Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi احمد ندیم قاسمی | |
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.jpg) Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi at an event | |
| Born | Ahmad Shah Awan (1916-11-20)20 November 1916 |
| Died | 10 July 2006(2006-07-10) (aged 89)[1] Lahore, Pakistan |
| Pen name | Nadeem |
| Occupation | Urdu poet, journalist, writer,scholar[1] |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Citizenship | Pakistan |
| Education | Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from thePunjab University, Lahore, Pakistan |
| Alma mater | Govt. Sadiq Egerton College Bahawalpur |
| Genre | Poetry,Afsana |
| Literary movement | Progressive Writers Movement A member ofProgressive Writers' Association[1] |
| Notable awards | Pride of Performance Award by thePresident of Pakistan (1968)[2] Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award by theGovernment of Pakistan (1980)[2] |
| Spouse | Rabia Nadeem |
| Children | Naheed Qasimi, Nishat Nadeem,Noman Nadeem |
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Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi[a] (bornAhmad Shah Awan;[b] 20 November 1916 – 10 July 2006) was a PakistaniUrdu 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 contemporaryUrdu literature.[1][3] His poetry was distinguished by itshumanism, and his Urduafsana (short story) work is considered by some second only toMunshi Premchand in its depiction of rural culture. He was also the editor and publisher of the literary magazineFunoon for almost half a century. He received awards such as thePride of Performance in 1968 andSitara-e-Imtiaz in 1980 for his literary work.[4]
Gulzar, one of the most influential writers in modern India, called him his mentor and guru.[5]
Qasmi was born on November 20, 1916, in the village ofAnga inKhushab,Punjab,British India, into anAwan family.[6] He belongs to a family ofSufipirs or spiritual saints.[7]
He graduated from a high school inCampbellpur in 1931, (now renamedAttock city inPakistan), around the time when he wrote his first poem, he studied at government college Attock. Later he studied atSadiq Egerton College inBahawalpur. He graduated from theUniversity 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.[7]
He had a brother, Peerzada Mohammad Bakhsh Qasmi, and a sister.
Active in thePakistan Movement, he joined thePunjab Muslim League.[7]
He became an active member of theProgressive Writers' Movement as a secretary and was arrested many times during the 1950s and 1970s.[3][1]
Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi died on 10 July 2006 of complications fromasthma atPunjab Institute of Cardiology inLahore.[4][3][8]
Qasmi edited several prominent literary journals, includingPhool,Tehzeeb-i-Niswaan,Adab-i-Lateef,Savera,Naqoosh, and his own journal,Funoon.[4] He also worked as the editor of the Urdu dailyDaily Imroze. Qasimi contributed weekly columns to national newspapers likeRawan Dawan andDaily 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 theAnjuman-e-Taraqqi Pasand Musannifeen (Progressive Writers' Movement) forPunjab. In 1949, he was elected the secretary-general of the organisation for Pakistan.[3]
In 1962, Qasmi published his own literary magazineFanoon, with the support of writers and poets includingKhadija Mastoor,Hajra Masroor,Ahmed Faraz,Amjad Islam Amjad,Ata ul Haq Qasmi, andMunnu Bhai. Together they did a lot of creative publishing.[1] Qasmi was the mentor of the poetParveen Shakir. In 1974, he was appointed secretary-general ofMajlis-Taraqee-Adab, a literary body established by the government ofWest Pakistan in 1958.
In December 2011, ProfessorFateh Muhammad Malik and noted columnistAta ul Haq Qasmi arranged a seminar on the life and achievements of Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi at theInternational 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 forFaiz 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 andMunir Niazi.[8]
Dawar-e hashr! mujhe teri qasam
[8]Umr bhar mein ne ibadat ki hay
Tu mera namaa-e-amaal tau dekhMein ne insaan se mohabbat ki hay
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
Poetry
Short stories
