Famous Poets & Writers of J&K: Who Wrote What (JKSSB MCQs)

J&K GK · 2026-09-30 · 5 min read

Questions on J&K's poets, saints and writers take one of three forms: Who wrote X?, Who is known as Y?, or Which language or century? The list of names is short, so learn each name with its one distinguishing fact.

Classical Sanskrit writers

  • Kalhana — Rajatarangini ('River of Kings'), c. 1148–49 CE, in 8 books (tarangas); continued by Jonaraja and Srivara
  • Abhinavagupta — philosopher of Kashmir Shaivism, author of the Tantraloka
  • Anandavardhana — Dhvanyaloka (poetics)
  • Somadeva — Kathasaritsagara (collection of stories)
  • Bilhana — Vikramankadevacharita

The mystic poets

  • Lal Ded (Lalleshwari) — 14th-century Shaivite mystic; verses called vakhs
  • Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (Nund Rishi, Alamdar-e-Kashmir) — founded the Rishi order; verses called shruks; shrine at Charar-e-Sharif (Budgam)
  • Habba Khatoon — 16th-century queen of Yusuf Shah Chak; the 'Nightingale of Kashmir'
  • Arnimal — 18th-century poetess of longing

Modern poets and their titles

  • Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor — 'Poet of Kashmir' (Shair-e-Kashmir)
  • Rasul Mir — 'Keats of Kashmir'
  • Abdul Ahad Azad — revolutionary poet
  • Dina Nath Nadim — modernised Kashmiri poetry
  • Padma Sachdev — first modern poetess of Dogri; Sahitya Akademi Award
Common mix-up: vakhs belong to Lal Ded, shruks to Nund Rishi. JKSSB often puts both in the same options.

One ruler on the list

Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, remembered as Budshah ('the great king'), patronised scholars and translation and is credited with bringing crafts such as papier-mâché and carpet-making into the valley.

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Practice questions

Q1. The Rajatarangini was written by:

  1. Jonaraja
  2. Kalhana
  3. Bilhana
  4. Somadeva
Show answer

Kalhana — Kalhana wrote it around 1148–49 CE; Jonaraja later continued the chronicle.

Q2. Who is known as the 'Nightingale of Kashmir'?

  1. Lal Ded
  2. Arnimal
  3. Habba Khatoon
  4. Padma Sachdev
Show answer

Habba Khatoon — Habba Khatoon, the 16th-century poetess and queen of Yusuf Shah Chak.

Q3. The verses of Lal Ded are known as:

  1. Shruks
  2. Vakhs
  3. Ghazals
  4. Tarangas
Show answer

Vakhs — Lal Ded composed vakhs. Nund Rishi's verses are shruks, and tarangas are the books of the Rajatarangini.

Q4. Which poet is called the 'Keats of Kashmir'?

  1. Mahjoor
  2. Rasul Mir
  3. Abdul Ahad Azad
  4. Dina Nath Nadim
Show answer

Rasul Mir — Rasul Mir, for his romantic poetry. Mahjoor is the 'Poet of Kashmir'.

Q5. The Tantraloka, a key text of Kashmir Shaivism, was written by:

  1. Anandavardhana
  2. Abhinavagupta
  3. Kshemendra
  4. Kalhana
Show answer

Abhinavagupta — Abhinavagupta. Anandavardhana wrote the Dhvanyaloka.

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