access-date=2020-07-13}}</ref>
A hostel for research scholars near Sir Syed Gate at University of Kashmir, Hazratbal is named after Gani Kashmiri as Gani Kashmiri Research Scholars Inn.

==Books==
* {{cite book | last= Farooqi | first=Mufti Mudasir | title=The Captured Gazelle: The Poems of Ghani Kashmiri | publisher=Penguin UK | year=2013 | isbn=978-81-8475-995-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ne9JQ9xATsEC | access-date=2020-07-11 | page=280}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book | last=Nahvi Quadri | first=Dr. Neelofar Naaz | title=Gani Kashmiri | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h3idQbv2xyUC | access-date=2020-07-11 }}
* {{cite book | last=Nahvi Quadri | first=Dr. Neelofar Naaz | title=Gani Kashmiri: Hayat Aur Shairi | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KQvtekNyNKUC | access-date=2020-07-11 | page=186}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

===Notes===
{{notelist}}

== External links ==
* [https://famineanddearth.exeter.ac.uk/displayhtml.html?id=fp_00717_fa_diwaneghanikashmiri Diwan-e-Ghani Kashmiri] at [[University of Exeter]]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kashmiri, Gani}}
[[Category:Kashmiri people]]
[[Category:Kashmiri poets]]
[[Category:Kashmiri Muslims]]
[[Category:Kashmiri writers]]
[[Category:1630s births]]
[[Category:1669 deaths]]
[[Category:17th-century Persian-language poets]]
[[Category:Poets from the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:People from Srinagar district]]
[[Category:Poets from Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing]]

Gani Kashmiri - Revision history

SherleneGirardi at 20:40, 2 December 2025