Mustansar Hussain Tarar; a Famous Urdu Writer

M.H. Tarar

Mustansar Hussain Tarar (Urdu: مستنصر حسين تارڑ) ( March 1, 1939)is a Pakistani author, actor, former Radio Show Host, compere and enthusiast. Having made a name for himself by taking the mantle in Pakistan's mountaineering community, Mustansar Hussain is widely recognized as one of the most famous and well known personalities in both Pakistan and the rest of the world. Though the origin of his fame and decadence is usually considered to be his established and decorated career and as a writer, Tarar can also be recognized as the foremost endorser for tourism projects in Northern areas of Pakistan, having exorbitantly increased the array of tourist exposure to the areas in question by becoming both a mountaineer and an adventure author who uses these locations as backdrops for his storylines.

Mustansar Hussain's literary proficiency as an author often overshadows the fact that he has been an active mountaineer for a very extensive period of time. Having embarked upon several painstaking and challenging tasks such as the ascension of K-2 and the surpassing of the treacherous "Chitti Buoi" Glacier (translated as a glacier with large caravesses). More significantly, both of Mustansar Hussain's professions often intertwine and relate, since he uses his experiences on his expeditions as compilations or travelogues. Though some of his publications have met lukewarm reactions due to supposed exaggeration, he reflects on this predicament with the notion that "words or even pictures cannot successfully express the beauty and splendor of nature in it's true spirit."

Tarar opines in a similar manner to the portrayal of environments and localities in other adventure novels. As such, in one of his books, he advises his critics to live through similar experience before criticizing because most people cannot dare go through such dangerous sporting experience of high altitude trekking. This advice is further testified through the respect and regards that Tarar carries in Pakistani climbing community.

Pakistan's biggest mountaineering names like Nazir Sabir (first Pakistani climber on Everest and among the only few Pakistanis to have summitted K2) and Rajab Shah also regard Tarar as one of their motivations although both of these climbers hail from the Northern Areas where livelihood of a lot of people is through being high altitude guide and porters. Tarar is a household name in the Northern Areas of Pakistan and people in remotest northern areas take pride in being his hosts during his visits and expeditions.

Tarar's first book Nikley Teri Talaash Main, a travelogue of Europe was published in 1971, he has so far over forty titles to his credit which include all genre of literature; travelogues, novels, short stories and collection of his newspaper columns and Television dramas. He has been the best-seller fiction writer of Pakistan for the last fifteen years.

Mustansar was born in 'jokalian' a small town in Punjab, Pakistan. He spent his early childhood in the village. However he was destined to live some precious moments of his life in the lively city Lahore.So the fate played its tricks , and his family moved to culturally rich Lahore. His father Rehmat Khan Tarar opened a small seed store that flourished into sub-continent's lead seed supplier company. Mr Tarar got his schooling from Rang Mehal Mission High School and Muslim Model High School, Lahore. He , then got admission in Government College Lahore , a college that owns the credit to polish several intellectuals of Pakistan.In somewhat around 1950's , he went to London for higher studies. In London, he spent much of his time in watching and enjoying movies , doing theater and reading books. In 1957 he attended the World Youth Festival in Moscow and wrote a book named 'Fakhta' (Dove) on that experience.

Returning London, he met Majeed Nizami the editor of Nawai waqt , the famous Pakistani newspaper. During those days Majeed was in London as a reporter for the newspaper. He suggested Mustansar to write a travelogue of Russia .This marks the starting of Mustansar's literary life. His first literary writing was a travelogue , " London Say Moscow Taq " that was published in three episodes. After this literary endeavor he returned to his homeland , Pakistan.For a short period he looked after the business of his father. Meanwhile he got the chance to act for PTV.He also succeeded in establishing himself as a good actor. It's testimony is that Ashfaq Ahmed chose him to act for one of his plays, Qurat-ul-Ain.

In 1969 he travelled seventeen European countries. On his return he wrote the travelogue , ' Niklay Teri Talash Main ' (نکلے تیری تلاش میں).This travelogue has been included by the Moscow University as a content of Urdu course. After the completion of this literary pearl , he remained busy in the research work that meant for another literary creation , the travelogue , ' Undlas May Ajnabi (اندلس میں اجنبی.

