Aab Chu Dazaan (Water in Flames)

When the irreproachable Khawaja speaks, Kashmiris listen and sometimes even read

(Khawaja Farooq Renzu Shah, 54, was born in Srinagar. He matriculated from the Government Higher Secondary School in Nawa Kadal, and attended Sri Pratap College, Srinagar. He completed his L.L.B. degree from the University of Kashmir, securing the first position and a gold medal. He subsequently entered the Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS), and has served as District Commissioner, Budgam, and presently is the Director of Information in the state service. He spends his leisure time writing novels and working on spiritual communication, and writing and propogating friendship, peace, progress and unity among the people of all religions and identities.)

When RenzuShah Sets Water on Fire, Kashmiri Attracts Pahari

Srinagar: Prominent bureaucrat and author, Khawaja Farooq RenzuShah has literally set water on fire by authoring a novel Aab Chu Dazaan (Water in flames), which even after two years of hitting the book stands is so hot that it recently got translated in Pahari while none other than Governor NN Vohra on Monday released the regional language version Pani Bich Pahmad amid applauds from the audience.

But the City function didn’t end here. The audience at the jam packed SKICC auditorium on Dal banks was surprised to know that RenzuShah’s contribution in the field of literature is so monumental that at least two scholars till now have done their Masters in Philosophy on his books.

GOVERNOR SPEAKS

While congratulating RenzuShah for having written such a novel, Vohra said his contribution could help promote brotherhood.

“Although I haven’t read the book but what I heard about it is surely going to help promote brotherhood,” the Governor said adding “It’s a very big contribution.”

He asked the author and others “like him” to contribute more towards literature so that “there’s more of harmony in the country with 1.22 crore population.”

“There’s a need to live amid peace and harmony because only this will lead us to prosperity,” the Governor said.

“This is because literature is born out of love and sympathy.”

RENZUSHAH IS DISTINCT: CIC

Chief Information Commissioner GR Sufi while hailing RenzuShah said the author was beyond a “routine bureaucrat.”

“Most important thing is that Bureaucrats are mostly busy with files and not all like me can do what he (RenzuShah) has been doing by contributing towards literature.”

Paharis Congratulate

President of a Pahari forum, Syed Mushtaq Bukhari said the translation of the book in Pahari had brought the language to limelight because of RenzuShah.

“All the eleven thousand Pahari people should feel proud of this event,” he said.

THE TRANSLATOR

Prominent writer Parvez Manoos who has authored 13 books in Urdu and Pahari said that it was his chance interaction with RenzuShah at Civil Secretariat sometime back that the idea of Pahari version realized.

“I told him that I have read his Aab Chu Dazaan and aspire to translate the same, to which he happily agreed,” Manoos, who transated the book, said.

RENZUSHAH'S WORK ATTRACTS RESEARCH

RenzuShah who has authored no less than 11 books including the heart touching titles like Zakhmu Ki Salgirah, Kutta Bhonkta Hai, Dhoobtay Kinaray, Inqilaab Ka Shaheed, Jheel Jalti Hai and Bhanwar Meri Manzil has proved to be food-for-thought for the research scholars.

Irfan Qureshi happens to be second in the list of people who till now have successfully completed M Phil degrees on books by RenzuShah.

Qureshi said it was “simply great” working on the life and contribution of a soft-hearted man with a brave and revolutionary pen.”

CALL FOR ‘LOVE REVOLUTION’

RenzuShah, who also happens to be Director Information, in his welcome address turned nostalgic of his college days when he started writing novels way back in 1975 as a student of SP College. He candidly admitted that he was never watchful of what he writes till a few years back when the first M Phil was completed on his contribution. “That day I realized that some watchful eyes are always meticulously after what we write,” he said at the event hosted by Kashmir Society.

RenzuShah said there was need to translate Kashmiri literature in foreign languages because people abroad are eager to read the same adding that it would lead to “revolution of love across the globe”.

Referring to his lectures abroad, he said while addressing at California University he spoke about contribution of Sheikh Ul Alam (RA) and the audience was curious to read about “Awlia-e-Kiraam”.

RenzuShah who is equally known for English newspaper columns on “Awlia-e-Kiraam” said: “Only good literature can lead to revolution of love and this is what is needed.”

VCS SPEAK

While Kashmir University VC, Professor Talat Ahmed said RenzuShah’s work be translated in other languages, his Central University counterpart Prof Abdul Wahid said: “There’s an undercurrent of Sufism in his literature.”

(Greater Kashmir)