Awaz Saeed, an Urdu Poet and Short Story Writer

Awaz Saeed

Awaz Sayeed (193?-1995) (Urdu: عوض سعید) was a renowned Urdu short-story writer, dramatist, poet and humorist from Hyderabad, India. He was known for his use of unique and very individualistic form of expression in his modern short stories. He has to his credit six books on modern short stories: Sai Ka Safar (1969), Teesra Mujasamma (1973), Raat Wala Ajnabi (1977), Kohe-Nida (1977), Benaam Mausamon Ka Nauha (1987) and Kuwaan Aadmi Aur Samandar (1993).

Kunwan, Aadmi Aur Samandar, a Book By Awaz

Apart from modern short stories, Awaz Sayeed made his place in Urdu literature in the realm of humour by his Khake (life-sketches) in which he portrayed some of the most famous personalities of Urdu literature like Makhdoom Mohiuddin, Alam Khundmeri, Qazi Saleem, Aziz Qaisi, Jeelani Bano, Mughni Tabassum, Waheed Akhtar, Akhlaq Mohammed Khan ‘Shahryar’ and others in his own ingenuous and inimitable style. His book ‘Khake’ was originally published in 1985. The second reprint of the book was brought out in June 2006 by his son Dr Ausaf Sayeed in association with the Urdu Academy Jeddah. The book was released by Shri Arjun Singh, Honourable Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India, during a special function in Jeddah.

an extract of M.Phil.thesis on Awaz

Awaz Sayeed, was a renowned modern short-story writer, poet, Khaka-naveez and playwright from Hyderabad, India. He was known for his unique, innovative and inimitable style of short story writing. He is counted among the few modern Urdu writers of the Indian sub-continent, who have given a new meaning to Urdu short-stories.

Awaz Sayeed’s first Urdu afsana “Jeetey Jaagtey” was published in 1949 in ‘Nizam-e-Lahore’. Thereafter, several of his stories have been published in reputed Urdu magazines of the Indian Sub-continent such as Nuqoosh, Seep, Shabkhoon, Sher-O-Hikmat, Tanazur, Jadeed Adab, Sabras, Zehn-e-Jadeed, The Shair, etc.

Khaakay, a Book by Awaz

Awaz Sayeed also excelled in Shaqsi-Khaka-Nigari, demonstrating his acumen in minutely observing the external and internal traits of a person that is reflected in a gripping but thoroughly humorous style. His dimension as a humorous Khaka navees sharply contrasted the serious narratives in his short stories, reflecting the depth and command of his language and the ease with which he could switch over styles.

Awaz Sayeed’s stories have been translated in several languages, including English, Hindi and Malayalam. Several scholars have done research on his works for Ph.D. and M.Phil.

with his wife

Awaz Sayeed was an Arab by descent. His father’s name was Sayeed Bin Awaz Bin Jaber Bin Abdullah. He completed his early education from Anwar-ul-uloom High School. Thereafter, he passed out Matriculation from the City College (1948), Intermediate from the Chaderghat College (1952) and Graduation from Anwar-ul-uloom College.

He joined the Food Corporation of India in 1954 and got married to Kaneez Fatima in 1960. Awaz Sayeed has two children: Dr Ausaf Sayeed (b.1963), who is a senior Indian Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Dr Seema Nishat (b.1967), who is a leading Internist in Brookesville, USA.