Ground Report

Jammu,March 16 -As a noted journalist and writer Shamsuddin Shameem has joined a group of those journalists from Jammu and Kashmir who had passed away during the last 15 years. While we will miss Shameem who passed away on Thursday in Srinagar those including J.N.Sathu,Shyam Kaul,O.N. Kaul,Mohan Chiragi,S.D.Rohmetra,Sonnahullah Bhat,G.M.Sofi and others would welcome him in heaven..

Well Jammu and Kashmir has lost a number of seasoned journalists during the last over years and Shameem is one among them whose facile pen,dew drop like delicate smile,and feather soft sense of humour may be remembered by his colleagues and friends for years to come.

Kashmir Independent Press (KIP) in a News bulletin said that Shameem worked hard,while working with the Radio and Doordarshan,as far as feeding the the electronic media with day to day stories,commentative items and news features.At times he would not crush his desire for writing a column or two for local newspapers.

During the last three years he remained perturbed by prolonged ailment of his wife without knowing that he would leave her behind as a widow.Even being worried over is wife's health problem Shameem neither slowed down his output as a journalist nor did he drop the idea of writing a book on the history of Kashmir journalism with reference to
the life and achievements of Kashmiri newsmen and editors.

On a number of occasions he would discuss the contents of the book and sought help from friends in procuring material on some of the journalists.However,during the last one year we have remained out of touch.

According to KIP Shameem was a hardworking journalist with a nose for news.Despite being in contact with senior political leaders and bureaucrats I have never seen him seeking personal favours.He was not cast in the mould of a beggar journalist seeking favours from political leaders.Instead he kept his chin high and moved on like the Lake water under clear sky.

His colleagues and all those who knew him would treat him as a noted journalist.And this very gentle and noted journalist passed away in Srinagar on Thursday evening at SKIMS .He was 64.Shameem was ailing for the past some years. Despite curfew, hundreds of people participated in his Nimaz-e-Jinaza which itself indicated how much
popular he was.

Shameem had started his career in 1970 as reporter in Daily Aftab edited by Khawaja Sanaullah Bhat and later worked in Chinar edited by Muhammad Amin Pandit.

He authored a book ‘Veeraney’ and several of his short stories including ‘Ungliyan’ and ‘Begur Bani’ were adapted as TV plays. One of his TV serials Mouj (Mother) became popular. Besides, he wrote several plays, nearly 100 features, short stories and articles in Urdu and Kashmiri. He was also associated with a literary journal Ilm-o-Danish
edited by an ex-minister Peer Gayas-ud-din.

Shameem joined Doordarshan as reporter in 1984 and superannuated in 2006. Shameem penned a short story ‘Agagi’ revolving around the 2010 summer unrest which received wide appreciation. He was associated with Kashmir Cultural League headed by Mirza Arif Beg and was co-founder of Talash-e-Adab and Kashmir Writers Club.

Shamim is survived by wife, a son and daughter. And Shameem's subtle and soft smile,that his face usually wore,may continue to be missed by his friends.