His first novel was , Pyar Ka Pehla Sher ' (پیار کا پھلا شھر') that is still the best-seller. He wrote this novel by sitting in one of the shops located in the extreme hustle bustle of ' Guwal-Mandi ', Lahore During 1980's he chose the northern areas of Pakistan to be infused in the charismatic beauty with his son Saljook. He wrote twelve travelogues based on the Northern Areas of Pakistan. A lake in Fairy Meadows , a location of northern area of Pakistan has been named after Mustansar Hussain Tarar as , 'Tarar lake'.

He was a host of PTV's live morning transmission Subuh Bakhair (Urdu: صبح بخیر) (Good Morning),starting in January 1988 for many years. His unconventional and down-to-earth style of comparing earned him great popularity among people from all circles of life. He is one of the most recognized personality among children as he spent a big part of transmission time addressing exclusively children. He proclaimed himself Cha Cha Jee (Urdu: چاچا جی) (paternal uncle) of all Pakistani children and soon became known by this title. He often told on TV that even adults called him Cha Cha Jee in letters and in person.

Currently he writes a weekly column for Akhbar-e-Jehan, he also writes a fortnightly column for the English language daily "Dawn" and columns for an Urdu language daily Aaj Daily.

He is the author of more than 17 travelogs and many novels. His novel Raakh was nominated as one of the best in the history of sub-continent South-Asia. His books include:He is Currently written Colum In Daily Jinnah(Urdu Daily)

• Raisani ( Named on A British Award Winning Police Officer Mir Mohammad Ali Raisani )

• Andulus Mayn Ajnabi (اندلس میں اجنبی) (Stranger in Spain)

• Bahhao (بھا و) (Flow)

• Bay Izti Kharab (بے عزتی خراب) (Insulting dishonor) - This phrase is deliberately wrong and commonly used this way in local communities, thus the book name.

• Berfeeli Bulandiyan (برفیلی بلندیاں) (Snowy Heights)

• Carvan Sarai (کارواں سرایےؑ) (Caravan Motel)

• K-2 Kahani (کے ٹو کھانی) (K2 Story)

• CHIK CHUK (چک چک) (Remove the curtain)

• CHITRAL DASTAAN (چترال داستان) (Chitral Tale)

• Dais Huwaa Perdais (دیس ھٗوے پردیس) (Homeland becomes foreign land)

• Deyo Saai (دیوسا یی)

• Dakia aur Jolaha (ڈاکیا اور جولاھا) (Postman and cloth-maker)

• Gadhay Hamaray Bhai Hain (گدھے ھمارے بھایی ھیں) (Donkeys are our brothers)

• Ghar-e-Hira mien ek Raat (a night in cave Hira)

• Guzara Naheen Hota (گزارا نھی ھوتا) (Hard to get by)

• Gypsi (جپسی)

• Hazaron Hain Shikway (ھزاروں ھیں شکوے) (Have thousands of complaints)

• Hazaron Raastay (ھزاروں راستے) (Thousands of paths)

• Hunza Dastaan (ھنزھ داستان) (Hunza Tale)

• Kaalaash (کالاش)

• Khana Badosh (خانھ بدوش) (Gypsi)

• Moorat (مورت) (Idol)

• Mun Wal Kabbey Shariff (منھ ول کعبے شریف دے) (Face towards Qibla)

• Nanga Parbat (نانگاپربت) (named after the mountain)

• Nepal Nagri (نیپال نگری) (Land of Nepal)

• Niklay Teri Talash Main (نکلے تیری تلاش میں) (Out in your search)

• Pakhairoo (پکھیرو) (Birds)

• Parinday (پرندے) (Birds)

• Parwaz (پرواز) (Flight)

• Payar Ka Pehla Shehr (پیار کا پھلا شھر) (Love's first city)

• Putli Peking Ki (پتلی پیکنگ کی) (Monument from Peking)

• Qilaa Jangi (قلعھ جنگی) (Fortified war)

• Qurbat-e-Merg Main Mohabbat (قربت مرگ میں محبت) (Love in the vicinity of death)

• Raakh (راکھ) (Ash)

• Safar Shumal Kay (سفر شمال کے) (Travels of the north)

• Shamshaal Baimesaal (شمشھال بیمثال) (Extraordinary Shamshaal)

• Shehpar (شھپر) (Wings)

• Shuter Murgh Riasat (شتر مرغ ریاست) (Ostrich State)

• Snow Lake (سنو لیک)

• Sunehri Ullo Ka Shaher (سنھری الو کا شھر) (The city of golden owl)

• Yaak Saraey (یاک سرایے) (Yaak Inn)

He is also the author of many famous drama serials for PTV.

