Mazhar Kaleem; A well known Spy Urdu Novelist

Mazhar Kaleem

Mazhar Kaleem (Urdu: مظہر کلیم) is a Pakistani novelist chiefly famous for his Imran Series novels, Urdu spy fiction written within Imran Series mythos created by the late Ibn-e-Safi.

He is known for writing the Imran Series and has written short stories for children as well. He is the anchorperson of a famous saraiki radio talk show from Radio Multan, "Jamhoor-de-Awaz". He is a successful lawyer who was elected as Senior Vice President of Multan Bar Council and he heads a chamber in District Courts Multan.

Mazhar Kaleem was born on 22 July 1942 in Multan. His father Hamid Yar Khan was a retired police Inspector. He belongs to a Pathan family,"Muhammad Zai" in Multan, who settled in Multan after migrating from Afghanistan in the late 19th century. His original name is Mazhar Nawaz Khan; however he is now only known as his literary pen name, Mazhar Kaleem Khan.

Introduction of Mazhar Kaleem

He studied in Islamia high school Multan and graduated from Emerson College (Current Government College). He was a color holder in basketball and bodybuilding from Emerson College. After graduating he taught as a master in a government high school, Daulat Gate, but he left it to pursue more studies at the University of Multan (currently Bahauddin Zakariya University) to do his M.A. in Urdu Literature and LL.B. He is a senior lawyer in Multan Bench of Lahore High Court. Professionally he is a lawyer and not a novelist which is his part time hobby. He is also anchor person of a radio talk show from Radio Multan. His original name is Mazhar Nawaz Khan while Kaleem is his literary adoption. He had two sons and four daughters but his eldest son Faisal Jan died at the age of 31. The second son Fahad Usman Khan is working in a Multinational Bank.

Ibn-e-Safi

Mazhar Kaleem is a contemporary of Ibn-e-Safi in writing Imran series and he just copied the few principal characters but always had a different style. While many writers notably Safdar Shaheen & Ibne-Rahat tried to cash in on the popularity of Imran he is unparalleled now as undisputed master of writing Imran Series. He has written over four hundred novels and has introduced new style of spy novels writing. Almost every grown up person in Pakistan who had been fond of reading has read one or more of his novels. He is based in Multan.

Mazhar Kaleem has done a great and valuable literary work in Urdu Adab, especially in suspense and spy genre of the Adab. A little light is thrown below on his work.

Jewish Channel, An Imran Series Novel

Imran Series:

Imran Series is a series of novels by Ibn-e-Safi. Owing to lack of effective copyright laws in Pakistan, many writers tried to cash in on Ibn-e-Safi's popularity and began writing Imran Series and Jasoosi Dunya (another popular series by Ibn-e-Safi), shamelessly using identical characters. While the creator Ibn-e-Safi could write not more than 120 Imran Series novels, Mazhar Kaleem wrote more than 500. He brought many new characters to the Imran Series and introduced various new topics like mystic crimes (Misaale Dunya) and economic crimes (Kaghazee Qiyamat). He has written many high rated novels like as Shilmaak,Bagoop,Khamosh Cheekhain,X-2,Ganja Bhikari,Tiger In Action,Juana In Action and many more.

Although the novels have no literary stature, yet they are popular in the Pakistani youth. Currectly, he is writing more metaphysical thrillers.

C Top; An Interesting Novel of Imran Series

Many critics say it is not only illegal to copy another author's characters; it is no less than a scandal to enjoy the fame and money earned through it.

Stories for Children:

Mazhar Kaleem has also written stories for young children. He has introduced many characters like Chaloosak Maloosak, Chan Changloo, and Aangloo Baangloo & Faisal Shahzad Series beside using Umru Ayyar and Tarzan in his stories.

Chaloosak Maloosak:

Chaloosak Maloosak are two brothers and their father who was a top notch scientist made a space travel vehicle which his sons secretly used one day and left for space tourism. In each story they reach a new planet with exotic creatures and challenges to their lives.

Chan Changloo:

Chan Changloo is a small boy with a lot of Nuri powers to fight against Wizards and he has a friend Mangloo Monkey. After a number of books on Chan Changloo, new character named shamli was added to his side. The daughter of a wizard and a great wizard herself, Chan Changloo fights against evil powers in each story and brings relief to common people.

Aangloo Bangloo:

Aangloo & Bangloo are two brothers. Aangloo is tall, thin with a big head and Bangloo is fat, short and small head. Both are bachelors and in search of a bride. In each story they fight with wizards, genies and other forces to get a princess. The stories are extremely humorous and very original in storyline. They are always caught in a fix in the end as the princess is one and cannot marry both and she sends them to some other world to get an even beautiful princess.

Khaak Aur Khoon; An amazing Novel by Naseem Hijazi

Title cover of Khaak aur Khoon

Khak aur Khoon is a historical novel by Nasīm Ḥijāzī that describes the sacrifices of Muslims of the Sub-continent during the time of partition in 1947.

When peoples of different regions were trying to get to Pakistan as they were Muslims, many Hindus and Sikhs in the form of groups used to attack people during their journeys to snatch their money, and jewellery of their wives and daughters. They robbed everybody they found in the way. Khak aur Khoon not only describes how many sacrifices the Muslims have made to get their own homeland, but it also describes the true face of Hindu fanaticism at the time. On June 3, 1947, Lord Mountbatton announced that district of Gurdaspur was going to be aligned with Pakistan. Muslims, after listening to this, guarded the homes and properties of their Non-Muslim neighbours from the riots, but Radcliff gifted this district to India to enable Kashmir to join India. Even the king of Kashmir, Hari Singh wanted it to be mixed with India. After separation the Hindus, instead of guarding their neighbours' homes, started killing Muslims.

‘Khaak Aur Khoon’ is a poignant description of the circumstances in which the partition took place. It’s a narrative of the gruesome events that burned India and especially eastern Punjab in 1947.

In the main, a tale of two nations struggling with the violence caused by members of different religions, ‘Khaak Aur Khoon’, is a superb book on many levels. It is a documentary of Punjab, its people, and its culture. It is a story of the cultural, political, and intellectual atmosphere of India at the time of partition and it succeeds brilliantly in capturing so vividly the rather disturbing and at times touching details surrounding the partition. . For anyone, who is a product of the society the author writes about, or is familiar with the events following the 1947 division; this book is an absolute must read.

Not many will question Nasim Hijazi’s writing skills. He is a specialist when it comes to recording accounts of this nature. ‘Khaak Aur Khoon’ is no different from his previous literary efforts. It is lucid and written in such a manner that you can't help but finish it at a stretch.

