Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi

Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi احمد ندیم قاسمی
Occupation	Urdu poet, journalist, Writer
Nationality	Pakistani
Genre	Afsana
Literary movement	Progressive Writers Movement
Notable awards	Pride of Performance (1968) Sitara-i-Imtiaz (1980)
Children	Naheed Qasmi Nauman Qasmi

Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, PP, SI (Urdu: احمد ندیم قاسمی) (November 20, 1916 – July 10, 2006) was a legendary Urdu and English language Pakistani poet, journalist, literary critic, dramatist and short story author. With some 50 books of poetry, fiction, criticism, journalism and art to his credit, Qasmi was a major figure in contemporary Urdu literature. His poetry stood out among his contemporaries' work for its unflinching humanism, and Qasmi's Urdu afsana (novel) work is considered by some second only to Prem Chand in its masterful depiction of rural culture. He also published and edited the prestigious literary journal Funoon for almost half a century, grooming generations of new writers. He also wrote many English poems and short stories. His poem The Feed is included in the syllabus of intermediate classes in Pakistan.

Early life

Born as Ahmad Shah Awan on November 20, 1916 in the village Anga of Khushab District in British India. A graduate of the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Qasimi started his career as a government clerk, which he eventually left to pursue journalism. He became active member of the Progressive Writers Movement, for a time holding the position of secretary, and was consequently arrested many times during the 1950s through the 1970s.

Career

In his long career as a writer and editor, Qasmi Sahib had the distinction of editing several prominent literary journals, including Phool, Tehzeeb-i-Niswaan, Adab-i-Lateef, Savera, Naqoosh, and his own brainchild, Funoon. He also served as the editor of the prestigious (now defunct) Urdu daily Imroze. For several decades Qasimi contributed weekly columns to national newspapers; a classic example was "Rawan Dawan" in Daily Jang, which focused on current issues.

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, a position he held for six successive years.

In 1962, Qasmi started his own journal Fanoon. The legendary friendship and support of Khadija Mastoor and Hajira Masroor and support to a host of other writers from Ahmed Faraz and Saqi Farooqi to Najib Ahmed and others is linked to Fanoon. The renowned Urdu writers Amjad Islam Amjad, Ata ul Haq Qasmi, Munnoo Bhai and Nazeer Naji proudly claim Qasmi’s patronage. Perhaps the most well known of protege was Parveen Shakir, who considered Qasmi her mentor and called him Ammu (Uncle). Her first bestseller, Khushboo, was dedicated to Qasmi.

In 1974, he was appointed secretary-general of Majlis-Taraqee-Adab - a Board of Advancement of Literature established by the government of West Pakistan in 1958.

Qasimi is a recipient of Pride of Performance (1968) and Pakistan Academy of Letters’ lifetime achievement award, as well as the country’s highest civil honour, Sitara-i-Imtiaz (1980), for literature.

Published collections of his best-known work include poetry volumes Jalal-o-Jamal, Shola-i-Gul and Kisht-i-Wafa, and short story collections Chopaal, Sannata, and Kapaas ka Phool, Bagolay, Tal-o-Gharoob, Sailab-o-Gardab, Anchal, ghar se ghar tak..

Death

Following an illness, Qasmi died on the July 10, 2006 of complications from asthma at Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore. He was survived by a daughter Dr. Naheed Qasmi and a son Nauman Qasmi.

See also

• List of Pakistani journalists

External links

• [1] (Conformation of Qasimi’s birth name being Ahmad Shah Awan)
• Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi at IMDb
• Ahmad Nadeem Qasimi at Kavita Kosh
• A collection of verses by Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi
• BBC "Pakistan literary giant is dead" 10 July 2006
• An Urdu Article on Qasmi's life
• Urdu Poetry Books of Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi Read Complete Urdu Poetry Books of Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi.
• http://pakistaniat.com/2006/08/16/a-tribute-ahmed-nadeem-qasmi-1916-2006