• Aik Haqeeqat Aik Afsana (One Reality, One Fiction)

• Hazaron Raastey (Thousands of Paths)

• Parinda (Bird)

• Shehpar

• Sooraj Ke Sath Sath (Along with Sun)

• Kelash (Name of a tribe)

"TAUBA SHIKAN" a Masterpiece Afsaana By Bano Qudsiya

Bano Qudsiya

Bano Qudsia SI, HI, (Punjabi, Urdu: بانو قدسیه) (born 1928) is a writer, intellectual, playwright and spiritualist from Pakistan who is regarded among the best Urdu novelists and short story writers of modern times. She is best known for her novel Raja Gidh. She writes for television and stage in both Urdu and Punjabi languages. She is the wife of famous novelist Ashfaq Ahmed. She has written a number of popular television plays.

I have come across one of her Masterpiece Short Story (Afsaana), “TOBA SHIKAN” and thought it worthy to be shared with you. Here you go, but do not forget to add your comments about the Afsaana.

Anees Nagi; an Urdu Novelis and Critic

Anees Nagi

Dr. Anis Nagi (Urdu: انیس ناگی) is a Pakistani poet, novelist and critic. He has retired from government service and is now living in Lahore, his birthplace.

He has done MA Urdu (Gold Medalist) from the University of Punjab and taught in Government College Lahore and Faisalabad some years. Later he passed the PCS and became an officer and leaved the teaching job. Now he is a 20 grade officer.

He has written many novels. It would be interesting to mention that his novels are composed by himself. He spends time on his computer composing his novels.

Title Cover of Zawal

In his novel ZAWAL he tried to show a gradually brutally mentally and physically frustration of an old aged Bureaucrat. And he is quite successful in this regard. His other novels are also very famous especially DEEVAR K PEECHAY and MUHASARA have got a wide readership.

He has a nagitive personality that he does not accept many big fugers of Urdu and does not consider their work. Like Intizar Hussain, a big figure of Urdu Adab, is not a good writer in the sight of Anees Nagi. According to him Faiz Ahmad Faiz has only 30 words and he uses these words in his poetry. He accepts only Iqbal and Ghalib as poet and Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi as a good short story writer.

Krishan Chander is a useless Short story writer and Ali Sardar Jafri is also a useless Adeeb.Majrooh Sultan puri is, according to him, a third class poet. And the travelogues of Mustansar Hussain Tarar are rubbish.

Although he is a 20 grade officer of the government of Pakistan but he spends very simple life.

"Lottery" A Beautiful Afsaana By Munshi Premchand

Munshi Premchand

Munshi Premchand (Urdu: منشی پریم چند), (July 31, 1880– October 8, 1936) was a famous writer of modern Hindi-Urdu literature. He is generally recognized in India as the foremost Hindi-Urdu writer of the early twentieth century.

Premchand wrote about three hundred short stories and several novels, as well as many essays and letters, plays and translations. Many of Premchand's stories have themselves been translated into English and Russian.

His short stories have got a great fame and wide readership in Urdu lovers. His short story Borhi Kaki considered one of his masterpieces short stories.

I came across his short story “Lottery" and thought that I should share it with you guys. Hope you will like it and will not forget to add your comments about it.

Best wishes!!!

An Article About Anees Nagi

Anees Nagi

Dr. Anis Nagi (Urdu: انیس ناگی) is a Pakistani poet, novelist and critic. He has retired from government service and is now living in Lahore, his birthplace.

He has done MA Urdu (Gold Medalist) from the University of Punjab and taught in Government College Lahore and Faisalabad some years. Later he passed the PCS and became an officer and leaved the teaching job. Now he is a 20 grade officer.

He has written many novels. It would be interesting to mention that his novels are composed by himself. He spends time on his computer composing his novels.

I have come across on an article about Anees Nagi and thought to share it with you. So here you go.

Husna Aur Husan Aara; a Fun to Read Urdu Story

Title Cover Of Husna Aur Husan Aara

Husna and Husan Aara is a very beautiful story by Umaira Ahmad. This is hoe only book which is completely in Urdu and a single English word could not be found in the story.

Husna or Husen Aara, is the story of Husna, a young girl who is the only daughter of Saufi Sahib and Husen Aara who is a Tawa’ef and Saufi Sahib gets married with her.

