Zaffar Iqbal Manhas

Zaffar Iqbal Manhas was born in August 1953 in Karewa Manloo village of Shopian in south Kashmir ,70 Km from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory of India , later shifted to Srinagar. His forefathers have migrated from Samba Jammu to Dugran village located on Mughal Road . He completed his studies of Postgraduation in Urdu and Persian from the University of Kashmir and joined Service in Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.

Zafar represented India at United Nations at Geneva and also represented India in the European Parliament . He is recipient of States' highest honour in the field of literature from Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languagesin 1992 in Pahari. [7] Zaffar has been awarded by a number of government and non-government organizations of State including Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation J&K.

Zaffar has also remained a Member Working Group on State Centre Relations constituted by Prime Minister of India on Kashmir and Member of State Advisory group constituted by J&K Governor.He worked as Regional Autonomy Committee as Secretary and Secretary in State Advisory Board for Development of Pahari People for two years.

Retired as Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in 2011 has started his career in Academy in 1984 as Researcher and started work as Sub Editor in 1987. Later he has elevated as Assistant Editor of Pahari language.In 1989 Zaffar Appointed as Editor -Cum Cultural Officer and head of the Pahari wing of State Academy.[8]

As an editor Zaffar has edited and Compiled more than 300 books and titles in Urdu and Pahari language which includes inter-alia 10 volumes of Pahari Folk Tales and Folk Songs (each), Special numbers such as Saqafat Number, Zaban Number, Tareekh Number, Lalded Number, Prem Chand Number, Gazal Number, Alif Laila, Gulistan-e-Sadee and Afsana Number and other prestigious books.

Zaffar authored a book titled “Chamber” a collection of short stories in Pahari in 1988, and also published and compiled “Phulkhailee” a collection of Pahari Patriotic songs in 1990.

In early nineties Zaffar as Chief Editor launched his own Tri-Lingual Magazine, “Shamsbari” . As a writer and thinker of English, Urdu and Pahari’s and Chief editor of the largest circulated magazine, Zaffar contributed a prolific number of new research articles and short stories.

He also Translated a number of prestigious books from English, Hindi, Arabic and Persian into Urdu and Pahari language include Pt. Nehru’s Letters from a Father to his Daughter from English to Pahari. J&K related portions of B.K. Nehru “Nice Guys Finish Second” in Urdu.Prof. P. N. Dhar’s “Indra Gandhi Emergency and Indian Democracy” Karwan-e-Madinia of Ali Mian into Pahari and two volumes of Kashmiri Soun Adab into Pahari.

As Secretary of the highest institution of Culture in J&K Zaffar has done remarkable work in preserving and promoting of Art, Culture and Languages of the State. With his efforts during last few years a number of major events held in Kashmir valley and other parts of the State, includes 7 major State writers conferences and an All India Kashmiri Conference held at Tagore Hall after a gap of 20 years and National Folk Theatre festival held in SKICC, Kashmir Festival in New Delhi, All India Art and Sculptor camp at Srinagar.

As an Editor Zaffar has edited and Compiled more than 300 books and titles in Urdu and Pahari language which includes inter-alia 10 volumes of Pahari Folk Tales and Folk Songs (each), Special numbers such as Saqafat Number, Zaban Number, Tareekh Number, Lalded Number, Prem Chand Number, Gazal Number, Alif Laila, Gulistan-e-Sadee and Afsana Number and other prestigious books.

Zaffar also compiled and Published “Chamber” a collection of short stories in Pahari in 1988, and also published and compiled “Phulkhailee” a collection of Pahari Patriotic songs in 1990.

He also Translated a number of prestigious books from English, Hindi, Arabic and Persian into Urdu and Pahari language include Pt. Nehru’s Letters from a Father to his Daughter from English to Pahari. J&K related portions of B.K. Nehru “Nice Guys Finish Second” in Urdu.Prof. P. N. Dhar’s “Indra Gandhi Emergency and Indian Democracy” Karwan-e-Madinia of Ali Mian into Pahari and two volumes of Kashmiri Soun Adab into Pahari.

Zaffar also remained associated with Regional Autonomy Committee as Secretary. He also worked as Secretary in State Advisory Board for Development of Pahari People for two years.

In 2006 Zaffar joined back Academy as Additional Secretary and worked as head of Cultural affairs of Kashmir division till 2008 when he was appointed as 17th Secretary of Academy . [9]

List of members of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council