The ist pregatemist and one who penned down a plethora of Islamic texts into persian and arabic in Kashmir.
Syed Ameer Shah Bukhari Kreeri-The pioneer of Epic poetry
Kashmir is known for its rich cultural heritage. Great works of the writers and scholars form Kashmir have won great applause, awards and recognition from the literally circles. Although some of these illustrious personalities have received nice treatment from the historians who have recorded the times of Kashmir. However there are some unsung heroes too. One such unsung hero of our glorious past is Ameer Shah Kreeri.
Ameer-ud-din Bukhari, popularly known as Ameer Shah Kreeri has great contribution to the world of Kashmiri as well as Persian literature. Pioneer of epic poetry, Shah used to be a popular house hold name for his epic poetry that was the only medium of amusement in absence of the modern day mass media instruments. Shah also had the distinction in his unique religious poetry for writing Naats etc. Some of his exploited works are still popular, like when he says.
It's because of Sufi saints that writers of Kashmir were able to translate many Persian books into Kashmiri to make Kashmiri cultural rich in every respect. One of the pioneers of Kashmiri language is Ameer shah born and brought up in the village Kreeri 40 kilometers away from Srinagar city. He has contributed lot to the Kashmiri literature and translated many Persian books in Kashmiri language and has written many books and naat in Kashmiri language.
Ameer shah Kreeri is a well versed in Persian and Kashmiri literature and his contribution in the field of Kashmiri literature is praise worthy. His writing not only include epic poetry but also religious poetry with the touch of Arabic and Persian vocabulary which makes his writings more interesting and heart touching.
Few books which have been published by J&K Academy of Art Culture and Languages have been prescribed in the syllabus of MA in Kashmiri at the University of Kashmir.
Born in the year 1837, Ameer shah belonged to the literate family of Mir Hamzatullah Bukhari and Syed Hajji Murad Bukhari well known spiritual and learned scholars of Kashmiri history.
Abdul Ahad Azad a well known historian of Kashmiri language and literature said that Ameer Shah belongs to such a dynasty which is well known throughout the sub-continent for its great contribution in the fields of religion and literature. Azad while acknowledging the great works of Ameer Shah is of the opinion that Ameer is perhaps the only scholar of his times who has contributed such a big treasure to the Kashmiri language. Only few works of Ameer Shah, published by the cultural academy have drawn wide appreciation and his Kulyaat published in Two Volumes is present in almost all the big libraries of the sub-continent.
Another important marvelous work of Ameer shah is the unique piece of calligraphy in the form of the SHAJRA-UL-NASAB. In this manuscript Ameer has made use of his inherent potential of using his pen on paper. Making use of the limited available material for writing and in absence of the geometrical instruments Shah has made use of the available natural colors and the bottle lids to make circles. The manuscript is definitely a master piece of calligraphy. Ameer Shah has been acclaimed as the master in using the seven artistic usages (KHATS) of calligraphy. Shah has been titled as the Haft Kalmee that means the he was skilled to perform seven styles of calligraphy.
When some books of Shah, published by the then publishing house in Kashmir, Noor Mohammad and Ali Mohammad TajiraniQutub came to light they used to sell like hot cakes in the entire sub-continent as the books were published only from Lahore Pakistan.
The epic poetry and the travelogues by this great poet are still a passion in some pockets of the country side. Radio Kashmir and Doordarshan is still playing few of his 'Daastaans' by well known Dastaan Singer Mohammad Ismail Mir.
Most of his followers including his son Mir Syed Qabool Shah Bukhari r.a Kreeri have put this on record that Ameer had devoted his life for the literature and the Islamic upliftment. However majority of the works of this great son of soil are yet gathering dust and need of the hour is to get these works published at an earliest so that these marvelous manuscripts are brought to the light.