Husna’s mother is proud to belong to a well reputed family and thinks that the girls from good families are always good and does not do ever a wrong act. She is worries about the marriage of her daughter as she is young and asks a lady “Bua” to find a good family for her.

One day Saufi Sahib comes home with Husan Aara and says that he has got marries with her. The news was quite shocking for her. Later she comes to know that Husan Aara is a Tawa’if (A Dancing girl). She tries to ask Saufi Sahib about her family but he refuses to tell a single word about her and says that now she belongs to our family.

A Page from the Book

Very soon her daughter gets married with Akbar whom she liked and wanted to see him as her son in law. But later she suspects that Akber is interested with Husan Aara and finds them in objectionable condition.

She blames at times that Husan aara is loose character and has an affair with her son in law Akbar. But at the end of the story she shockingly knows the reality that her daughter was pregnant before marriage and Husan Aara helped her to get married with Akbar, as Akber was interested in her and she got married Saufi Sahib so that Akbar will marry Husna so that he could come to their home and make relations with Husan Aara. And her pride of being from good family breaks.

Click here to Read Usna Aur Husan Aara Online and Click here to download it. Please note that you will have to have PDF reader to read the story after having it downloaded. And don’t forget to add your comments about the story.

Thank you and best wishes!!!

Bachpan Ka December; A Fun-To-Read Novel

Title Cover of Bachpan Ka December

Bachpan Ka December is a very beautiful coming of age style Novel on strong ties of Childhood Love by Hashim Nadeem Khan.

This is a story of a child Addee (Abbad) who was in love with a girl Wajjo (Hajeeha) who was elder than him having a status higher than Adde. It’s a quite different story, written in very impressive way, related to childhood with very innocent memories as well as coming of age experiences and feelings. This is his second novel which depicts human feelings and emotions in a unique way. In this novel he shows the strong ties of love adorned with a colorful title this novel is a gift for readers.

Click here to download Bachpan Ka December. Please note that you will have to have PDF Reader to read the book after donwloading And do let me know about your comments about the book.

Thank you and best wishes!!

Andulus Mai Chand Roz; a Must Read Book By Taqi Usmani

Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani was born in 1943 in Deoband, India. He is the son of the late Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi, the former Grand Mufti of Pakistan. He obtained his Takhassus degree (an advanced degree equivalent to Ph.D.) in Islamic education from Darul Uloom Karachi, the largest and most renowned Islamic educational institution in Pakistan. He also obtained a Master’s degree in Arabic literature from Punjab University, and a law degree (LLB) from Karachi University.

He is regarded as an expert in the fields of Hadith (sacred traditions of the Holy Prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), Economics, and Tasawwuf (Islamic spirituality). He has been teaching these and other branches of Islamic education since 1959.

Title Cover of Undalus Main Chand Rooz

Mufti Usmani has written more than 60 books. Undalus (Spain) mai Chand Roz is one of his best Urdu Books. The book is a travelogue of Spain written by him. I would recommend everybody to read this book to realize how was Islamic Empire in Spain. How Muslims rule there and how they lost their dignity.

As Iqbal says: Mai Tuj Ko Batata Hoo Taqdeer-e-Umam Kia Hai*** Shamsheer-O-Sanan Awwal Taus-O-Rubab Aakhir. Spain is a clear picture of Iqbal’s this verse. This book shows the behaviour of Spanish Government and people towards the remains of Muslim Empire.

while reading about Jamia Masjad Qartaba (Córdoba), where Sheikh Usmani writes that there was a prayer time and a person was playing guitar and there were only two people who offered Prayer in the Masjid; and those were Sheikh Usmani and his companion.

Idara Ma’ariful Qur’an Karachi has published the book, (and later the book was included in Sheikh Usmani’s travelogue Dunya Mere Aagay) and could be found at every corner of the country.

The book is must read and eye opener.

"Aawazain" Fantastic Short Stories by Younus Javaid

Title Cover of Aawazain

Younus Javaid is a well known Urdu short Story writer. He has written many books comprising of short stories written by him. His books have a wide readership. Taiz Hawa Ka Shor, Andhera Ujala and Aawazain are considered to be his good books.

In his short stories included in his book Aawazain, Younus Javaid writes everything with complete accordance to the modern age and dimension. He writes with such an artistic confidence that no one can escape from the astounding grip of it. Very few artists possess this superb ability, which is indeed admirable on its own. In this compilation some of the finest like Uraan, Tajarba, Daaira Aur Tikoon, Doosri Karbala and many more are included, making this book a must read.

