Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi
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Ahmad Nadeem QasmiTemplate:Efn (born Ahmad Shah Awan;Template:Efn 20 November 1916 – 10 July 2006) was a Pakistani Urdu language poet, journalist, literary critic, dramatist and short story author.
He wrote 50 books on poetry, fiction, criticism, journalism and art. He was a major figure in contemporary Urdu literature.[1][2] His poetry was distinguished by its humanism, and his Urdu afsana (short story) work is considered by some second only to Munshi Premchand in its depiction of rural culture. He was also the editor and publisher of the literary magazine Funoon for almost half a century. He received awards such as the Pride of Performance in 1968 and Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 1980 for his literary work.[3]
Gulzar, one of the most influential writers in modern India, called him his mentor and guru.[4]
Early life and education
Qasmi was born on November 20, 1916, in the village of Anga in Khushab, Punjab, British India, into an Awan family.[5] He belongs to a family of Sufi pirs or spiritual saints.[6]
He graduated from a high school in Campbellpur in 1931, (now renamed Attock city in Pakistan), around the time when he wrote his first poem, he studied at government college Attock. Later he studied at Sadiq Egerton College in Bahawalpur. He graduated from the University of Punjab, Lahore in 1935. In 1939 he began to work as sub-inspector in the excise department but resigned in 1942 as it didn't fit with his temperament.[6]
He had a brother, Peerzada Mohammad Bakhsh Qasmi, and a sister.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". He had a daughter Naheed.[7]
Active in the Pakistan Movement, he joined the Punjab Muslim League.[6]
He became an active member of the Progressive Writers' Movement as a secretary and was arrested many times during the 1950s and 1970s.[2][1]
Death
Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi died on 10 July 2006 of complications from asthma at Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore.[3][2][8]
Literary career
Qasmi edited several prominent literary journals, including Phool, Tehzeeb-i-Niswaan, Adab-i-Lateef, Savera, Naqoosh, and his own journal, Funoon.[3] He also worked as the editor of the Urdu daily Daily Imroze. Qasimi contributed weekly columns to national newspapers like Rawan Dawan and Daily Jang for several decades. His poetry has included both traditional ghazals and modern nazms. Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi was also committed to mentoring and grooming others.[8]
In 1948, he was selected as the secretary-general of the Anjuman-e-Taraqqi Pasand Musannifeen (Progressive Writers' Movement) for Punjab. In 1949, he was elected the secretary-general of the organisation for Pakistan.[2]
In 1962, Qasmi published his own literary magazine Fanoon, with the support of writers and poets including Khadija Mastoor, Hajra Masroor, Ahmed Faraz, Amjad Islam Amjad, Ata ul Haq Qasmi, and Munnu Bhai. Together they did a lot of creative publishing.[1] Qasmi was the mentor of the poet Parveen Shakir. In 1974, he was appointed secretary-general of Majlis-Taraqee-Adab, a literary body established by the government of West Pakistan in 1958.
In December 2011, Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik and noted columnist Ata ul Haq Qasmi arranged a seminar on the life and achievements of Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi at the International Islamic University, Islamabad. Urdu writers, poets, and critics have appreciated and admired his literary work, although there is also criticism of his literary work and his personality. Fateh Muhammad Malik is a long-time friend of Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi. In his book about the life and personality of Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi called 'Nadeem Shanasi', he gives the impression that it is evident from Qasmi's letters to him that Qasmi had a buried dislike for Faiz Ahmed Faiz and perhaps considered himself a poet greater than Faiz.[9] "The letters also reveal that Qasmi had a narcissistic personality and an inflated ego when it came to his contemporaries. He consciously or unconsciously tried to belittle Faiz, though without much effect."[9][8]
Some people in literary circles of Pakistan also think that there were some envy and rivalry among Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, Wazir Agha and Munir Niazi.[8]
An example of his poetry, with translation
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[8] Umr bhar mein ne ibadat ki hay
Tu mera namaa-e-amaal tau dekh
Mein ne insaan se mohabbat ki hay
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".O Lord of the Day of Judgment
I swear by you
I have worshipped all my life
Look at my balance sheet
I have loved mankind
Bibliography
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Poetry
- Jalal-o-Jamal[3]
- Shola-i-Gul
- Kisht-i-Wafa
- Dasht-e-wafa
- Dawam
- Muheet
- Loh-e-khaak
- Baseet
- Jamal
- Arz-o-sama
Short stories
- Afsaanay (40 best short stories selected by Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi himself)[10]
- Chaupaal (1939)[1][3]
- Gandasa was also a source of inspiration for the legendary character Maula Jatt which eventually resulted in the making of the Maula Jatt (1979 film)
- Sannata[3]
- Kapaas ka Phool[3]
- Aabley
- Tuloo-O-Gharoob
- Sailab-o-Gardab
- Aanchal
- Ghar se Ghar Tak
- Nila-pathar
- Dawam-dar-o-deewar
- Bazar-e-Hayat
- Aas-paas
- Jhoota
- Bhoot
- Jalebis
Awards and recognition
- Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1968[11][2][10]
- Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award by the President of Pakistan in 1980[11][2][10]
- Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pakistan Academy of Letters[3][10]
- Islamabad's 7th Avenue named after Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi.[12][10]
Notes
See also
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References
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- ↑ a b c d Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
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- ↑ a b c d e f g h Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi's obituary and profile Template:Webarchive Dawn (Pakistan), Published 11 July 2006. Retrieved 22 September 2023
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- ↑ a b c Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi: Versatile and Cultured. Dawn. Published July 11, 2006. Accessed May 7, 2025.
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- ↑ a b c d e (Raza Rumi) A Tribute: Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi (1916–2006) Template:Webarchive All Things Pakistan, Published 16 August 2006. Retrieved 22 November 2023
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- ↑ a b c d e Profile and Afsanay by Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi on goodreads.com website Template:Webarchive Retrieved 22 November 2023
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- ↑ CDA approves renaming of 7th Avenue Template:Webarchive Dawn (Pakistan), Published 25 February 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2023
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External links
- Template:Trim/ Template:PAGENAMEBASE at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pages with script errors
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- 1916 births
- 2006 deaths
- Respiratory disease deaths in Pakistan
- Deaths from asthma
- People from Khushab District
- Poets from Lahore
- Urdu-language Pakistani poets
- Urdu-language non-fiction writers
- Linguists of Urdu
- Pakistani critics
- Pakistani television writers
- Pakistani male journalists
- Pakistani dramatists and playwrights
- Pakistani male short story writers
- Pakistani literary critics
- Recipients of the Pride of Performance
- Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz
- People from Punjab Province (British India)
- Punjabi Muslims
- Urdu-language writers from British India
- 21st-century Urdu-language writers
- 20th-century Urdu-language writers
- 20th-century Pakistani poets
- 21st-century Pakistani novelists
- 20th-century Pakistani novelists
- 20th-century Pakistani short story writers
- 20th-century Pakistani male writers
- Pakistani male television writers
- 20th-century Pakistani linguists
- 20th-century Pakistani philosophers
- 20th-century Pakistani screenwriters
- Urdu-language Pakistani writers