Prof Shad Ramzan to Receive SaMaPa Nund Rishi Samman 2025

SRINAGAR: SaMaPa, the Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts, has announced that noted poet and scholar Prof Shad Ramzan will receive the prestigious SaMaPa Nund Rishi Samman 2025 for his outstanding contribution to Kashmiri literature. Prof Ramzan, one of the leading contemporary voices in the Kashmiri language and currently the head of the Sahitya Akademi in Jammu and Kashmir, has been recognised for his decades-long work as a poet, researcher and cultural custodian.

The honour is named after Sheikh-ul-Alam, the revered saint of Kashmir, whose spiritual legacy is central to the idea of Kashmiriyat. The award is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions in fields such as music, theatre, literature, films, documentaries, sculpture and other creative arts.

SaMaPa, founded by the legendary music maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori, said the selection was made on the recommendation of its award committee comprising Dr Aparna Sopori, Dr Rafeeq Masoodi, Pandit Vijay Shankar Mishra, Shahnaz Rasheed and other prominent cultural figures. The academy noted that Prof Ramzan’s work has enriched Kashmiri literature and inspired a new generation of scholars and readers.

Established as a national cultural movement, SaMaPa has long been known for promoting traditional music and performing arts, and for acting as a bridge between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country. Its annual awards are considered among the most respected honours dedicated to the region’s artistic and literary heritage.

The Nund Rishi Samman will be presented at the next edition of the SaMaPa festival to be held in Delhi next year. SaMaPa said the date will be announced in advance as the awards are presented in person. The academy has requested Prof Ramzan to confirm his acceptance and share a brief profile along with a high-resolution photograph.

Congratulating Prof Shad Ramzan, SaMaPa said the award acknowledges his lifelong commitment to preserving, interpreting and expanding the literary and cultural traditions of Kashmir.