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Naseem Hijazi; the Finest Urdu Historical Novelist

Naseem Hijazi

Sharīf Husain (Urdu: شریف حسین), more commonly by his pseudonym Nasīm Hijāzī (Urdu: نسیم حجازی, commonly transliterated as Naseem Hijazi, or Nasim Hijazi) (c. 1914- March 1996) was an Urdu writer who is well-known for his novels dealing with Islamic history. He was born at Wazirabad in Pre-Partition India in an Arain family and migrated to Pakistan after independence from the British Rule and subsequent partition of India in 1947. He lived most of his life in Pakistan and died in March 1996.

As a novel writer, Naseem Hijazi is regarded as one of the finest writers of Urdu language especially in the later 20th Century. Among his popular contemporaries were Ibn-e-Safi, Saadat Hasan Manto, and Shafiq-ur-Rehman, all having their particular line of literature.

Naseem Hijazi is known for his potent and romantic description of history. There are only two writers prior to Hijazi who wrote history novels in Urdu: Abdul Haleem Sharar and Sadiq Sardhunwi, but Hijazi's writing is most credible in terms of historic description and accuracy. He exercised extra care to back his study of history by thorough research and to cite his sources whenever possible. Hijazi creates his powerful expression by blending this study of history with fairytale romanticism. The story usually revolves around characters who were related to, and shown present at the actual historical event that he wishes to focus on.

Title cover of Aakhri Chitan

Naseem Hijazi's bases most of his work in Islamic history. In dealing with this history, he shows both the rise and fall of the Islamic Empire. His novels Muhammad Bin Qasim, Aakhri Ma'raka, Qaisar-o Kisra and Qafla-i Hijaz describe the era of Islam's rise to political, militaristic, economic, and educational power. While Yusuf Bin Tashfain, Shaheen, Kaleesa aur Aag, and Andheri Raat ke Musafir describe the period of Spanish Reconquista. In one of these novels (Kaleesa Aur Aag) he has painfully, yet truthfully, depicted the infamous Inquisition that began by targeting Jews and ended with the conversion or expulsion of the Moriscos or Muslims.

In Akhri Chataan, he describes the Central Asian conquests of Genghis Khan and his destruction of the Khwarizm Sultanate. The novel shows the brutal conquests of the Mongols, the military geniuses of Genghis Khan, the undying will power of Sultan Jalal ud-Din Khwarizm Shah, and the unworthy condition of the Abbassid Caliphate of Baghdad.

Introduction of Naseem Hijazi

He wrote two sequential novels on British conquest of India, and described the shortcomings of Indian nations after the collapse of Mughal Empire. The story, Mu'azzam Ali, starts a little before the Battle of Plassey. The lead character, Muazzam Ali joins the fight against the British with the army of Siraj ud-Daula. The story goes around as the character moves from one place in India to another in search of the lost glory and freedom. He takes part in the third battle of Panipat and finally settles in Srirangapattana that was growing in power under the towering personality of Haider Ali. The book ends almost around the death of Haider Ali. The second book, Aur Talwar Toot Gayee (And the Sword is Broken) is more about Haider's son Sultan Tipu where the same character is finding his dreams being fulfilled in Tipu's valiant endeavors against the British East India Company. The book culminates in the sad and untimely martyrdom of Sultan Tipu.

Title cover of Khak Aur Khoon

He also wrote a novel on the Independence of Pakistan named Khaak aur Khoon. Many believed that the novel was his own story.

This writer seems to have been inspired a lot by Allama Muhammad Iqbal's poetry. He tries, not very unlike Iqbal, to remind his readers of the lost glory of the Muslims and in a way inspire them to work with commitment to achieve lost glory in all walks of life. He portrays Islamic tolerance, the will to fight for the protection of the weak, and the love for arts and knowledge. His readers believe that he has best illustrated Allama Muhammad Iqbal's Islamic philosophical ideal of "khudi" in Urdu prose, where in a way he has justifiably imparted the message that is presented in Iqbal's "The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam".

Naseem Hijazi has immensely influenced his readers both in and out of Pakistan. He has been one of the key sources of Islamic ideologies in Pakistan and helped build valour during the Soviet-Afghan War. Many Pakistani educated youngsters throughout 1950s till today are believed to have been emotionally and ideologically inspired by his writings. He enjoys a very large reader base even after his death.

Tilte cover of Daastan-e-Mujahid

Three of Naseem Hijazi's novels have been dramatized. Akhri Chataan and Shaheen were dramatized in 1980s and were televised on Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) as independent drama serials. Akhri Chataan is considered to be the greatest historic attempt ever made by PTV. The theme songs composed for the serial and the character play of Sultan Jalal ud-Din by Salim Nasir earned high acclaim.

The Novel Khaak aur Khoon was dramatized into a movie with the same name and is one of few block buster movies that Lollywood or Lahore film industry has ever produced.

Title cover of Gum Shuda Qafilay

It is argued that many of his novels, if provided with the production facilities of Hollywood, will produce movies equal in grandeur to Ben-Hur, Braveheart and The Patriot. But due to the lack of required attention, a great work of literary art is untouched by the filming icons.

Novels/books by Naseem Hijazi

• Khaak aur Khoon (Dirt and Blood)
• Yousuf bin Tashfin
• Akhari Chattan (Volume-1) Online (The Last Rock)
• Akhari Chattan (Volume-2) Online (The Last Rock)
• Aakhari Marka (The Last Battle) (fiction)

• Andheri Raat Ke Musafir (Travelers of the Dark Night)

• Aur Talwar Toot Gai (Volume-1) (And the Sword was Broken)

• Aur Talwar Toot Gai (Volume-2) (And the Sword was Broken)
• Daastaan-e-Mujahid (Tale of the Fighter)
• Gumshuda Qaafley (The Lost Caravans)
• Insaan Aur Devta (The Human and the Deity
• Kaleesa Aur Aag (Church and Fire)
• Muhammad Bin Qasim
• Pakistan Se Diyare Haram Tak (travelogue)
• Pardesi Darakht (The Alien Tree) (fiction)
• Pouras Ke Hathi (Poras's Elephants) (comedy)
• Qafla-e-Hijaz (The Caravan of Hijaz)
• Qaisar-o-Kisra (Caesar and Kisra)
• Saqafat Ki Talaash (In Search of Culture) (comedy)
• Shaheen(Volume-1) (The Eagle)
• Shaheen(Volume-2) (The Eagle)
• So Saal Baad (After 100 Years) (comedy)
• Sufaid Jazeera (The White Island) (comedy)

Diputy Nazeer Ahmad; a pioneer of Urdu literature

Shams Ul Ulamaa Deputy Nazir Ahmad

Deputy Nazeer Ahmad Dehlvi (1836 - 1912) was a leading Urdu writer who was also a social and religious reformer, and a prominent scholar. He was a pioneer of Urdu literature whose novels are today a basic part of the educational curriculum in the Indian sub-continent (ie. India and Pakistan).

