Khalid Bashir Ahmad

Khalid Bashir Ahmad
BornKashmir, India
OccupationAuthor, poet, former civil servant
LanguageEnglish, Urdu
NationalityKashmiri
EducationUniversity of Kashmir

Khalid Bashir Ahmad is a Kashmiri author, poet, and former civil servant, known for his works on the socio-political landscape of Kashmir.[1][2] He has made significant contributions through his literary works, especially in historical analysis and poetry. Ahmad also served in the Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS), holding key positions such as Director of Information and Public Relations and Secretary of the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages.[3]

Early Life and Education

Khalid Bashir Ahmad was born in Kashmir and pursued his early education in the region. He graduated with honors in Political Science from SP College in 1975 and later pursued a master's degree in sociology at Aligarh Muslim University. However, health issues forced him to return to Kashmir, where he joined the University of Kashmir. Ahmad excelled in his studies, topping the admission lists for various departments, and eventually completed his postgraduate degree in political science from 1975 to 1977.[3][4]

Career and Literary Works

Ahmad began his career in civil service, holding important positions within the Kashmir Administrative Services. His notable administrative roles include Director of Information and Public Relations and Secretary of the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages.

As a writer, Ahmad is recognized for his critical analysis of Kashmir's history. His landmark book, Kashmir: Exposing the Myth Behind the Narrative (2017), challenges historical claims about the region's past, particularly those made by Kashmiri Pandit organizations regarding forced migration. He critiques the Rajatarangini by Kalhana and advocates for a balanced understanding of Kashmir's cultural history that includes both Persian and Sanskrit traditions.[5]

Ahmad is also the author of other influential works such as Jhelum: The River Through My Backyard, Kashmir: Looking Back in Time, and Kashmir: A Walk Through History, which explore Kashmir's complex political and cultural heritage

Books

  • Kashmir: Exposing the Myth Behind the Narrative (2017)[6]
  • Jhelum: The River Through My Backyard[7]
  • Kashmir: Looking Back in Time[8]
  • Kashmir: A Walk Through History[9]

References

  1. ^ "Khalid Bashir's Latest 'Kashmir Discovery' Setting Records Straight". Kashmir Observer. 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  2. ^ Zutshi, Chitralekha (2017-10-24). "This book claims to expose the myths behind Kashmir's history. It exposes its own biases instead". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  3. ^ a b Life, Kashmir (2013-04-22). "Down the Memory Lane". Kashmir Life. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  4. ^ "Khalid Bashir's Latest 'Kashmir Discovery' Setting Records Straight – Kashmir Observer". 2024-02-25. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  5. ^ Payal, Manoj (2022-10-25). "Book Review | Kashmir: Exposing the Myth behind the Narrative | Khalid Bashir Ahmad". BooksPoetry&More. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  6. ^ Ahmad, Khalid Bashir (2017-07-20). Kashmir: Exposing the Myth behind the Narrative. SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-93-86062-80-2.
  7. ^ Ahmad, Khalid Bashir (2001). Jhelum, the River Through My Backyard. Bookman Publishers.
  8. ^ Ahmad, Khalid Bashir (2023). Kashmir: Looking Back in Time. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-8126932405.
  9. ^ Ahmad, Khalid Bashir (2019). Kashmir: A Walk Through History. Gulshan Books. ISBN 978-81-8339-574-8.