28/07/2025
*Remembering Tak Zainagiri Marhoom-The Eidhi of Kashmir
Marhoom Abdul Khaliq Tak Zaina Giri, a renowned social worker of Jammu & Kashmir and the founder of the Jammu & Kashmir Yateem Trust, was born in 1924 in the village of Harda Shurus, situated 11 kilometers from the town of Sopore. He was born into a poor yet educated household. His father was a tailor by profession and also served as the unpaid Imam of the village mosque. He was the eldest among four brothers.
Since his father was a devout man and a qualified scholar of Arabic and Persian, Abdul Khaliq received his early education in these languages at home under his father's guidance. He completed his schooling up to the 8th grade in his village school and later passed his matriculation exam in 1940 with distinction from a school in Sopore under the University of Lahore. He had the distinction of being the first matriculate student from the entire Zaina Giri area.
Although he was a highly talented and promising student, family responsibilities and financial constraints compelled him to seek a government job. He joined the Revenue Department as a Patwari (village-level land records officer) during a period when land settlement work was in full swing in the region. Patwaris in those days had to work extremely hard, often in remote and harsh climatic conditions.
His early postings were in Lolab and Handwara, where he dutifully performed his responsibilities. During this period, he also came into contact with scholars, elders, and Sufi saints. According to his son, Mr. Zahoor Ahmad Tak, the present patron of the Jammu & Kashmir Yateem Trust, a mystic named Munawwar Sahib once met Abdul Khaliq and profoundly altered the course of his life. Following this, he became noticeably reserved and contemplative.
Although already religious-minded, this encounter sparked a deep inner transformation. He later received spiritual guidance from saints like Kausar Sahib Bandipori, Mama Sahib Kupwara, and Mirak Shah Kashani. This spiritual awakening made him increasingly sensitive to the suffering of others. He became disturbed by the corruption and injustice within his department and among public servants generally.
He openly confronted corrupt colleagues and officials who harassed the poor or accepted bribes. As a result, he faced isolation and backlash from peers and seniors, and complaints against him even reached ministers and revenue advisors. Yet, he remained steadfast in defending the poor and marginalized. At one point, a conspiracy was hatched to defame him, but by the grace of God, those behind it were exposed and humiliated.
He was later promoted to the post of Girdawar (Senior Land Record Officer) and served in areas like Sopore, Charar Sharif, and Kulgam. Throughout his career, he traveled across Kashmir, concerned with social issues and their solutions. His empathy and people-centric approach earned him love and respect from the public.
As a Writer and Linguist
Even during his service, he nurtured his literary interests. He wrote poetry and authored an award-winning book on the dialects of the Kashmiri language, which earned him recognition both among common people and in literary circles. He passed his exams for "Munshi" and "Adib Urdu" and also qualified for the "Honours" examination.
After clearing departmental exams, he was appointed Naib Tehsildar (Deputy Revenue Officer) in 1965 and posted to Drass, Kargil during the Indo-Pak war. He served there amid artillery fire and tense conditions. In 1967, he was transferred and posted as Vice Principal at the Revenue Training School Srinagar, under Principal Dr. Aziz Ahmad, where he trained junior officers in land settlement and revenue procedures.
In recognition of his literary talents, he was appointed Editor of the Kashmiri Section of the Cultural Academy, where he served from 1968 to 1972. He later returned to his department, briefly worked as Naib Tehsildar, and also served as Reader to the Financial Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar.
Having founded the Jammu & Kashmir Yateem Trust in 1972, his focus increasingly shifted to social and literary work. Disillusioned with bureaucracy, he opted for voluntary retirement in 1977 and dedicated himself to serving humanity.
As a Distinguished Literary Figure
Very few people are gifted with multiple talents and even fewer succeed in multiple fields simultaneously. Abdul Khaliq Tak was one such rare personality—a successful civil servant, Kashmir's foremost social worker, and a distinguished literary figure.
Born into a family where his father was an Arabic and Persian teacher and a mosque Imam, he was exposed to linguistic finesse early on. Despite financial hardships, he passed matriculation with distinction and joined government service as a Patwari. His love for poetry and spiritual music was evident from his youth, and he frequently interacted with senior poets and elders of his time. He was also influenced by the legendary poet Mahjoor Sahib.
He formally began composing poetry in 1956 and published three volumes under the title "Myon Aalo" ("My Voice"). Being a field officer in rural Kashmir, he had firsthand knowledge of the suffering of the underprivileged. This empathy led him to challenge bureaucratic delays and official apathy, resulting in the creation of a powerful dramatic poem titled "Azch Kashir" ("This is Kashmir"). The poem boldly criticized the government and administrative system of the time and was subsequently banned.
His most significant literary achievement, however, was his linguistic research work titled "Kashiryok Alaqa Waar Phera"—a monumental study completed over seven years, under the supervision of Prof. Mohiuddin Hajini.
This work involved extensive travel across Kashmir, Jammu, Ladakh, and even parts of Azad Kashmir, all funded from his own pocket.
After the works of Prof. George Grierson, this was considered the most comprehensive linguistic study on the Kashmiri language. The book won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1970 and several other regional honors, including from the J&K Cultural Academy.
"Kashiryok Alaqa Waar Phera" is a milestone in Kashmiri linguistics—a curriculum in itself for understanding dialects and linguistic structures. Thousands of scholars and students have benefited from it. At a time when Kashmiri is under threat from both indigenous neglect and external linguistic domination, this book can act as a torchbearer for future generations.
As Editor and Language Contributor
As an editor in the Cultural Academy, he contributed immensely to the development of Kashmiri literature. He oversaw the compilation of a Kashmiri Dictionary, curated folk tales and songs, and rendered invaluable service to the language. He served as a selfless guardian of Kashmiri language and culture.
He lived like a dervish, committed to his land, culture, and roots. He spent most of his life in a rented house, never sought personal gain, and remained deeply attached to his origins.
His complete poetic works were compiled posthumously in 2011 by Advocate Abdul Rashid Hanjura under the title "Sab Rang". His poetry focused on the poor and downtrodden—the seekers of truth, the oppressed, the beggars, the grievers. It blended Sufism, spirituality, and even modernism.
Thus, Marhoom Tak was not only a responsible civil servant and a successful social reformer, but also a respected and profound poet and writer. His literary contributions are a treasure for the Kashmiri nation.
May Allah accept his services and enable others to benefit from them. Ameen.
YATEEM TRUST UNIT PAMPORE