Nazir Ahmad (1830–1912) came from a distinguished family of religious scholars, maulavis and muftis of Bijnor (Uttar Pradesh) and Delhi.

His father was a teacher in a small town near Bijnore, who taught him Persian and Arabic, and in 1842 took him to study with Maulvi Abd ul-Khaliq at the Aurangabadi Mosque in Delhi. In 1846, he had the opportunity to enroll at Delhi College, he chose its Urdu section, he later said, because his father had told him 'he would rather see me die than learn English' and studied there till 1853. During this period he also discreetly arranged his own marriage, to Maulvi Abd ul-Khaliq's granddaughter.

He began his career as a teacher in Arabic, in 1854 he joined the British colonial administration, in(1856) he became a deputy inspector of schools in the Department of Public Instruction in Kanpur. And at the end of 1857 he was appointed to a similar deputy inspectorship in Allahabad. Later, for his superb translation of the Indian Penal Code in Urdu, he was nominated for the Revenue Services. He was posted as deputy collector in what was then called the North-West Provinces (i.e. modern Uttar Pradesh), and hence the name 'Diptee (Deputy) Nazir Ahmad’ by which he is popularly known.

In 1877 Nazir Ahmad was offered a well-paid administrative position in the princely state of Hyderabad. He remained there until 1884, when court politics forced him to resign and return to Delhi, where he lived for the rest of his life. He died of a stroke in 1912.

Title cover of Mir aatul Uroos

He was the pioneer of Urdu novel. He was prolific writer and published books in varied genres.

Mirat-al-Urus (The Bride's Mirror)-1868–1869-is regarded as the first novel of Urdu. After its release in 1869, within twenty years it was reprinted in editions totalling over 100,000 copies; and was also translated into Bengali, Braj, Kashmiri, Punjabi, and Gujarati.It has never been out of print in Urdu from that day of its first publication. In 1903 an English translation was published in London by G. E. Ward.

Bina-tul-Nash- (The Daughters of the Bier, a name for the constellation Ursa Major),is another great Novel by Deputy Nazeer Ahmed. It was his 2nd novel after Mirat-tul-uroos. Like Mira-tul-Uroos, this novel is also on education of women and their character building.

Taubat-un-Nasuh (Repentance of Nasuh)1873-1874- Deputy Nazeer Ahmed earned a good name in writing novels for developing moral values and guidance of young generation. His entire work is full of teachings of moral values.

Fasaana-e-Mubtalaa(1885)- another novel for developing moral values and guidance of young generation.

Title cover of Ibn Ul Waqt

Ibn'ul Waqt- 1888According to one opinion novel was based on Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, but Deputy Nazeer Ahmad strongly rejected this allegation.

Ayyamah (1891)

Ruya-e Sadiqah (1892).

Deputy Nazir was a leading proponent of the education of Muslim women and he took the issue with great determination and persistence against the Muslim mindset of his era, which was generally against the education of women. Deputy Nazir was among the few who were aware of the problems and sufferings of Indian Muslims during those critical decades when the Muslim society was in a flux. He fully understood the demands of time in context of Indian Muslims. Through his novels he sought to eradicate social evils inherent in a decadent society, particularly those caused by ignorance, illiteracy and frustration. This was very effectively brought about by his novels and writings.

Some more Information about Shakeeb Jalali

Shakeeb Jalali

Shakeb Jalali (Urdu: شکیب جلالی) (October 1, 1934 – November 12, 1966) was a Pakistani Urdu poet of a unique diction.

Shakeb Jalali's real name was Syed Hassan Rizvi. His ancestors were from a small town, Saddat Jalali, near Aligarh, India. In accordance with the well known Poet, Writer and authentic Critic Mr. Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, Shakeb was said to be born on October 1, 1934 but his wife Syeda Mohiddisa Khatoon gives his year of birth as 1935 or 1936.

Introduction of Shakeeb Jalali

Shakeb was the only son of his parents. When he was ten years old, his mother died in an accident. This unexpected incident and suspension from his job due to Hindu Muslim conflict in India totally disturbed his father and died a little before the death of Shakeb Jalali. He passed his Matriculation Examination from Badayun (Uttar Pradesh) and then moved along with his sisters to Rawalpindi. He passed Intermediate Examination from Rawalpindi and B.A. Examination from Sialkot.

He arranged publication of different urdu magazines, worked in many literary magazines and later moved to Lahore. Owing to economical crises, Shakeb joined Thal Development Authority and was posted at Joharabad and Bhakkar. During course of transit he stayed at Sargodha where he committed suicide on railway tracks on November 12, 1966, due to some unexplained psychological disorder. He was married in 1956 and left behind a son Syed Hussain Aqdas Rizvi (Aali) and a daughter Hina Batool.

Title cover of Roshni A Roshni

His life as a poet began in 1947 (when he was only 15 years old), he gave an entirely different and unique grace to Urdu Ghazals. His Nazms have a new style; he also tried his hands in Rubai, Qitaat, translation, etc. His poetry work was published after his death: Rooshni Ay Rooshni in 1972 by Maktaba-e-Fanoon and several additions by Mavara Publications and Kuliyat e Shakeb Jalali in 2004 by Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore.

Shakeeb Jalali’s compilation of poetry Roshni A Roshni’s (روشنی اے روشنی) online version is also available and can be downloaded and read offline in PDF formate.

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Patras Bukhari; Urdu’s foremost humorist writer

Patras Bukhari

Syed Ahmed Shah (Urdu: سید احمد شاہ ) (commonly known as Patras Bokhari - پطرس بخاری) HI, (1 October 1898, Peshawar – 5 December 1958, New York) was an Urdu humourist, educator, essayist, broadcaster and diplomat from Pakistan.

Patras received his early education from Peshawar and in 1916 he moved from Islamia College Peshawar to join Government College Lahore. After completing his Masters in English he was appointed as lecturer at the same institution.

Patras Bokhari left Government College Lahore in 1925 to study at Emmanuel College, Cambridge University to complete a Tripos in English. Many years later, the Bokhari English Prize was established there in his honor.

In 1927, he came back to Government College Lahore, and as a Professor remained there till 1939. Before the formation of Pakistan in 1947, he was the Director General of All India Radio. Being a Professor of English Literature he also served as the Principal of Government College Lahore from 1947 to 1950. The Urdu poets Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Noon Meem Rashid, were among his students. After the formation of Pakistan, he served as the first permanent representative of Pakistan in the United Nations from 1951–1954. From 1954-1958 he remained as the Under Secretary of the UN, Head of Information. He died during his diplomatic service and is buried in New York, USA.

He got a great success in his life, and was bestowed upon with many honors by Allah Almighty. Some of his successes and honors are mentioned below.

