Ghani Kashmiri - The Forgotten Poet Of Kashmir.

The 17th century poet, Ghani Kashmiri, is among the most eminent Persian poets that subcontinent has produced. In his lifetime, his fame spread beyond the borders of India, with Iranians recognizing him as one of the great masters of their poetry. 
 Noted historian, Muhammad Yousuf Taing, told Greater Kashmir that Ghani Kashmiri was recognized by the Iranians as one among the elite Persian poets from Indian sub-continent who included Amir-Khusru and Faizi.
 Ghani, he said, belonged to  Ashai dynasty. His grave is situated at a short distance from the house near the shrine of the renowned saint Syed Bladoori Rumi in Rajouri Kadal. At present, the grave is neglected and buried under rubble.
 In 1909, Taing said, Justice Muhammad Hussain Arif of Punjab High Court visited Ghani Kashmiri’s grave and commented thus: “shikasta haal wan par Ghani ka maqbara dekha (I saw Ghani’s grave in a shambles)”
 He said that Ghani Kashmiri was a student of Mohsin Faani who taught at a school in Gurgari mohalla in Shahri khaas. 
 One of Ghani’s students, Muslim, wrote an elegy on Ghani’s death in which he mentions his date of death as 1079 AH (1668 AD).
 Ghani became a legend in his life time. It is said that Saib, an eminent Persian poet from Iran, traveled all the way to Srinagar to ascertain the meaning of a word Ghani had used in his famous couplet: “moi-e-miyane tu shudah kralapan / kard juda kasa-e-sar ha ze tan.” (Addressing his beloved, the poet says: your hair-thin waist is as sharp as a potter’s thread; it has cut many a skull off their bodies).
 It was Ghani who composed the following verse to commemorate the date of death of famous Kashmiri poet, Abu Talib Kaleem: “tur-e-mani bood raushan az Kaleem” (the Sinai of meaning had got its effulgence from Kaleem).

Some anecdotes

1. Ghani Kashmiri used to close all doors while at home, but leave these open when he was away. When somebody asked him why he did this strange thing, he replied, “What people see me doing is quite right. I am the only treasure in the house. When I am in, the house is to be guarded like a treasure-house. When I am out, it is an empty place, which nobody would care to walk into.”

2. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb sent an order to his governor, Saif Khan, to send Ghani to his court at Delhi. Khan summoned Ghani and conveyed the emperor’s order to him. Ghani replied, “Tell the emperor that Ghani has become insane and so cannot attend his court.” Saif Khan said “How can I tell him you are insane when you are fully in your senses”. Ghani tore his shirt and left Saif Khan’s room like a raving lunatic. The poet died three days later.

~ Adapted.