Intizar Hussain
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Pakistani English Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other Intizar Hussain or Intezar Hussain (Template:Langx; 21 December 1925 – 2 February 2016) was a Pakistani writer of Urdu novels, short stories, poetry and nonfiction. He is widely recognised as a leading literary figure of Pakistan.[1][2][3][4]
He was nominated for the International Booker Prize in 2013.[5]
Early life
Intizar Hussain was born on 21 December 1925 in Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh (at the time, the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh), British India.[4] He received a degree in Urdu literature in Meerut.[6] As someone born in the Indian subcontinent who later migrated to Pakistan during 1947 Partition, a perennial theme in Hussain's works deals with the nostalgia linked with his life in the pre-partition era.[7] Intizar Husain was often described as possibly the greatest living Urdu writer.[8]
He lived in the old Anarkali Bazaar of Lahore, where he associated and socialized with the likes of Nasir Kazmi, and Muhammad Hasan Askari and together they frequented Lahore's teahouses – Pak Tea House, Nagina Bakery, Coffee House, Lords and Arab Hotel.[4]
Lahore's literary scene was divided between two groups, Anjuman-e-Tarraqi-Pasand-Mussannifeen (Progressive Writers Movement) (a leftwing group) and the rightwing Halqa-e Arbab-e Zauq in the 1950s. Intizar Hussain decided not to be closely associated with either group and managed to stay neutral and focus on his writing career.[4]
Literary work
He wrote short stories, novels and poetry in Urdu, and also literary columns for newspapers such as Dawn and Daily Express.[1][2][3] The Seventh Door, Leaves and Basti are among English translations of his books.
Among the five novels he wrote – Chaand Gehan (1952), Din Aur Daastaan (1959), Basti (1980), Tazkira (1987), and Aage Samandar Hai (1995) – received global praise.[1]
His other writings include Hindustan Se Aakhri Khat, Aagay Sumandar Hai,[1] Shehr-e-Afsos, Jataka Tales, Janam Kahanian and Wo Jo Kho Gaye. Aagay Sumandar Hai (Sea is facing you in the front) contrasts the spiraling urban violence of contemporary Karachi with a vision of the lost Islamic realm of al-Andalus in modern Spain.[1][9][3][10]
His novel Basti is based on Pakistani history.[2]
Among his books, "Basti" and "Khali Pinjra" have been translated into Persian by Samira Gilani.
Death
On 2 February 2016, he died at National Hospital, Defence Housing Authority at Lahore after contracting pneumonia.[9][6][4] The Indian Express newspaper termed him the "best-known Pakistani writer in the world" after Manto.[11]
His wife, Aliya Begum, had died in 2004 and they had no children.[12]
Influences
Hussain believed that two forces had risen in contemporary Pakistan: women and the mullahs. He also acknowledged his study and the influence of Buddhist texts and the Mahabharata.[13]
Legacy
In 2016, Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) announced the ‘Intizar Hussain Award’ which would be given to a literary figure every year.[14]
Awards and international recognition
- Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1986.
- Kamal-e-Fun (Lifetime Achievement) Award by the Pakistan Academy of Letters in 1998.[15]
- In 2007, Hussain received the Pakistani civil award Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) by the President of Pakistan.[1][6]
- Sahitya Akademi Fellowship (National Academy of Letters) of India awarded in 2007.[16]
- In 2013, he was shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize after Frances W. Pritchett translated his Urdu novel Basti into English.[1][17]
- He received a lifetime achievement award at the Lahore Literary Festival. Newsweek Pakistan called him "Pakistan's most accomplished living author" in 2014.[4]
- Hussain was made an Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in 2014[1][6][18]
- He was also the first ever winner of the prestigious Premchand Fellowship awarded by Sahitya Akademi of India in 2007.[16]
Bibliography
- A Chronicle of the Peacocks: Stories of Partition, Exile and Lost Memories[19]
- The Death of Sheherzad[20]
- Basti (1979) (Town)[6][21][1][4]
- Aagay Samandar Hai (Beyond is the Sea) (1995)[4]
- Chiraghon Ka Dhuvan (Lamp Smoke) (memoir) (1999)[1][4]
- Chaand Gahan (2002)[22][1]
- Ajmal-I Azam (2003)[23]
- Surakh Tamgha (2007)[24]
- Qissa Kahanian (2011)[25]
- Justujoo Kya Hai (autobiography) (2012)[1]
- Apni Danist Mein (2014)[26]
References
External links
Template:Authority control Template:Pride of Performance for Arts Template:SahityaAkademiFellowship
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- ↑ a b Intizar Hussain, Pakistan's 'greatest fiction writer', dies at 92 The Telegraph newspaper, Published 2 February 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2023
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- ↑ Pakistan's 'Greatest Fiction Writer' Dies at 92 Newsweek Pakistan website, Published 3 February 2016, Retrieved 18 November 2023
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- ↑ a b Sahitya Akademi Fellowship awarded to Intizar Hussain in 2007 (scroll down to Premchand Fellowship) Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters), Government of India website, Retrieved 18 November 2023
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- Pages with script errors
- 1925 births
- 2016 deaths
- People from Bulandshahr district
- Muhajir people
- Pakistani dramatists and playwrights
- Pakistani scholars
- Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz
- Pakistani Sunni Muslims
- Writers from Lahore
- Recipients of the Adamjee Literary Award
- Writers from Karachi
- Pakistani columnists
- Recipients of the Pride of Performance
- Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
- Journalists from Lahore