Click here to download Aawazain. Please note that you will have to have PDF reader to read the book after having it downloaded and don’t forget to add your comments.

Thank you and best of wishes!!!

Adabi TajZiyyay, a Valuable book On Urdu Adab

Title Cover of Adabi TajZiyyay

Dr. Qasim Jalal is a big figure of Urdu literature. He has built from scratches. He started his career from a Primary teacher and progressed very rapidly. There was no looking back for him. And later he became a professor in Islamia University Bahalpur, a prestigious University of Pakistan.

Adabi TajZiyyay is also a famous book written by Qasim Jalal. The Book comprises of essays written by him which specifically address and cover misc. problems related to Urdu Literature with a special style. In these essays he have examined different kinds of Ghazal, Nazam, Marsiya and Qata and their characteristics along with the discussion about the beginning and evolution of them in Urdu Literature, quite throughly. A valuable book for Students of Urdu Literature and for Passionate Urdu readers.

Click Here to download Adabi TajZiyyay. Please note that you will have to have PDF reader to read the book after having it downloaded and don’t forget to add your comments.

Thank you and best of wishes!!

Sayyed Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi; A Great Islamic Scholar and Urdu & Arabic Writer

Sayed Abul Hasan Nadvi

Exemplar of Islamic Living, Exponent of Islam, Defender of Islamic Identity (1914 – 31 December, 1999)

During the twentieth century, Muslim India has produced great Islamic theologians, interpreters of the Quran, scholars of Hadith, Islamic jurists, historians, propagators of the faith, social reformers and educationists, but one cannot name another Islamic scholar whose concerns covered the entire spectrum of the collective existence of the Muslim Indians as a living community in the national and international context, who, for decades, enjoyed universal respect, and who was accepted by the non-Muslims, at the highest level, as the legitimate spokesman for the concerns and aspirations of the entire community.

Front Cover of hir Beiography in Arabic

Maulana Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi was indisputably one of the greatest exponents of Islam in the second half of the twentieth century and because of his command over Arabic, through his writings and speeches, he had a wide area of influence extending far beyond the Sub-continent, particularly in the Arab World.

His exposition of Islam was marked by moderation. He was not a fanatic in any sense of the term but he believed in Islam as a blessing for mankind and as a positive and creative factor in human history. In a sense Islam was perceived by him as a civilization force which retained its relevance in the modern ages a viable counterpoint to the Western civilization with all its excesses.

An Article About his death P1

The Maulana’s forte was his extraordinary grasp of Islamic history. It is this historic sense of the rise and fall of Islam in different ages and regions, which prompted him ever to take a long-term rather than a short-term, a broad rather than a narrow, view of the problems the contemporary community faced.

The Maulana was the very anti-thesis of the media image of the fire-eating, narrow-minded Mullah. Orthodox as he was, he was far from being conservative in his approach. Umma-conscious as he was, his love for the motherland knew no bounds. He never preached ‘Jihad’ to restore Muslim dominance; He stood for mutual respect, for peaceful coexistence, for human values, for establishing a social ambience based on tolerance and harmony in India and in the world at large.

Article About his death P2

The Maulana understood the spirit of the age. He appreciated the role of Democracy and Nationalism. With his deep insight into the Quran and his understanding of the personality of the Holy Prophet, he understood the implications of amulti-religious world, a global village divided into multi-religious States.

Scion of an illustrious family which has produced scholars and spiritual preceptors like Shah Alamullah Naqshbandi and Syed Ahmad Shaheed, the Maulana’s father, Hakim Syed Abul Hai, was an eminent scholar of his time, immortalized by his encyclopedic work, Nuzhatul Khawatir, (in eight volumes) containing about 5,000 biographical notes on Muslim scholars, theologians, jurists, etc. of India, apart from other notable works.

Nadwat Ul Ulama, Lucknow

Syed Abu lHasan Ali was born in 1333 A.H. (1914 A.D.). Having lost his father at the age of nine, he was brought up by his elder brother, Dr. Syed Abul Ali Hasani whopractised medicine at Lucknow. He specialized in Arabic literature at Nadwatu Ulema, Lucknow, studied Hadith under Sheikh Husain Ahmed Madani at Darul Uloom,Deoband and Tafsir under Maulana Ahmad Ali of Lahore where he came in touch with Allama Muhammad Iqbal whose poetry left an abiding impression on him. Besides literary andtheological studies, Maulana developed keen interest in Islamic history and also learnt English in order to keep himself abreast of contemporary thought. He taught Arabic literature and Tafsir at the Nadwatul Ulema for ten years.

