Peerzada Masarat Shah
“Yemberzal pholun vuchhum aess,
Baag ti dil gatchh posh,
Kashmir chu door—magar dil andar,
Wuchh yemberzal yemberzal rosh.”
(I saw the saffron bloom again,
In the garden and in my heart,
Kashmir is far—but within me,
Its blossoms still whisper art.)
In a quiet corner of the United States, far away from the misty hills and murmuring rivers of Kashmir, lives Samina Masoodi — a woman who has dedicated her heart and countless hours to ensuring that her homeland’s melodies never fade into silence. Her mission is one of love, memory, and language — to preserve Kashmiri songs and culture for generations yet to come.
Born in Kashmir and now settled in the USA, Samina carries the fragrance of her roots wherever she goes. While others might have let distance dim the sound of their mother tongue, Samina turned nostalgia into action. With a notebook, patience, and an unshakable passion, she began listening to hundreds of Kashmiri songs — old, forgotten, and beloved — carefully writing down their lyrics. What started as a personal act of remembrance soon grew into a remarkable literary journey spanning five books, each a heartfelt ode to the valley’s musical heritage.
Her first book, “Manzeraath,” published in 2017 in collaboration with Samia Qazi, was more than a collection — it was a revival. It reminded many Kashmiris, scattered across continents, of the lullabies, folk songs, and poetic verses that once filled their homes.
In 2018 came “Kasher Khander Baeth”, a treasure chest of 118 Kashmiri songs, meticulously transcribed and presented in a way that even non-native readers could understand and sing. By offering the lyrics in a clear and accessible “English” version, Samina opened the door for second-generation Kashmiris to connect with their roots through music.
Then, in 2020, she released “Kashmiri Wanwun,” a deeply emotional project centered around the traditional wanwun — ceremonial songs sung during weddings and festive gatherings. These verses are not mere words; they carry centuries of laughter, blessings, and tears. Through this book, Samina preserved an art form that was slowly fading from everyday life, capturing the rhythm of Kashmiri celebration and community spirit.
The journey did not end there. “Kasher Bathh,” the fourth book in the series, emerged as a digital bridge — a foundational repository of Kashmiri songs designed as a searchable and collaborative eBook. In her vision, this living archive will one day grow into a wiki of thousands of Kashmiri songs, ensuring that no melody is ever lost to time.
And now, Samina returns with “Kashur Wanwun Vol II,” a monumental continuation of her dream. This fifth volume includes more than 650 traditional wanwun verses (huers), lovingly curated and annotated. For every difficult Kashmiri word, Samina provides an English meaning in parentheses — a gentle hand guiding readers through the poetry of her homeland.
Each book is more than a publication; it is a heartbeat — a continuation of the oral traditions that once bound Kashmiri families together. Through her words, Samina rebuilds the bridge between generations, between home and exile, between memory and modernity.
In a world where many are forgetting their mother tongues, Samina Masoodi stands as a reminder that culture can cross oceans when carried by love. Her books are not merely about songs; they are about identity, belonging, and the power of one person’s will to keep her heritage alive.
As the pages of Kashur Wanwun Vol II turn, so does a new chapter in Kashmiri preservation — one that sings softly yet powerfully, reminding every Kashmiri that no matter where they are, the echoes of the valley live within them.
“Yi wanwun chu na bas aavaz,
Yi chu Kashmiris henz saans,
Har kalam, har sur chu samandar,
Yi chu pyom pyaar, yi chu paanas.”
(This song is not just sound,
It is a Kashmiri’s breath,
Every verse, every note a sea —
Of love, of self, of depth.)
