Dr. Shanul Haq Haqqee (Urdu: شان الحق حقی), Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Tamgha-e-Quaid-i-Azam, was a notable Urdu poet, writer, journalist, broadcaster, translator, critic, researcher, linguist and lexicographer of Pakistan.
Born in Delhi, Haqqee acquired his BA from Aligarh Muslim University. He obtained a Master's in English literature from St. Stephen's College, Delhi. He was a scion of a great literary family from Delhi. His father, Maulvi Ehtashamuddin Haqqee, wrote short stories, a study of Hafez, Tarjuman-ul-Ghaib, a translation of Diwan-i-Hafiz in verse, and a dictionary.
Shanul Haq Haqqee recited his first ghazal at an annual poetic gathering of St. Stephen's College.
He published two anthologies of poems, Tar-i-Pairahan (1957) and Harf-i-Dilras (1979), a later collection of his selected ghazals was published under the title, Dil ki Zaban. His other publications include, Naqd-o-Nigarish (criticism), Maqalaat-e-Mumtaz, Shaakhsaanay (Short Stories), Maqam-e-Ghazal (edited work of Hafiz Hoshiarpuri), Nashid-i-Hurriyat, Nukta-e-Raz, Bhagvad Gita (Urdu translation),Darpan Darpan (translation of poetry from various languages), Intikhab-e-Kalam-e-Zafar, Qitaat-e-Tareekh-e-Wafat-e-Ahle-Qalam-wa-Mutaliqeen-e-Ahle-Qalam, Lisani Masail-o-Lataif, Nazr-e-Khusro PaheliaN Keh MukarniyaN, Aaeena-e-Afkar-e-Ghalib, Nok Jhonk, Suhaanay Taraanay, and children's literature with the title, Phool Khilay Hain Rung Birnagay (Poems for children 8–80 years old), Anjaan Rahi (translation of Jack Shaffer's novel Shane), Teesri Duniya (translation of essays on politics and economy), Soor-i-Israfeel (translation of Bengali poet Qazi Nazrul Islam), Khayabaan-e- Pak (anthology of Pakistan's folk poetry of about 40 poets), and he also wrote his autobiography that was serialized in Urdu journal Afkaar.He also translated the Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, and Chanakya Kautilya's Arthashastra. He tried his hand at other genres of poetry, such as Peheylian, Kehmukarnian, and Qitat-i-Tareekhi too.
He was associated with the Urdu Dictionary Board for 17 years from 1958 to 1975, compiling a monumental 24-volume dictionary, which may be termed as his labor of love. Apart from Urdu Dictionary Board’s work, Haqqee Sahib compiled two dictionaries. The Oxford English-Urdu Dictionary, a phenomenal work that instantly became a ‘must’ for every scholar and student of Urdu, is a translation of the eighth & ninth editions of Concise Oxford English Dictionary. Farhang-e-Talaffuz is a pronunciation dictionary of Urdu.
In addition to the libraries in South Asia, some of Shan ul Haq Haqqi's books may be found at the Library of Congress, and University of Toronto Library.
Dost hain apne bhai bhulaker was the poem that was selected by the education authorities, who included it in a textbook without the author’s permission, and expurgated it, much to his chagrin. That the education authorities have little sense of humour is evident from the fact that they edited out the more facetious part of the poem. (Mr Haqqee concedes sheepishly that the poem is somewhat autobiographical. Forgetful as he is, he has often found himself wearing socks of different colours.)
He died from complications of lung cancer in Mississauga, Canada on October 11, 2005. He was about 88. Mr Haqqee left five sons and one daughter. Like his wife, a well-respected teacher Professor Salma Haqqee who died exactly two years ago, he was also buried in Toronto, Canada.
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