Professor Hamidi Kashmiri started his early education from Bohri Kadal, Srinagar. He started writing at an early age. As per his statement in an interview with Rafiq Raz and others in radio Kashmir, he first wrote some Na’at and Mankabat, he was advised to consult a mystic poet known as Hassan Driver, and some another sufi poet. Both of them guided him and he earned some name within his locality.
Hamidi Sahab in addition to Kashmiri adopted Urdu, both prose and poetry, and earned name and fame. It gave him tremendous popularity, not only in literally circles of J&K but at the sub continental level. During his services as lecturer in Kashmir University he remained closer to the literally figures like Abdul Qadir Sarvarri, Alie Ahmad Surror, Prof Jagannath Azad, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Shamim Hanfi, M.Y. Taing, Geelani Bano, Sardar Jaffri, Shamus-ul-Rehman Farooqi. Besides these he always shared his ideas with his closest associates like Prof Margoob Banihali, Shakeel-ul-Rehman, M Abdullah Shaida, Qazi Gh. Mohammed, G.R. Malik, Muzaffar Ahmad Khan (Farootan), Amin Indrabi, M. Zaman Azurdha, Majeed Muzmir, Bashir A Nahvi, Mehbooba Wani, and even to his students like Rukhsana Jabeen, Shafaq Sopori, Nazir Azad, Farid Parbate; to hisd students his patronage as a luminary proved a remarkable influence.
Hamidi Sahb is known by his personal concept on criticism known as Aktishafi Tanqeed, in which Hamidi Sahab has tried to display the wings of the words which becomes indispensable in poetry. Famous critic and closest contemporary of Hamidi Sahab Gopi Chand Narang writes about this critical concept,
“That by virtue of the lingual quantum of verse which dramatic picture arrows needs to be personified first. Before entering into the world of verse it should denote its aesthetic sense then meaning which has the secondary importance, it is up to the will of reader that what meaning he absorbs from it”. Sheeraza Hamidi Kashmir Number
As a prolific writer Hamidi Sahab wrote some 50 books covering various aspects of literature such as Poetry, Novel, Fiction, Criticism, Literal historiography etc. Ainame Ibraaq, Mahasir Tanqeed, Iqtishafi Tanqeed Ki Sheryat besides his some Kashmiri books like Jadeed Kashir Shari, Maqbool Shah Kralwarri, Yath Main Jooie etc. His Jadeed kashmir Shari is a landmark in contemporary poetic history of Kashmiri language, after Abdul Ahad Azad’s and Naji Munaver/Shafi Shooq’s literal Historiography.
Prof Hamidi Kashmiri during his literal activities bagged some awards and honors such as Galib Award, Sahitya Akademi Award and Padmashri. It is surprising that the eminent writer has not been a recipient of any state award during his life.
Besides being an eminent and outstanding writer Hamidi Sahab was a humble human being, a judicious man, with a typical Kashmiri wit. His tune as a speaker was never crossing the boundaries of discipline. He was always subdued in his speech. As a student of Kashmir University from 1984 to 1995, both in active and passive stages, I remained close to Hamidi Sahb by virtue the research and teachings of Prof Marjoob Banihali. I remember one incident. Hamidi Sahab told in a Seminar that “I was listening the Radio Pakistan Urdu news in which the news reader used the word Nej Kari. The word hit me and I started to use it.”
Hamidi Sahb was really a pious man (Darvash Sifat) during his Vice-Chancellorship in Kashmir University he justified his position in a glorified manner. As a mark of respect KU must at least on his name a hostel, or some library block against him. That will be our tribute to the eminent soul. Lastly I express some verses from my elegy towards Hamidi Sahb;
My Master My Friend
You Remained Closer To My Soul and Body
In Every Action Their Was Beauty
As If God Was Being Seen By You
Life Was Colorfull By You
Just Like Rainbow Was Shining in Dal Lake
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