Kashmir's legendary poet and Jnanpith awardee Rehman Rahi passes away

Srinagar: Kashmir's legendary poet and Jnanpith awardee Rehman Rahi passed away in Srinagar on Monday.

98-year-old Rahi died in the wee hours at his Srinagar residence, family sources said.

He received various honours for his immense contributions to the language.

Rahi was awarded the Indian Sahitya Akademi Award in 1961 for his poetry collection Nawroz-i-Saba, the Padma Shri in 2000 and India's highest literary award, the Jnanpith award Award (for the year 2004) in 2007.

He is the first Kashmiri writer to be awarded the Jnanpith, India's highest literary award for his poetic collection Siyah Rood Jaeren Manz (In Black Drizzle). He was honored with Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2000 by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.

He taught at the University of Kashmir and mentored thousands of students and scholars. He also wrote the University anthem. (UNI)