Kokkare Hosahalli Shekh Haider Nissar Ahmed, known as K. S. Nissar Ahmed, was an Indian poet and writer in the Kannada language. He was awarded the Padma Shri, the Rajyotsava Award and the Pampa award for his work. He became a household name for his work Nityostava, which is a poem about Karnataka, a piece he composed after seeing Jog falls. He has numerous poems, translations and children's books to his credit. He is known for using simple words that resonate deeply with the public in his literary work.
Early life and education
Nissar Ahmed was born in Devanahalli in Bangalore rural. His father was a government employee. His family moved to Dodda Mavalli in Bangalore. He grew up in a Muslim colony which had about 500 Muslim families. His father admitted him to a Kannadamedium school, with the objective of easing the path for him to secure a government job. Most of the children in the neighbourhood studied Urdu. He was inspired by writers G. P. Rajarathnam and M. V. Seetharamiah who were his teachers at high school. He was a post-graduate in Geology who worked as an Assistant Geologist in The Mysore Mines and Geology at Gulbarga before coming in touch with Kuvempu and was invited to the Kannada poets' meet during Dasara festival in 1959.
Nissar Ahmed belongs to the group of Kannada writers who excelled in Kannada literary work even though their mother tongues were not Kannada. These included D. R. Bendre, D. V. Gundappa, G. P. Rajarathnam, Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, N. Kasturi and also Nissar Ahmed. He is best known for Nityotsava . The Nityotsava compilation was released in the year 1978. The Nityotsava song went on to become very famous and he eventually became a household name in Karnataka. A total of 13 albums have been published. He was the chairperson of the Karnataka Sahitya Academy between 1984 and 1987.
Literary Work
Poetry
Nanna Nudi - His first poem.
Nityotsava
Manasu Gandhibazaru
Swayam Seveya Giligalu
Anaamika Aanglaru
Sanje Aidara Male
Naanemba Parakeeya
Nimmodaniddoo nimmantagade - Expression of his angst about the unhealthy competition amongst Kannada poets in the 1960s. He bemoans religious and caste discrimination that prevailed.
Savatiya Makkala Hage - An appeal toMother India to not treat Muslims like stepchildren and ask to forgive “the misguided ones.”
Shilube Yeriddaane -
Nenedavara Manadalli
Kannadada Kuvari
America, America - The poet calls out America for its superiority complex and critiques its role in impacting other nations in order to maintain such superiority.
Manadondige Mathukathe
Benne Kadda Namma Krishna - Poem in praise of the Lord Krishna.
Nissar Ahmed died on Sunday, 3 May in Bengaluru at his residence. He was aged 84 and died due to age related ailments. He was heartbroken as he had lost his wife the previous year and most recently his son in the US to cancer. His end came only 18 days after the demise of his son. He passed away at his residence in Padmanabhanagar peacefully.