• His volume of essays, Patras Kay Mazameen - پطرس کے مظامین (Essays of Patras), published in 1927 is considered as an asset of Urdu humor.

• He accompanied Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan on his first visit to the United States as the Prime Minister's speech writer.

• In 1945 Patras Bokhari was awarded the Companion of the Indian Empire (CIE) Award.

• Bokhari Auditorium on Government College University is named after him.

• The Government of Tunisia, named a Road after him in Tunis, as a recognition for his contribution towards the freedom of Tunisia from French Colonial Rule in 1956.

• There is also a road named after him in Islamabad, Federal Capital of Pakistan.

• Editorial appears in the New York Times on 6 December 1958, a day after his demise, in which he was described as a Citizen of the World.

• In October 1998, to mark his birth centenary, the Government of Pakistan issued a postage stamp with his photograph under the series, Pioneers of Pakistan.

• On 14 August 2003 President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf announced the conferment of Hilal-e-Imtiaz, posthumously to Patras Bokhari, the country's second highest Civilian Award.

Shaukat Siddiqui; an Eminent Urdu Novelist

Shaukat Siddiqui

Shaukat Siddiqui (March 20, 1923-December 18, 2006) was an eminent Urdu novelist and fiction writer of Pakistan. He is known for his world renowned novel Khuda ki Basti (God's Own Land) and Jangloos.

Shaukat Siddiqui was born on March 20, 1923 in a literary family of Lucknow, India. He got his early education from his home town and earned a B.A. in 1944 and M.A. (Political Science) in 1944. After partition of India, he migrated to Pakistan in 1950 and stayed in Lahore but soon permanently settled in Karachi. His early days in Pakistan were full of financial trouble and political opposition, which he soon overcame. He accompanied Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in a lot of his foreign tours.

He was an active member of Pakistan Writers' Guild and a partisan of progressive writers association. Shaukat Siddiqi worked at the news-desks of the Times of Karachi, Pakistan Standard and the Morning News. He finally rose to be the editor of the Daily Anajam, the Weekly Al-Fatah and the Daily Musawat Karachi, before bidding goodbye to journalism in 1984.

He died on December 18, 2006 in Karachi at the age of 83, he left behind a wife and 2 sons and 3 daughters.

Khuda Ki Basti; a best seller novel by Shaukat

Shaukat Siddiqui's first piece of writing was a short story, Kon kisi ka, published in Weekly Khayyam Lahore. In 1952, his first collection of short stories, “Teesra Admi” (1952), was brought out and proved to be a great success. Subsequently, other collections of short stories Andhere Dur Andhere (1955), Raton Ka Shahar (1956) and Keemya Gar (1984), followed.

His magnum opus is Khuda Ki Basti (God's Own Land) and has gone through 46 editions and enjoys the distinction of having been translated into 26 international languages. It has been dramatised time and again. Its English translation by Prof David Mathews of London University was equally a success.

Other novels of Shaukat Siddiqui are Kamin Gah (1956), Jangloos (1988) and Char Deewari (1990) based on his own childhood memories in a fictitious manner.

Shaukat Siddiqui won The Adamjee Award in 1960.

Ishfaq Ahmad; A Big Name of Urdu Afsana

Ishfaq Ahmad

Ashfaq Ahmed, PP, SI (Urdu: اشفاق احمد) (August 22, 1925 – September 7, 2004) was a distinguished writer, playwright, broadcaster, intellectual and spiritualist from Pakistan. His prime qualities of heart and hand earned appreciations across the borders. He was regarded by many as the best Urdu Afsana (short-story) writer after Saadat Hasan Manto, Ismat Chughtai and Krishan Chander following the publication of his famous short-story "Gaddarya" [The Shepherd] in 1955.

Ahmed was born on 22 August 1925 in Garhmukteshwar village, Ghaziabad, British India. He obtained his early education in his native district. Shortly before independence in 1947, he migrated to Pakistan and made the Punjab metropolis, Lahore as his abode. He completed his Masters in Urdu literature from Government College Lahore. Bano Qudsia, his wife and companion in Urdu literary circles who is also one of the best novelists of Urdu, was his classmate at Government College.

After Partition, when Ashfaq Ahmed arrived at the Walton refugee camp with millions of other migrants, he used to make announcements on a megaphone around the clock. Later, he got a job in Radio Azad Kashmir, which was established on a truck that used to drive around in various parts of Kashmir. He then got lectureship at Dayal Singh College, Lahore for two years. Whereafter, he went to Rome to join Radio Rome as an Urdu newscaster. He also used to teach Urdu at Rome university. During his stay in Europe, he got diplomas in the Italian and French languages from the University of Rome and University of Grenoble, France. He also got special training diploma in radio broadcasting from New York University.

Compilation of Ishfaq's Short Stories

He started writing stories in his childhood, which were published in Phool [Flower] magazine. After returning to Pakistan from Europe, he took out his own monthly literary magazine, Dastaango [Story Teller], and joined Radio Pakistan as a script writer. He was made editor of the popular Urdu weekly, Lail-o-Nahar [Day and Night], in place of famous poet Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum by the Government of Pakistan.

In 1962, Ashfaq Ahmed started his popular radio program, Talqeen Shah [The Preacher] which made him immensely popular among the people in towns and villages. It was a weekly feature that ran for three decades, the longest weekly radio show in the subcontinent. He was appointed director of the Markazi Urdu Board in 1966, which was later renamed as Urdu Science Board, a post he held for 29 years. He remained with the board until 1979. He also served as adviser in the Education Ministry during Zia-ul-Haq's regime. In the 60s, he produced a feature film, Dhoop aur Saie [Shadows and Sunshine], which was not very successful at the box office.

characters like "Talqeen Shah", while several TV drama series based on his memorable plays of three decades ago are still enjoyed by the audience. Their appeal lies in the universal truths of life portrayed in human hopes, emotions, aspirations and relationships that touch the soul of people of all age groups. His popular TV plays include Aik Muhabbat Sau Afsanay [Bunch of Love Stories], Uchhay Burj Lahore Dey [Barbicans of Lahore], Tota Kahani [Story of the Parrot] , Lekin [But], Hairat Kadah [Incredibility] and Mun Chalay Ka Sauda [Bargain of the Stubborn]. All through his life, Ashfaq Ahmad endeavored to reform the society through his writings. He had authored over twenty five books including a travelogue, Safar dar Safar [Long Way Journey], with an atypical style. In fact, he gave a new mold to diction and locale situations, many of his fans would fondly remember. He used Punjabi literary words very well in Urdu and introduced a new kind of prose, which was unique to him. For his excellent literary work, he was awarded President's Pride of Performance and Sitara-i-Imtiaz for meritorious services in the field of literature and broadcasting.