The Biography of His Shaikh RayPuri by him

After the demise of his elder brother, he became the Secretary of Nadwatul Ulema and subsequently as Rector he supervised both its academic and administrative management.

In 1947, the Maulana could have followed his mentor Syed Sulaiman Nadvi and migrated to Pakistan but he did not.

In his formative years, the Maulana was associated with the Jamaat-e-Islami for a few years after its establishment by Maulana Abul Ala Maudoodi. Then he turned to the Tablighi Jamaat founded by Maulana Ilyas. But the Maulana’s genius demanded a wider horizon for its unfolding.

Spiritually a disciple of Maulana Abdul Qadir Raipuri, the Maulana belonged to the Sufi Silsila Qadiriya Naqshbandia.

A best seller book of 20th century by him

As a prolific writer his works have been prescribed in the courses of study in a number of Arab Universities. His notable Arabic work “Maza Khasera al-Alamb’inhitat-il-Muslimeen” was not only widely acclaimed but also carved out a place for him in the literary circles of the Arab world. Several of his works have since been translated into Arabic, English, Turkish, Bhasha Indonesia, Persian, Tamil and some other languages.

“Karvaan-e-Zindagi”, his autobiography in 8 volumes, and “Purane-Chiragh” (life sketches of contemporary personalities), his biography of Syed Ahmad Shaheed, his biography of Hazrat Ali (KW) and his “Tarikh-e-Dawat-o-Azimat” are his permanent contribution to Urdu literature.

Darul Uloom Deoband

Apart from his long association with Nadwa (as student, teacher, Secretary and Nazim), he served on the Shura of the Darul Uloom, Deoband, chaired the Managing Committee of Darul Musannefin, Azamgarh and established the Academy of Islamic Research and Publications at Lucknow.

He was an Honorary Member of the Academy of Arts and Letters, Damascus and Academy of Arabic Language, Amman and served as Visiting Professor in a number of Arab universities.

Internationally recognized, he was one of the Founder Members of the Rabita at-Alam-al-Islami, Makka, (1963), and served on the Higher Council of the Islamic University, Medina, the Executive Committee of the Federation of Islamic Universities, Rabat, and as the Chairman of the Board for the Centre of Islamic Studies of the Oxford University. The lectures he delivered at Indian, Arab and Western Universities have been highly appreciated as original contribution to the study of Islam and on Islam’s relevance to the modern age.

Rabe Nadvi recieving shah Wali Ullah award on his behalf

A great scholar, the Maulana was not confined to the cloister. Not involved in active politics, he never participated in party or electoral politics. He did not even join the All India Muslim Majlis, established by his protégé Dr. A.J. Faridi in1967, as it took to electoral politics. The Maulana was one of the founders of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (1964), the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (1972) and the All India Dini Talimi Council. He presided over the Milli Convention in 1979. He also extended his patronage to the Islamic FiqhAcademy and the All India Milli Council when they were established.

To promote communal harmony, the Maulana became one of the founders of FOCUS which was later transformed into Society for Communal Harmony. He also established a movement ‘Pyam-e-Insaniyat’ to preach the gospel of universal love and brotherhood.

In 1980, he received the Faisal International Award, followed by the Brunei Award and the UAE.

Title Cover of his Famous Arabic Book

The Maulana valued the Constitution and the secular order as a guarantor of the Islamic identity of the Muslim community and of non-discrimination against them in various spheres of life. But he clearly saw the historic process of assimilation at work in India and the long-term objective of Hindu Nationalism to absorb the Muslim Indians into the Hindu fold. That explains his firm stand on the question of Muslim Personal Law against any interference through legislation or through judicial pronouncement and on introduction of Saraswati Vandana in Schools in UP.

The great political battles of the Muslim community during the last decades of the century were fought under his guidance. The A.I. Muslim Personal Law Board launched in 1985 the movement for legislative nullification of the Supreme Court judgment in the Shah Bano Case which the Muslim Indians saw as the thin end of the wedge for interference with the Shariat and for distorting the Islamic identity of the community. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorcees) Act, 1986 was its fruit; though it had several inbuilt flaws which has landed the community subsequently in endless litigation.

