Sajood Sailani
Sajood Sailani was a Kashmiri playwright, painter, theater artist, cartoonist and a poet. He is primarily recognized for his radio plays written in regional languages. He produced his work in Urdu and Kashmiri languages and wrote about 150 radio plays, 27 stage dramas and 40 comedies throughout his career. In the latter years of his career, he wrote a play titled Kaej Raath, leading him to become the recipient of [List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Kashmiri|Sahitya Akademi Award under Kashmiris|Kashmiri category] in 1994. He also served as a member of Sahitya Akademi's advisory board from 1973 to 1977 and in 1990.
He was born as Ghulam Mohammed Wani around 1936 in Dalgate Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He is survived by three children, including two sons Showkat Shehri and Manzoor Ahmad and a daughter.
Biography
He played a prominent role in popularizing modern Kashmiri theatre during 70s and 80s when he established Wani Art Gallery. He started his career after being inspired by the All India Radio's night show Hawa Mahal programme. He later recorded nohakhwaani at Radio Kashmir Srinagar. He also wrote some uncertain scripts of noha depicting battle of Karbala.He originally started his career when he was studying in 10th class. It is believed that he never attended any college for further studies. He initially started writing short sketch comedies for the All India Radio and later worked for the Radio Kashmir Srinagar where he produced most of his literary work, including prominent dramas such as Kaej Raath, Gaashe Taaruk, and Ropye Rood. His prominent dramas include Zalur, Vutri binyul, Fundbaz and Tentykor among others.
As a painter, he established Wani Art Gallery and subsequently became the recipient of an uncertain cultural award conferred by the government of Jammu and Kashmir's department Cultural Academy in 1970. He is sometimes considered as the only Kashmiri writer till this century who wrote a radio play in Bhojpuri language.