Baqar Naqvi
 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (December 2009) |
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Baqar Naqvi | |
|---|---|
 Baqar Naqvi | |
| Occupation | Urdu poet prose writer and translator Retired CEO |
| Nationality | British Citizen |
| Genre | Ghazal/Nazm/Prose/Translation |
| Notable works | Taaza Hava Mutthi Bhar Taaray Moti Moti Rang Alfred Nobel Khaliyay ki Duniya Ganga, Jamna, Saaraswati Daaman Barqiyaat Masnooei Zehaanat EFU Saga – (History) Nobel Adabiyaat - Prose |
| Spouse | Feroza Naqvi |
| Children | Imran, Kamran, Farhan, Ehsan |
Syed Mohammad Baqar Naqvi (Urdu: سید محمّد باقر نقوی), known in the Urdu literary circles as Baqar Naqvi was born in Allahabad, UP, India on 4th February 1936. He is not only a leading modern poet, whose poetry, although using the traditional Urdu genre Ghazal is full of very fresh sensibility of the modern world. Apart from poetry, he has done some monumental historical work in the field of Urdu Literature Prose. He has written the first-ever comprehensive book in Urdu language on Alfred Nobel which has been acclaimed in the circle of Urdu readers and writers. He has also published several books, namely, on Genetics, Electronics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). His latest monumental work (published in October 2009) includes compilation and translation of the Nobel Literature of the entire 20th Century. In it, he has very painstakingly included brief biography of each of the Nobel Laureates, Citation, Acceptance Speech and the Nobel Lecture. This work alone makes him stand tall in the field of Urdu language history.
Early life
Baqar Naqvi was born in an upper-middle class family of landlords and British-India Civil Servants settled in Allahabad, UP. His great grandfather was given the title of Khan Bahadur by the British for his meritorious service to the Raj. He is the eldest of 6 siblings. With his parents, Baqar migrated to Pakistan in October 1950. Soon after migration his father fell ill and died, leaving 6 mouths to feed. Baqar Naqvi had to take up work at a very early age to run the household. He took up small jobs in life insurance industry and a few part-time earning engagements in Karachi. Baqar Naqvi is one of the very few people who, joining as a junior, rise to the top job of their line of business.
Professional Career
During the course of small jobs in life insurance industry he took up professional education of the Chartered Insurance Institute, London and qualified to become a Chartered Insurer. At his own cost, in 1964/65, he went to Zurich for a 4 month training course in Life Insurance Management, conducted at the Swiss Insurance Training Centre. At the time of Nationalization of Life Insurance Business in Pakistan in 1972 Baqar Naqvi was appointed by the Federal Government as a Trustee of one of the Life Companies. Baqar Naqvi has also appointed by the Provincial Government, as Administrator of Sadat Cooperative Housing Society in 1972 for 3 years to run the affairs of the Society..
In 1975 he came over to London. He has held various senior management and Executive Jobs, the last being that of the Chief Executive of a multinational Health Insurance Company. He is now retired and devoting full time in literary activities.
Literary Work
After Poetry, Baqar Naqvi has shown to have excellent proficient skills of translation from English to Urdu. This has been demonstrated in over six published titles in the area of translation.
Holding very senior jobs, in his free hours, he continued to devote time writing poetry and quite a bit of prose work of non-poetic nature. His translations give a literary flavor to whatever subject he indulges in. Apart from his published work, Baqar Naqvi has given several lectures, attended mushairas (poetry reading sessions) in various countries of the world and contributed articles to Urdu Magazine of Pakistan and India.
Published Titles
- Taaza Hava (Fresh Air) - (1986)
- Mutthi Bhar Taaray (A Handful of Stars) - Poetry (1989)
- Moti Moti Rang (Colored Pearls) - Poetry (1994)
- Alfred Nobel - Life and Work - Prose (1999)
- Khaliyay ki Duniya (Genetics) - Prose (2001)
- Ganga, Jamna, Saaraswati - Selected Poems in Hindi (2002)
- Daaman - Complete Poetic work (2005)
- Barqiyaat - (Electronics) with Brief History of Inventions
- Msnooei Zehaanat (Artificial Intelligence) a brief review - Prose (2005)
- EFU Saga – (History) Urdu Translation - (2007)
- Nobel Adabiyaat (Nobel Literature of 20th Century) Prose - (2009)
Recognition
- Taaza Hava - 'Best Book in the West' Award by Urdu Markus International, Los Angeles
- Several Urdu Magazines have published Special Articles and insertions on Baqar Naqvi's work and contribution to Urdu Language.