His Portrait

With the Maulana’s consent in 1986, the AIMMM and the AIMPLB took up the question of restoration of the Babari Masjid when the unlocking of its doors in January1986 for regular darshan and puja converted it into a de-facto temple. Though he did not directly involve himself in the Babari Masjid Movement (whose Coordination Committee was later split to form the A.I. Babari Masjid Action Committees), he guided it at all critical points and participated in negotiations with the government as well as Hindu representatives. Subsequent to the Demolition, the AIMPLB, under his president ship took the question in its own hands including the direction of the proceedings in the title suit, the criminal case and the inquiry.

An Urdu Book by him

In the last decade of his life the Maulana served as the final arbiter, the last word, the Marja’, the ultimate point of reference, on any intra-communal differences, even if he did not play any active role in resolving them. He counseled commitment with patience and wisdom, movement within the framework of democracy and rule of law, and dignity and not rhetoric in utterances.

With his off-repeated commitment to the principles of Democracy, Secularism and Non-violence as the only viable foundation for the Indian polity, his constantendeavour for inter-religious dialogue and for reconciliation and harmony, he commanded universal respect for his moderation, learning and integrity, for his influence in the Muslim community and for his outreach in the Islamic world,

Assiduously sought by eminent political personalities from Indira Gandhi to Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Maulana acted as the bridge between the government and the national parties, on one hand, and Muslim community, on the other.

He was inspired from Iqbal

It has been correctly observed, stood for social reform, religious revival and political awakening but not for Islamic Revolution. He was realistic enough not to chase mirages or instant solutions. He saw clearly that the destiny of Muslim Indians was intertwined with that of the Indian people as a whole and that, in the age of democratic pluralism, an Islamic Revolution or the restoration of Islamic power was out of the realm of possibility but it was possible for the Muslim Indians to lead an Islamic life and at the same time participation managing the affairs of the country and contribute to its progress and development. This was the basis of his efforts to reduce the distance between the Muslims and the Hindus, to demolish the wall of distrust between them and to create bonds of understanding and cooperation in rebuilding relations on the terms of common moral values of the society which he saw as being engulfed by dark forces of hatred and violence.

Moudoodi, his friend

All his active life, with Lucknow as his base, he wandered ceaselessly, not only within the country but in the Arab-Islamic world and the West, in a constant search, it seems to me, for reconciliation between Islam and the West, between rival ideologies in the Arab-Islamic world, between India and Pakistan and between the Hindu and Muslim Indians. Cautious in taking positions, he always looked beyond the turbulence of the time, through the flames of the current controversy. Even when he took part, his role was that of a mediator, ofcounselling patience, of avoiding confrontation, of appealing to reason.

Translation of Rawa'e Iqbal

A man who personified Islamic values, soft-spoken, cultured and courteous to the core, humility and modesty, patience and tolerance, moderation and balance, generosity and compassion – all Islamic values – marked his personality. Neither a politician, nor a publicist, essentially a scholar, a man of religion, a spiritual person, a modern Dervish, a Mard-e-Momin who combined in himself the highest values of the Shariat and the Tariqat, of orthodoxy and Sufism and who commanded respect for his transparent sincerity, for his simple living and for his selfless devotion to the common cause of the Community and the Nation, a man who lived for Allah alone and who wanted nothing but the good of all is no more.

A Book by him for children

Maulana was a founder member of the Muslim World League (Rabita), a member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), a member of the World Supreme Council of Mosques, and a member of the Fiqh Council of Rabita. He was also a member of Advisory Council of the Islamic University of Madinah al-Munawwarah, a member of its Supreme Council, and a member of the Academy of Arts and Letters of Damascus. He was also a founder member of the League of the Islamic Literature in India.

This was in addition to his participation in many other activities through Islamic organizations and institutions such as the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY). In India, he was a rector of Nadwatul Ulama, and president of the Academy of Islamic Research and Publications. He was highly respected by Ulama and political leaders alike, and in 1980, he was awarded the prestigious King Faisal Award for serving Islam. He was also awarded the Sultan Hassan Bolkhaih International Prize and an 'Islamic Scholarship' plaque by Oxford University in 1999.

His nephew Muhammad Rabey Nadvi

Syed Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi died on 23 Ramadan, 1420 AH (Dec. 31, 1999) in Raebareli, India at the age of 86. More than 200,000 people attended his funeral and the prayer was led by his nephew and successor Mulana Muhammad Raby Nadawi. He was buried near Shah Alam-u-llah, founder of Takiah Kalan.

His demise is the end of an era in the history of the Muslim India and has created void impossible to fill in the foreseeable future.

