Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi
Template:Short description Template:Use Pakistani English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox writer Template:Progressive Writers' Movement
Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi (Template:Langx) born Ahmad Shah Awan (Template:Langx) (20 November 1916 – 10 July 2006) was an Urdu language Pakistani 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.<ref name=BBCNews/><ref name=urduwire>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name=Dawn/>
Gulzar, one of the most influential writers in modern India, called him his mentor and guru.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Early life and educationEdit
Qasmi was born on November 20, 1916, in the village of Anga in Khushab District, British India, into an Awan family.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He belongs to a family of Sufi pirs or spiritual saints and masters.<ref name=":0">"Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi: Versatile and Cultured". Dawn. Published July 11, 2006. Accessed May 7, 2025.</ref>
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.<ref name=":0" />
He had a brother, Peerzada Mohammad Bakhsh Qasmi, and a sister.
Active in the Pakistan Movement, he joined the Punjab Muslim League.<ref name=":0" />
He became an active member of the Progressive Writers' Movement as a secretary and was arrested many times during the 1950s and 1970s.<ref name="urduwire" /><ref name="BBCNews" />
DeathEdit
Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi died on 10 July 2006 of complications from asthma at Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore.<ref name=Dawn/><ref name=urduwire/><ref name=ATP>(Raza Rumi) A Tribute: Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi (1916–2006) Template:Webarchive All Things Pakistan, Published 16 August 2006. Retrieved 22 November 2023</ref>
Literary careerEdit
Qasmi edited several prominent literary journals, including Phool, Tehzeeb-i-Niswaan, Adab-i-Lateef, Savera, Naqoosh, and his own journal, Funoon.<ref name=Dawn/> 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.<ref name=ATP/>
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.<ref name=urduwire/>
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.<ref name=BBCNews/> 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.<ref name="dawn.com">Template:Cite news</ref> "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."<ref name="dawn.com"/><ref name=ATP/>
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.<ref name=ATP/>
An example of his poetry, with translationEdit
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O Lord of the Day of Judgment
I swear by you
I have worshipped all my life
Look at my balance sheet
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BibliographyEdit
Template:Div col Poetry
- Jalal-o-Jamal<ref name=Dawn/>
- 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)<ref name=goodreads>Profile and Afsanay by Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi on goodreads.com website Template:Webarchive Retrieved 22 November 2023</ref>
- Chaupaal (1939)<ref name=BBCNews/><ref name=Dawn/>
- 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<ref name=Dawn/>
- Kapaas ka Phool<ref name=Dawn/>
- 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 recognitionEdit
- Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1968<ref name=app/><ref name=urduwire/><ref name=goodreads/>
- Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award by the President of Pakistan in 1980<ref name=app/><ref name=urduwire/><ref name=goodreads/>
- Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pakistan Academy of Letters<ref name=Dawn>Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi's obituary and profile Template:Webarchive Dawn (Pakistan), Published 11 July 2006. Retrieved 22 September 2023</ref><ref name=goodreads/>
- Islamabad's 7th Avenue named after Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi.<ref name=DawnNews>CDA approves renaming of 7th Avenue Template:Webarchive Dawn (Pakistan), Published 25 February 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2023</ref><ref name=goodreads/>
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
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