Baba Sahiba; Ishfaq's Auto Biography

Ashfaq Ahmed's subtle sense of humour is reflected in his long-running radio programs and Besides his personality as a great author of impressive and laudable books, Ashfaq Ahmed, in his later period of life, was greatly inclined towards sufism, which was visibly reflected in most of his works. His close association with Qudrat Ullah Shahab and Mumtaz Mufti was also attributed for this tendency. Of-late, he used to appear in a get together with his fans in television's program 'Baittakh' [The Guest Room] and 'Zaviya' [The Dimension] wherein he gave swift but satisfying responses to each and every query, placed before him, explicitly by the youth of each gender, in a mystic style.

Ashfaq Ahmed died on 7 September, 2004 at the age of 79, of pancreatic cancer. He has written many books and his books are fun to read and one can really be entertained by reading his books and can get knowledge as well. Some of his books are mentioned below  

• Aik hi boli
• Aik Mohabbat 100 Dramey
• Aik Muhabbat So Afsaney
• Arz-e-musannif
• Aur Dramey
• Band Gali
• Baba Sahiba
• Dhandoraa - Talqeen Shah
• Gadaria - Ujlay Phool
• Gulldan
• Hairat Kaadah
• Hasart-e-Tameer
• Jung Ba Jung
• Khail Tamasha
• Khatiya Watiyaa - Poetry
• Man Chaley Ka Soda
• Mehmaansaraey
• Nangey Paoon
• Safar Dar Safar
• Safar e Maina
• Shahla Kot
• Shehre Aarzoo
• Shora Shori - Talqeen Shah
• Subhaey Ifsaney
• Talism Hosh Afza
• Tota Kahani
• Uchay Buraj Lahore Dey
• Waday e Jang
• Zaviya
• Zaviya - 2
• Zaviya - 3
• Zaviya - 4
• Zaviya - 5
• Zaviya - 6

Ishtiaq Ahmad; A great figure of Urdu Jasusi Adab!

A novel by Ishtiaq Ahmad

Ishtiaq Ahmad (or Ishtiaq Ahmed or اﺸﺘﻴﺎﻖ اﺤﻤﺩ in Urdu), is primarily a fiction writer from Lahore, Pakistan, (originally from Jhang, Pakistan) famous for his spy, detective novels in Urdu language, and is the author of the highest number of novels (700) by any author in any language throughout the world. He was popular in the 70s to 80s and 90s and started, Inspector Jamshed series, Inspector Kamran Mirza series, and Shoki series. He is currently an editor of the magazine, "[Bachon ka islam]", which is published by the Islamic newspaper “ROZNAMA ISLAM” from several cities of Pakistan.

Ishtiaq Ahmed has authored hundreds of suspense thriller novels in Urdu for kids during the 1970s, '80s and into the 1990s. His books were published at a very fast rate. His detective teams included Inspector Jamshed, Inspector Kamran as well as the Shoki brothers. It was the Inspector Jamshed team (and the series built around their escapades to protect Pakistan in general and the Muslim Nation in particular) that captured the imagination of several generations in Pakistan. The series featured a detective, Inspector Jamshed Ahmed, who solved crimes with the help of his three children, Mehmood, Farooq & Farzana. Inspector Jamshed was married, with his wife referred to as the children's mother or simply Mrs. Jamshed (Begum in Urdu). In his detective work, he had not only his children to help, but also a retired army officer, Khan Rehman (who was very rich), Professor Dawood, a brilliant scientist and his subordinate sub-inspector Ikraam .

Ishtiaq Ahmed is a master of writing suspense thrillers aimed at adult readers. The novel always started with a Hadith, followed by "Doo Batain" (Two Words), although the order was reversed in the beginning. Depending on the size of the novel, there could be more than one Hadith, with a short comment for clarification.

The "Doo Batain" section started as a way to address the reader. It often contained news about the author, his interpretation of world events, possibly a preview regarding the story, or at times, a completely off the topic narrative. The ultimate purpose of this was to inform and entertain. Notable ones began with: "Doo Batain: Batain to shoro ker chuka, ab aagay kiya khaak likhoon ga?" ("My Two Cents Worth: worth what?"). Besides in "Doo Batain" section Ishtiaq Ahmed used to complaint of the ever increasing burden he had to bear due to increasing price of paper.

During 1990s when his name was at the peak as the only writer for children, many copycats ishtiaq Ahmeds came into being, several publishers mainly from Lahore and Karachi tried to publish novels using his names. You can guess the fame of name of Ishtiaq Ahmed at those times. Ishtiaq Ahmed became a brand name.

Bachon Ka Islam

He is currently the editor of an online children's magazine BACHOON KA ISLAM, which also has some of his novels online.

He has written novels at a very fast rate due to which he has written lots of books, but he use to write a couple of novels in a year which were called Khas Numbers or Special Numbers. In these novels most of the times all three detective parties use to solve the case together. List of his some Khas Numbers are as follows (J stands for Jamshed Series, K stands for Kamran Series & S stands for Shoki Series)

1. Jeral Ka Mansooba (J K)
2. Malasha Ka Zalzala (J K)
3. Wadi-e-Dehshat (J K)
4. Kala Shetan + Shetan Ke Pujari (J K)
5. Aghwa Series (J K)
6. Jheel Ki Moat (J K)
7. Slaughter Ki Wapsi (J K)
8. Insani Dhuwan (S)
9. Duniya Ke qaidi (J K S)
10. Jazeray Ka Samunder (J K S)

He has written many Mini Khaas Numbers and Medium Khaas Numbers. May Allah empower his writing skills and he will entertain us by his novels.

Ali Pur Ka Aeeli; An Interesting Auto Biography

Ali Pur Ka Aili is the 1961 autobiography of Mumtaz Mufti describing first phase of his life. Initially this book was taken as a novel but later it was revealed that it was in fact the story of his life. The later half of his life was presented in his book Alakh Nagri.

Mumtaz Mufti was born in Batala, Punjab, (now in India). He was a son of Mufti Muhammad Hussain and his first wife Sughra Khannum. He became a civil servant under British rule and started career as a school teacher. Soon after partition, he migrated to Pakistan with his family.

Mumtaz Mufti started writing Urdu short stories while working as a school teacher before partition. In the beginning of his literary career, he was considered a non-conformist writer having liberal views, who appeared influenced by Freud. His transformation from Liberalism to Sufism was due to his inspiration from Qudrat Ullah Shahab. All the same, he did manage to retain his individual accent and wrote on subjects which were frowned upon by the conservative elements in society.

The two phases of his life are witnessed by his autobiographies, Ali Pur Ka Ailee and Alakh Nagri. According to forewords mentioned in his later autobiography, Ali Pur Ka Aeeli is an account of a lover who challenged the social taboos of his times, and Alakh Nagri is an account of an acolyte who greatly influenced by the mysticism of Qudrat Ullah Shahab.

