Singer Munir Ahmed Mir keeps harmony alive in Kashmir
Story by ATV | Posted by Aasha Khosa | Date 03-04-2026
Munir Ahmed Mir
Danish Ali/Srinagar
Kashmir was a living example of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, as the chimes of temple bells and Azan drifted in the air every morning. Renowned Kashmiri singer Munir Ahmed Mir remembers growing up in that atmosphere when Muslims and Hindus lived peacefully in the Valley.
On his part, he is trying to keep the tradition alive even after most of the Hindus have fled the Valley after the mass insurgency popped up and sought to threaten them.
Munir Ahmed Mir says he learned formal music from his Kashmiri teacher Raina and Bhajan Sopori, legendary sarod masetro.
As he continues to spread the message of love, brotherhood and humanity through his melodious voice
.He is among the prominent artists of Kashmir who have adopted music not just as entertainment but as a strong means of social harmony and cultural unity.
He has been singing in Kashmiri, Hindi and Persian languages for the past several decades and has established his unique identity.
Munir Ahmed Mir's passion for music comes from his family. He heard his father, Shafi Muhammad Mirbut, singing. He used to attend various gatherings with his father, from which he learned the basics of music.
The passion for music was passed down from generation to generation in his family. His grandfather was also a music lover, and he had an old harmonium, which is about 120 years old and is still preserved in his house.
He received his formal music education from the Institute of Music and Fine Arts, where his first teacher was Pandit Prithvi Nath Raina.
Paying tribute to his teacher, he says that he never let religion be an obstacle in the path of knowledge. He guided me with love and sincerity. According to him, this is the real Guru-Shiva tradition in which knowledge is acquired with literature, devotion and respect.
In his long career, Munir Ahmed Mir has worked with many renowned artists, including Ghulam Hassan Sufi, Raj Begum, Nasima Akhtar, Shama Devi and others.
He learned the nuances of music while singing in a chorus with these artists and gradually created his own identity.
Later, he was also guided by great teachers like Pandit Bhajan Sopuri, who introduced him to the technical aspects of composition and music.
He has been awarded several awards in recognition of his services. In the year 2023, he was awarded the Harmony Award, while in 2024, he also received a major honour at the state level.
Apart from this, he was also honoured by the Sopuri Academy of Music and Performing Arts at the Kumani Auditorium in Delhi. However, he says that more important than awards is the love and appreciation of the public.
According to him, the presence of an audience is very important for an artist because applause brings life to his art and encourages him to present it better.
Speaking on the situation in Kashmir, Munir Ahmed Mir says that there was a time when religious harmony was at its peak here, and there was an atmosphere of love everywhere, but with time, this atmosphere was affected. According to him, now the need is to revive this ancient tradition so that people can come closer to each other.
He emphasised that the ancient temples in Kashmir should be reopened and renovated so that religious and cultural harmony can be promoted. He expressed happiness that some positive steps have been taken in this direction in recent days, and people of different religions are participating in cultural programs together, which is a welcome change.
Discussing the changing trends in music, he said that the music of the past was more enduring and soul-soothing, while today's music has become temporary and is quickly forgotten. He advised the new generation to learn and appreciate their traditional music, as this is their true identity.
He also highlighted the role of institutions like Akash Vani and Doordarshan and said that in the past, these institutions used to find new artists and provide them with opportunities to move forward, which resulted in the emergence of great artists. But today this system has weakened, due to which new artists are not getting the opportunities that were available earlier.
Finally, Munir Ahmed Mir paid tribute to his teachers and said that whatever he has achieved is the result of the hard work and guidance of his gurus. According to him, music is a force that destroys hatred among humans and promotes love, and this should be its main purpose.
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