Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 19: Kashmiri poet Ali Mohammad Reshi, popularly known as Ali Shaida, says his decades-long literary journey, rooted in hard work and perseverance since 1970, has culminated in one of India’s highest literary honors, the Sahitya Akademi Award 2025.
Reshi has been awarded in the Kashmiri language category for his poetry collection “Najdavaneky Pot Aalav” (The Echoes of Nijdavan), a work noted for blending tradition with contemporary expression and for its literary depth and cultural sensitivity.
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Hailing from Nipora village in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, Reshi recalls developing an interest in writing and reading from a young age, with his formal literary journey beginning in 1970. He says his college years in 1971, along with guidance from teachers and writers, played a key role in shaping his craft. “I met very good teachers and writers who inspired me. From there, I got a takeoff in literature,” he says.
His early works appeared in local newspapers before finding space in national magazines and were later broadcast on radio and television, helping him reach a wider audience.
Over the years, Reshi has authored 11 books, six in Kashmiri, four in Urdu, and one in English, including a translated work. He says four more books are expected to be published this year.
The award-winning collection, published in 2022, is his sixth book in Kashmiri. According to Reshi, the work introduces new themes and seeks to give Kashmiri poetry a modern direction. “This book carries new themes. I have tried to give a new direction to Kashmiri poetry so that it can compete with other languages,” he says.
He adds that the collection experiments with new metaphors, vocabulary, and techniques while also retaining elements of poetic heritage. The book features a mix of ghazals, nazms, and prose poetry-which he says is gaining global popularity-as well as rubaiyat and other forms, including newer genres such as Satri Nazm.
Describing the Sahitya Akademi Award as a prestigious honor, Reshi says the recognition comes after years of sustained effort. “Such recognition at a high level brings great happiness. It takes years of hard work and dedication,” he says.
The Sahitya Akademi Award is presented annually for outstanding works in 24 recognized Indian languages and carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, along with a copper plaque and a shawl.
Reshi expresses gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, the Sahitya Akademi, fellow writers, teachers, friends, and the media for their support, calling the award a moment of pride for his family and well-wishers.
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