Mumtaz Mufti is one of the most famous Pakistani Urdu writer. His books (novels) earned a great deal of popularity. Alakh Nagri, Ali pur ka Aili, Labbaik and Talaash.

To Free Download Ali Pur Ka Aili by Mumtaz Mufti Click Here

Please note that book have 14 parts and all are in .pdf format. You may need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open it. Total size is approx. 88mb.

Mumtaz Mufti; A big name of Urdu literature!

Mumtaz Mufti

Mumtaz Mufti SI (Urdu: ممتاز مفتی) (September 11, 1905 – October 27, 1995), was a distinguished writer from Pakistan.

Mumtaz Mufti was born in Batala, Punjab, (now in India). He was a son of Mufti Muhammad Hussain and his first wife Sughra Khannum. He became a civil servant under British rule and started career as a school teacher. Soon after partition, he migrated to Pakistan with his family.

Mumtaz Mufti started writing Urdu short stories while working as a school teacher before partition. In the beginning of his literary career, he was considered a non-conformist writer having liberal views, who appeared influenced by Freud. His transformation from Liberalism to Sufism was due to his inspiration from Qudrat Ullah Shahab. All the same, he did manage to retain his individual accent and wrote on subjects which were frowned upon by the conservative elements in society.

The title cover of Ali Pur Ka Aelee

The two phases of his life are witnessed by his autobiographies, Ali Pur Ka Aeeli and Alakh Nagri. According to forewords mentioned in his later autobiography, Ali Pur Ka Aeeli is an account of a lover who challenged the social taboos of his times, and Alakh Nagri is an account of an acolyte who greatly influenced by the mysticism of Qudrat Ullah Shahab. Beside these two books he has authored many other books. Some of them are mentioned here:

• An Kahi
• Chup
• Guria Ghar
• Ismaraeen
• Kahi Na Jai
• Labbaik
• Muftianey
• Nizam e Saqa
• Roughani Putlay
• Talash

Ismat Chughtai; A feminist Urdu Writer

Ismat Chughtai (Urdu: عصمت چغتائی) (August 1911 – 24 October 1991) was an eminent Urdu writer, known for her indomitable spirit and a fierce feminist ideology. She was considered the grand dame of Urdu fiction, as one of the four pillars of modern Urdu short story, the other three being Saadat Hasan Manto, Krishan Chander, and Rajinder Singh Bedi. Her outspoken and controversial style of writing made her the passionate voice for the unheard, and she has become an inspiration for the younger generation of writers, readers and intellectuals.

She was born in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh and grew up largely in Jodhpur where her father was a civil servant. She was ninth of ten children (six brothers, four sisters), and since her older sisters got married while Ismat was very young, the better part of her childhood was spent in the company of her brothers, a factor which she admits contributed greatly to the frankness in her nature and writing. Her brother, Mirza Azim Beg Chughtai, already an established writer, when Ismat was still in her teens, was her first teacher and mentor.

In 1936, still working on her bachelor’s degree, she attended the first meeting of the Progressive Writers' Association in Lucknow. After her B.A., Ismat worked for a B.T. (a Bachelor’s in Education), thus becoming the first Indian Muslim woman to have earned both degrees. In this period she started writing in secret on account of violent opposition to her education from her Muslim family.

Ismat Chughtai is considered a path breaker for women writers in the subcontinent, as the many women writing at the time of Ismat's birth and childhood - including, notably, Muhammasdi Begum, Sughra Humayun Mirza, Tyaba Bilgrami (to whose novel Anwari Begum Chughtai refers in Terhi Lakeer), and Khatun Akram, were considered to be too caught up in the ideology of slow, conservative and religiously sanctioned changes for women advocated by such male reformers as Mumtaz Ali, Rashidul Khairi and Shaikh Abdullah. However, in Ismat's formative years, Nazar Sajjad Hyder had established herself an independent feminist voice, and the short stories of two very different women, Hijab Imtiaz Ali and the Progressive Dr Rashid Jehan were also a significant early influence on Ismat. (See Aamer Hussein's article, Forcing Silence to Speak, on early women writers in the AUS online).

During her heyday, a lot of her writings were banned in South Asia due to their reformist and feminist content offending Islamic militants (such as her view that the Niqab, the mask forced on women in Muslim societies, should be discouraged for Muslim women because it is oppressive and feudal). Currently, many of her books are banned in Islamic countries, such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, on the grounds that her writings that advocate for reform in Muslim society are "anti-Muslim"

Ismat Chughtai died in Bombay on October 24, 1991 and was cremated in Chandanwadi crematorium according to her wish, which illustrates that she did not believe in Islam and was a non Muslim having a Muslim name.

Shahab Nama; The cream of Urdu Adab

Shahab Namah

Shahab Nama is the autobiography of Qudrat Ullah Shahab. It was finished in 1986 just before his death. It was published the same year and soon he became a household name in Pakistan.

Qudrat Ullah Shahab (or Qudratullah Shahab; 1917– July 24 1986) was an eminent Urdu writer and civil servant from Pakistan. Qudrat Ullah Shahab was a well known bureaucrat of Pakistan. He was from Jammu Kashmir and initially got into civil service by passing the Indian civil service exam some years prior to the independence of Pakistan. He served on several high offices including being Ambassador of Pakistan to Netherlands. He got well known to people after his book Shahab Nama got published, which portrays his life experiences.

His early childhood was full of adventures, some of which are mentioned in his book Shahab Nama. The book has become a cult favourite in Pakistan. His personality reflected mysticism, something which he describes as a gift from an out-of-world personality which he named as ‘Ninety’ in his book SHAHAB NAMA, this mysticism belongs to Owaisiah chain of Sufism. Mumtaz Mufti and Ashfaq Ahmed, both well known writers of Pakistan, were close friends of Q.U.Shahab and were deeply inspired by him.

Shahab Nama has sixty chapters and 893 pages (Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore, 2005). The first chapter entitled “Iqbal-e-Jurm” (confession) is about the author’s motivation for writing an autobiography. The next seven “Jammu main plague” (Plague in Jammu), “Nanda Bus Service”, “Chamkor Sahib”, “Raj keroo ga khalisa baqi rahey na ko” (No one else but the Khalsa shall reign), “Maharaja Hari Singh kay sath chahay” (Tea with Maharaja Hari Singh), “Chandravati”, and “ICS main dakhla” (Entry to ICS)chronicle his early life up to entry into Indian Civil Service. Chapter nine to fifteen describe author’s experiences during his initial postings to different parts of India and creation of Pakistan in 1947. Four chapters are devoted to Mr. Shahab’s writings and critics’ comments on them. (Chapter 16 to 19). Chapter 20 is on the new state of Kashmir (“Azad Kashmir”) and 21 on assassination of the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan (“Sila-e-Shaheed”). Chapter 22 to 34 are devoted to author’s experiences as Deputy Commissioner of Jhang District in Punjab.

