SRINAGAR, Aug. 12 -- Celebrated Kashmiri poet, translator and critic Rehman Rahi (1925-2023)-the only Kashmiri ever to receive the prestigious Jnanpith Award-was the focus of a two-day national seminar jointly organised by the Department of Urdu, University of Kashmir (KU), and the Sahitya Akademi, Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Widely regarded as a major literary voice, Rahi's Kashmiri poetry and Urdu scholarship bridged regional and national literatures, while his role as a translator, critic, and author of the University anthem cemented his place as a cultural icon.

Vice-Chancellor KU, Prof. Nilofer Khan, who was the chief guest at the inaugural session, recalled Rahi's lasting impact on literary and cultural life and annou...