Veteran Journalist, Poet and Playwright Fayaz Dilbar Passes Away

SRINAGAR: Kashmir’s celebrated playwright, poet, and journalist Fayaz Dilbar passed away in Srinagar following a major heart attack on Sunday evening. He was 68.

Dilbar, who had been suffering from chest-related ailments, reportedly suffered the fatal attack around 8 pm. His funeral will be held on Monday at around 11 am in his native village, Darbagh, Harwan. He is survived by his wife, artist and printmaker Nasreen Mohsin, and their son, an architectural engineer.

Born and raised in Maharaj Gunj, Srinagar, Fayaz Dilbar began his journalistic journey with Srinagar Times before co-founding the Kashmir News Bureau (KNB) along with fellow journalist and writer Imdad Saqi in the early 1980s. Operating from the Dar Building at Madina Chowk, the bureau became one of the most active news agencies of its time.

On the suggestion of the veteran journalist Vinod Dua, Dilbar later moved to Delhi in 1988, where he joined The Sunday Observer and went on to work in the visual media section. His career in the capital marked an important phase of his creative and professional life, blending journalism with his growing interest in literature, theatre, and poetry.

In a joint statement, Tehreek Baqaie Urdu and the Anjuman Literary Forum expressed deep sorrow over his demise. The organisations, under the convenorship of Imdad Saqi, described Dilbar’s death as “an irreparable loss to the Urdu literary and journalistic circles of Jammu and Kashmir.”

“Faiyaz was not only my colleague but also my companion from the early years when we together ran the KNB News Agency from Dar Building, Madina Chowk,” Saqi said in his condolence message. “His journey from Maharaj Gunj to Delhi was marked by dedication, literary brilliance, and journalistic integrity. He embodied the spirit of Urdu with an unwavering commitment to truth and art.”

Veteran journalist Yousuf Jameel also expressed grief over the passing of his longtime friend, recalling their early professional association and personal bond. “We didn’t meet until the early 1980s, when he and Imdad Saqi jointly ran the KNB news agency. On Vinod Dua’s suggestion, Faiyaz later moved to Delhi, where he carved out a distinguished career as a journalist, author, poet, and playwright,” Jameel said.

Jameel remembered how Dilbar and his wife stood by him during a difficult period following the 1995 parcel bomb explosion that killed journalist Mushtaq Ali and left Jameel grievously injured. “It was Faiyaz and Nasreen who stood by us, sharing our grief and helping us find a home in their Delhi neighbourhood,” he said.

An accomplished writer and filmmaker, Dilbar was known for his deep engagement with Urdu literature and Kashmiri art. His 2004 Ghazal collection Haarnìs Taapas Andar, with a foreword by Jnanpith awardee Rahman Rahi, remains a landmark contribution to modern Kashmiri poetry. He had also made news recently for initiating legal action against a US-based NGO for allegedly using his lyrics without credit in a music album.

Alongside his literary and journalistic pursuits, Dilbar had, in recent years, dedicated himself to the Kashmir Art and Artists Foundation (KAAF), which he co-founded with his wife. Nestled in the foothills of Harwan overlooking Dal Lake, the KAAF Studio opened in September 2025 as the region’s first printmaking studio. The initiative brought leading Indian printmakers to Kashmir and was envisioned by the couple as a space for young artists to grow “without leaving home.”

Remembered as a man of intellect, warmth, and wit, Fayaz Dilbar’s passing marks the end of an era for Urdu letters and Kashmiri theatre. “He will be remembered for his intellect, warmth, and lasting contributions to Urdu journalism and literature,” the Anjuman Literary Forum said in its tribute.

He leaves behind a rich legacy of words, art, and integrity—one that will continue to echo through the valley’s literary and cultural circles for years to come.