After a year in Jhang, Mr. Shahab left for the Netherlands on a scholarship to attend a six-month course at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague. Two chapters, 35 and 36 are on his impressions of the Netherlands and his decision to proceed to Hajj. Chapter 37 and 38 are a pilgrim’s tale. “Jhoot, fraud aur hirs ki daldal” (The quagmire of lies, fraud and greed), chapter 39, details author’s time at the Ministry of Industries as Director. For the next 200 pages, chapter 40 to 50, Mr. Shahab delves into politics of his time as observed by him as the Principal Secretary to Governor General Malik Ghulam Muhammad, President Iskander Mirza and General Ayub Khan. The last ten chapters of Shahab Nama deal with a variety of topics such as death of his mother (“Maa ji ki wafaat”), life of an Ambassador (“Rozgar-e-safeer”), the future of Pakistan (“Pakistan ka mustaqbil)” and so on. There is a chapter titled “Iffat” dedicated to his late wife. The last chapter is about his mystical experiences.

To Download Urdu eBook Shahab Nama by Qudratullah Shahab, Click Here

Please note that Shahab Nama has been divided in to 10 parts for better downloading at slower or load-shedding affected connections. If you are unable to download this book, kindly let me know.

The book must be read be they people who want to know about the real history of Pakistan. One can find the real and actual history of Pakistan, regarding Pakistan’s rulers and their behavior and psychology and Pakistan’s relations with other countries. One cannot find these informations in other books of Pakistan study. So must read Shahab Namah and please do let me know your comments about the book.

Qudrat Ullah Shahab; The famous Urdu Writer

Qudrat Ullah Shahab

Qudrat Ullah Shahab (or Qudratullah Shahab; 1917– July 24 1986) (Urdu: قدرت اللہ شہاب) was an eminent Urdu writer and civil servant from Pakistan.

Qudrat Ullah Shahab was a well known bureaucrat of Pakistan. He was from Jammu Kashmir and initially got into civil service by passing the Indian civil service exam some years prior to the independence of Pakistan. He served on several high offices including being Ambassador of Pakistan to Netherlands. He got well known to people after his book Shahab Nama got published, which portrays his life experiences.

His early childhood was full of adventures, some of which are mentioned in his book Shahab Nama. The book has become a cult favourite in Pakistan.

His personality reflected mysticism, something which he describes as a gift from an out-of-world personality which he named as ‘Ninety’ in his book SHAHAB NAMA, this mysticism belongs to Owaisiah chain of Spiritualism.

Mumtaz Mufti and Ashfaq Ahmed, both well known writers of Pakistan, were close friends of Q.U.Shahab and were deeply inspired by him.

After his death in 1986, Q.U.Shahab is resting in a grave in Islamabad Graveyard.

Gilgit, The birth place of Shahab

He was born in Gilgit in an Arain family, where his father Abdullah Sahib was Governor during Dogra rule. Most of his schooling was in Kashmir, and there he excelled both in Urdu and English languages. Without telling anyone he wrote an essay and won the world competition by Reader's Digest, a rare achievement for any Indian Muslim in those days. Then he came to Government College Lahore for his college education.

He was selected for Indian Civil Service and later volunteered to serve in Bengal during the famine of 1943 where he served as magistrate at Nandigram. He came under heavy fire from the authorities when he distributed part of the strategic rice reserves to starving local community.

After coming to Pakistan he was first posted in the ministry of commerce a as a Deputy Secretary then to Azad Kashmir at Muzaffarabad as chief secretary of the new state. From there he came to Jhang, Punjab, as Deputy Commissioner. He then served as Director of Industries of Punjab and had to deal mostly with settlement issues concerning migration. He was first appointed by Ghulam Muhammad as his Principal Secretary. He remained there during Iskander Mirza and Ayub Khan’s time. He later went to Holland as ambassador and also served as Secretary Information and Secretary Education.

Title cover of Shahab Namah

His masterpiece, Shahab Nama, was finished but not yet unpublished at the time of his death in 1986. The book immediately made him a household name in Pakistan. Its idea came when he was visiting his friend Ibn-e-Insha in England and they were talking about the philosophy of life. He then started writing chapters and read them in reading circles. Some were published in newspapers and magazines.

He has authored many books and the most famous books of him are mentioned below.

• Shahab Nama
• Maan Ji
• Surkh Feeta
• Ya Khuda

Really, he was a great person in the history of Pakistan. He played a great role in the growth, development and progress of Pakistan. May his soul rest in peace. Aameen!!

Darbar-e-Dil; A Fantastic Urdu Novel by Umaira Ahmad

Title cover of the Book

Darbaar-e-Dil, is a beautiful novel written by the famous Urdu novelist Umaira Ahmad. The story is about a religious girl Mehr and a westernized boy Murad. The story of a little mistake leads to a great repentance for two persons.

The girl Mehr is very religious and well cultured student of college and her father is a professor. She is fond of calling her ultra modern college friend and advice her for a good life.

One day the boy Muraad wants to make a call from his friend’s home but the line crosses and he hear the call of girl. They boy bets with his friend that he will trap the girl and make friendship with her. He discovers the number of girl and starts calling her.

The girl tries to get ride off the boy, but unintentionally she falls in love with him. And one day she asks the boy to marry her. The boy promises her but asks her to meet him (and he wants to put her to shame) but the girl refuses to meet him.

One day he calls her and says that his parents will come to her home to ask her hand from her father. And, while calling, he pretends that his accident has occurred and he is going to die. He says that he wants to see her before dying and asks her to please come to the place, but she could not go there.

The last Page of the Book

She thinks that she has lost her love and changes her way of life and starts wearing sleeveless dresses and going to concerts. The boy goes to Canada and completes there his MBA.

After 2 years when he returns to Pakistan and see the girl one day in a bookshop. He falls in love in first sight. It was his mother’s wish that the boy get merried with Mehr as she is the daughter of her friend and a well cultured girl (but she does not know that she has changed her lifestyle). His mather insists him to see the girl and he agrees in the condition that if he does not like her she would not insist him to marry her.

When they go to her home and he see her. His mather, now, is not agree for this marriage when she sees the girl has changed her lifestyle, but the boy says that he will marry only with her, and how they get married.

One day Mehr comes to know that Muraad is that guy who was calling her and because of him, her three years of life gone ruined. She at once leaves home and in the way to her parents home, while talking to Muraad on phone and telling him that she is Mi Mi, (her nickname used by Muraad three years ago) and an accident occurs and they boy first time remembers Allah Almighty.

