Ved Rahi, an eminent Dogri and Hindi writer, novelist, playwright and filmmaker, has died at the age of 93. He passed away at his residence in Thane district, Maharashtra, on Sunday, 1 November, according to a report dated 2 November. He is survived by his daughters, Geetanjali and Poonam, and their families.
What Dogri Sanstha Jammu said
Dogri Sanstha Jammu mourned his death as an irreparable loss to the literary and cultural community of Jammu and Kashmir and the country. Its president, Prof Lalit Magotra, said Rahi's contribution to Dogri literature was "invaluable" and that "his demise has created a void that will be difficult to fill."
Honours on record
- Dinu Bhai Pant Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), from Dogri Sanstha Jammu
- Kunwar Viyogi Sahitya-Kala Samman (2020), from Dogri Sanstha Jammu
Why a young reader should know the name
Dogri is spoken by a generation that is increasingly switching to Hindi and English in daily life; we asked in August whether Dogri can survive if young Dogras stop speaking it. Writers who worked across prose, theatre and film in the language are part of what a new reader can go back to. The report we relied on does not list Rahi's individual works, so we have not attempted to; the Dogri Sanstha and the Sahitya Akademi are the places to look for his bibliography.
Hero image is a file photo of Mubarak Mandi, Jammu, not of Ved Rahi.
Sources: The Tribune: Eminent Dogri writer Ved Rahi passes away at 93, 2 November 2026.