May his soul rest in eternal peace, Ameen!

A Book by him for Arabic learning

He had many honors and bestowed upon with many awards and honorary PH.Ds. All of his honors are uncountable but some of them are as under.

• 1956 Visiting member of Arabic Academy Damascus

• 1962 Secretary of the first inaugural session and foundation of World Muslim League in Mekkah Mukarama.

• 1963 Member of the advisory council, Madina University Madina Munawara.

• 1980 King Faisal Award

• 1980 Chairman of Islamic Centre Oxford.

• 1981 Honorary Degree of Ph.D. from Kashmir University.

• 1999 ‘The personality of the year’ award by UAE.

• 1999 Sultan Brunei Award by Oxford Islamic Center on his work of ‘Tareekh Dawat-o-Azeemat’

BORHI KAKI; a Masterpiece Short Story By PremChand

Munshi PremChand

Munshi Premchand (Urdu: منشی پریم چند), (July 31, 1880– October 8, 1936) was a famous writer of modern Hindi-Urdu literature. He is generally recognized in India as the foremost Hindi-Urdu writer of the early twentieth century.

Premchand wrote about three hundred short stories and several novels, as well as many essays and letters, plays and translations. Many of Premchand's stories have themselves been translated into English and Russian.

His short stories have got a great fame and wide readership in Urdu lovers. His short story Borhi Kaki considered one of his masterpieces short stories.

I came across his short story “Borhi Kaki and thought that I should share it with you guys. Hope you will like it and will not forget to add your comments about it.

Best wishes!!!

Umrao Jan Ada; The Classic Urdu Novel

Title Cover of Umrao Jan Ada

Umrao Jaan Ada is a story of a Tawa'if (Dancing Girl); A tragic tale of innocent girl to whom time was not kind. How Umrao became Umrao Jaan Ada, a Tawa'if whom his brother refused to accept as sister when she came back to him after the long exile.

This novel is basically a very vivid portrait of the declined culture of Lukhnow, the way it is written is the proof of why it became so popular as a novel in Urdu Literature.

In India and Pakistan many films were created based on the same novel and recently Geo Television Network also brodcasted a Drama Serial based on it.

Translation of the Book by K.Singh

The novel has been translated into many languages. The famous Indian Writer Khushwant Singh has translated Umrao Jan Ada into English and his translation is the most popular English translation of the book among other English translations of the book.

Click here to download Umrao Jan Ada. Please note that you will have to have PDF reader to read the book after having it downloaded. And don’t forget to add your comments about the book.

Thanks and best of wishes!!!

Qamar Ali Abbasi, The Famous Urdu Travelogue Writer

Qamar Ali Abbasi

Qumar Ali Abbasi is a Pakistani journalist, broadcaster and writer. He was born In Amroha, India. At the age of nine he moved to Pakistan along with his parents. He got his early education in Murree Hills then he moved to Hyderabad, Sindh. He completed his higher education at the University of Sindh, receiving his B.A (Hons), M.A (Economics) and M.A (Urdu) from that institution. He currently resides with his wife in New York.

He joined the National College Karachi as Lecturer of Economics. He passed C.P.S.C and joined Radio Pakistan Lahore as Assistant director in 1966. He served Radio Pakistan for 32 years as a station director in Kuzdar, deputy controller and chief editor Ahang Pakistan Calling, controller, station director Radio Pakistan Karachi.

Travelogue of Turkey

After leaving Radio Pakistan he joined Jang publication as an editor of Info Line. In 1999, he moved to the United States and joined the weekly publication Awam as a chef editor.

He is currently working as a journalist.

He has written 18 children's books and 28 travelogues.

He received the prestigious All Pakistan Newspaper award for the best column in 1991 from Prime Minister of Pakistan.

He received pride of the Tamaga-i-Imtiaz in 2000 from the President of Pakistan.

He has received many awards from different association and countries for his contributions to the Urdu literature.

Travelogue of Bangla Desh

He has written many books for children and his travelogues have got a huge fame. His popular travelogues are mentioned below:

• Sehra Mai Sham (Travelogue of Maraco)

• Turkey Mai Abbasi (Travelogue of Turkey)

• Mauritius Mai Dhanak (Travelogue of Mauritius)

• Qartaba Qartaba (Travelogue of Spain)

• Dilli Door Hai (Travelogue of India)

• Shonar Bangla (Travelogue of Bangla Desh)