Click Here to download this fabulous Urdu novel. You will have to have PDF reader installed in your computer in order to read the book after having it downloaded.

Umaira Ahmad; My favorite Urdu Novelist

Umaira Ahmed /Umera Ahmed(b. December 10, 1976, Sialkot, Pakistan) and is a Popular fiction Urdu novelist and screenplay writer based in Sialkot, Pakistan who is best known for authoring the book Peer-e-Kamil (پیر کامل) and the TV serial Meri Zaat Zara-e-Benishan.

Umaira Ahmed completed her masters in English from Murray College. Her initial stories were published in monthly Urdu digests such as Khawateen Digest (خواتین ڈاجسٹ) and Shuaa (شعاع). Her stories are published in episodic format every month in various digests and are eventually released as separate novels. Her novels Man-o-Salwa, Lahasil, Amar Bail, Husna Aur Husn Ara, Meri Zaat Zarai benishan, Mai Ne Khawabon Ka Shajar Dekha Hai, Muthi Bhar Matti, Libas, Darbar-e-Dil, Thora sa Aasman and Sauda have been adapted for television.

Umaira Ahmed was a great english language lecturer at Army Public College Sialkot. She taught for quite some years but quit teaching a few years ago in order to give full attention to her novels. She is till date remembered in the College for her great teaching services.

She has authored 16 books comprising novels, compilations of short stories, and plays. Her novels explore societal problems particularly the role of women in the society. Her novels mostly contain South Asian cultural issues (primarily focussing on Pakistani societal issues).

Authored Books:

• Meri Zaat Zarra Benishan (1999)- this was also dramatized on GEO which got super fame

• Peer e Kamil (2003)

• Lahasil

• Hasil

• Amar Bail

• Man-o-salwa (2007)

• Husna Aur Husn Ara

• Mein Ne Khawabon Ka Shajar Dekha Hai

• Muthi Bhar Matti

• Libas

• Darbar-e-Dil

• Thora sa Aasman (2003)

• Sauda

• Hurf say Nufz Tuk

• Wapsi

• Hum Kahan Kay Suchay Thay

• Iman Umeed aur Muhabat

• Zindigi Gulzar Hai

Koi Lamha Khaab Nahi Hota

Baaat Umar Bhar Ki hay

Sahar Ek Isti'ara Hay

Maat Honay Tak

Zindagi Gulzaar Hay

Ab Mera Intizaar Kar

Playwright:

• Doraha (2009)

• The Ghost (2009)

• Malal (2009-2010)

• Meri Zaat Zarra-E-Benishan

Urdu Poet, Gulzaar

Gulzaar

Sampooran Singh Kalra )Urdu: سمپورن سنگھ کالرا, born 18 August 1936), better known by his pen name Gulzar (Urdu: گُلزار ), is an Indian poet, lyricist and director. He primarily writes in Hindi-Urdu, but has also written in Punjabi, several dialects of Hindi such as Braj Bhasha, Khadiboli, Haryanvi and Marwari.

Gulzar was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2004 for his contribution to the arts, and the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2002. He has also won a number of National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards in various categories. In 2009, he won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Jai Ho" in the film Slumdog Millionaire (2008). On 31 January 2010, the same song won him a Grammy Award in the category of Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media.

As a lyricist, Gulzar is best known for his association with the music directors Rahul Dev Burman, A. R. Rahman and Vishal Bhardwaj, and has also worked with other leading Hindi movie music directors including Sachin Dev Burman, Salil Chowdhury, Hemant Kumar, Madan Mohan, Shankar Ehsaan Loy and Anu Malik.

Gulzar was born in a Kalra Arora Sikh family, to Makhan Singh Kalra and Sujan Kaur, in Dina, Jhelum District, Pakistan. Before becoming an established writer, Sampooran worked as a car mechanic in a garage. He took the pen name Gulzar Deenvi after becoming an author.

A poem by Gulzaar

Gulzar is best known in India as a lyricist for songs that form an integral part of Indian movies. He began his career under the film directors Bimal Roy and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. His book Ravi Paar has a narrative of Bimal Roy and the agony of creation.

Gulzar started his career as a songwriter with the music director Sachin Dev Burman for the movie "Bandini" (1963). The song was "Mora gora ang layle", picturised on Nutan. Gulzar's most successful songs as a lyricist came out from his association with Sachin Dev Burman's son Rahul Dev Burman, whom he once described as the anchor in his life. R D Burman composed songs for almost all the movies directed by Gulzar in the 1970s and the 1980s, including Libaas (1988), Ijaazat (1987), Angoor (1982), Khushboo (1975), Mausam (1975), Aandhi (1975) and Mere Apne (1971). Many of their popular songs were sung by Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. These include Musafir hoon yaron (Parichay), Tera bina zindagi se koi (Aandhi), Mera kuch saaman (Ijaazat), Tujhse naraz nahi zindagi (Masoom) etc.

Gulzar also has had award-winning associations with the music directors Salil Chowdhury (Anand), Madan Mohan (Mausam), and more recently with Vishal Bhardwaj (Maachis), A. R. Rahman (Dil Se, Guru, Slumdog Millionaire, Raavan) and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (Bunty aur Babli).

Gulzar's film Aandhi was banned for a time because it was seen as a criticism of Indira Gandhi for the imposition of the emergency. He also depicted a flair for adapting stories/concepts from literature as well as from other films. Angoor is based on Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors, and Mausam is an adaptation of A. J. Cronin's The Judas Tree. Gulzar also adapted the Hollywood classic The Sound of Music into Parichay. He directed an eponymous Television serial on Mirza Ghalib starring Naseeruddin Shah shown on Indian Television Channel Doordarshan in 1988. Gulzar also worked, as a song writer or dialogue writer for several Doordarshan programs for kids such as Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland, Guchche and Potli Baba Ki together with Vishal Bhardwaj. He has more recently written and narrated for the children's audiobook series Karadi Tales.

Gulzaar's biography by his daughter Megna

As a poet-lyricist, Gulzar has developed a new style of writing poems called Triveni which comprises stanzas comprising three lines rhyming with each other. His private album "Koi Baat Chale" with Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh has all the songs written in Triveni.

As a director, Gulzar is known for making brilliantly sensitive portrayal of subjects ranging from human relations, biographical profiles and often controversial social issues. For his contributions to Indian cinema, Gulzar was honored with Padma Bhushan in 2004, the third highest civilian award in India. Also, Gulzar and his movies have won numerous awards at the National level including awards for best director and best lyrics. He also won the 2002 Sahitya Akademi Award for 'Dhuan', a collection of Urdu short stories.

Gulzar is married to actress Raakhee. They have a daughter, Meghna Gulzar, who is a film director. Meghna Gulzar has also penned a biography of Gulzar, titled "because he is".