Umaira Ahmed - Novelist Who Adds To the Beauty of Urdu Literature with Her Every New Novel

Urdu language enjoys a great legacy. Urdu, Persian, and Arabic are three languages that have always been attached to Muslim cultures. Urdu encompasses Arabic and Persian in it. Based upon two vast languages Persian and Arabic, Urdu genera are incomparable with any other language.

Urdu literature enjoys its treasure with enormous poets, novelists and writers. These poets, writers, and novelists have taken the language to a stage where it cannot be compared with any other language. Many people have confusion about Urdu and Hindi. The current Hindi used in the media of India (mainly Bollywood and television media) comprises of mostly Urdu words and few Hindi words.

Urdu writers, novelists, and poets have provided us with many great productions. Out of them, few have made their places on international grounds. Umaira Ahmed’s novel “Peer-e-Kamil” is one the extra-ordinary productions. Umaira Ahmed as a writer has made her place where she does not need any introduction or any appraise.

Umaira Ahmed is the name, which is the identity in itself when it comes to Urdu literature. She has given Urdu readers many extra ordinary projects, but Peer-e-Kamil stands out of all. This is a great treat from Umaira Ahmed to her readers. She has stated the story in a casual yet formal tone, while keeping the words simpler to let it understandable for every naïve and expert reader. This is the beauty of the writing of this great Novelist.

Urdu language is blessed to have such a novelist who is adding beauty to its literature with every new novel of hers, which hits the markets.

Urdu Dastan- With flavor of Magical characters

Urdu expression is unique; it has ability to express all the sentiment and emotions with the diversified vocabulary and catchy sentence structures. Urdu literature has moved through different evolutions with time to create legacy of beautiful, versatile and classical literature.

Urdu poetry, drama and journalism are full of absolute flair to give readers a new learning experience for extensive knowledge and insight on variety of subjects. Urdu literature has targeted variety of subjects from society.

Urdu literature was initially more composed of poetry than the prose. Most of the subjects in the prose were based on ancient epic stories renowned as Dastan. These Dastan revolved around the characters with influential and magical powers.

Dastan is originated from Iran which later became popular in the Urdu literature. In typical Dastan, story is based on the real or imaginary event happened somewhere. Dastan tells the story through different characters their roles and influential Powers in the story. 

Famous Urdu Dastans are:

• Nau tarz-i murassa‘ - Husain ‘Atā Khān Tahsīn

• Nau ā'īn-i hindī (Qissa-i Malik Mahmūd Gīti-Afroz) - Mihr Chand Khatrī

•  Jazb-i ‘ishq - Shāh Husain Haqīqat

Dastan has special place in Urdu literature. It has entertainment and message for its readers. Unique style of expression has great appeal for readers to keep them interested throughout the story. Conclusions are told with the element of wit and entertainment to preserve the beauty of interaction.

Urdu- Despite Critical Challenges It Has Managed To Preserve Its Beauty Of Expression

Urdu language has faced great challenges since its evolution. Especially, in the Subcontinent for many political gains people have suppressed its progress. Even for now Indian Government has failed assuring perfect implementation of Urdu as Official language in different parts of India. 

In the history different measure were taken to fight against the Urdu aggression. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan played a key role for projecting the beauty and strength of the language with his extensive Urdu literary creations.

After his death Progressive Writers Movement was another strong effort from Urdu Creative Fraternities. This movement produced finest work of poetry, Journalism and Drama.  This Movement further became inspiration for coming writers and poets.

Later in 1960 another movement started with the name of modernist Urdu Movement, famous key players of this movement were Shamsus Rehman Farooqi, Zafer Iqbal, Nasir Kazmi, Bashir Baber and Shaharyar. This movement paid more emphasis on Symbolic and indirect expressions. Further, movement was successful in presenting the classical culture of the Indian society.

Today Urdu is facing different kinds of challenges. We are failing to influence people for adding value to Urdu literature. Every year we come across limited Urdu publications which is a concerning issue. Cultural shift has made us reluctant to read and follow our creative fraternities.

It is our responsibility that we should make our generations aware of beauty and versatility of language with every day reading of marvelous Urdu literature. 

Life Sketch Of Ahmad Bashir – A Prominent Name Of Urdu Press In Pakistan

Ahmad Bashir (24^th March 1923 – 25 December 2004) holds a prominent and distinct position amongst writers, journalists, and intellectuals of Urdu language; his contributions in journalism are of great significance and practicality. His devotedness towards his aspiration of progression of new and different genres of Urdu language shall always be remembered, praised and acknowledged by the lovers of this language.

Childhood and Education

Gujranwala (currently in Pakistan) held to be the birth place of this defiant genius on March 24, 1923. He completed his graduation from Srinagar and headed towards Bombay following a dream of sparkling success in acting (since Bombay was film capital of that time), but soon found himself writing for movie magazines. He continued with this life style till the partition of subcontinent into India and Pakistan. After partition he settled permanently into Pakistan.

Eminent Works

In Pakistan, Ahmad Bashir made his living by working for several leading newspapers, however, he is well known for his great and daring work while working for Daily Imroze as a sub-editor. It was there that feature writing was introduced for the first time by him in Urdu press of Pakistan. 

Ahmad Bashir also pursued his fondness of film industry and got formal training in movie direction from Hollywood on state scholarship. On his return he also worked in Department of Films and Publications, then also became a part of NAFDEC (National Film Development Corporation). He resigned from his services to the government during the martial law imposed by General Zia ul Haq in late 1970s.

Demise

Ahmad Bashir lived a happy, joyous and blunt life of defiant genius. He was also very close friend of other contemporary famous Urdu writers with the likes of Mumtaz Mufti and Ibn-e-Insha. He died on 7^th September, 2004 in Lahore from pancreatic cancer, but his contributions for Urdu press shall be remembered forever.

Ups And Downs Of Roman Urdu In Indo-Pak Subcontinent

South East Asian region comprising of current Indian and Pakistani territory has been considered to be the nurturing grounds for a language developed some 900 years ago, and evolved through different phases of history to develop into what we know today by the name of “Urdu”.

It was mostly taken as native language of Christians abode in Karachi (Pakistan), Rajhistan, and Uttar Pardesh (India) during the 20^th century, and is still used by considerable majority in Indian states, while being exalted to the status of national language in Pakistan.

During those time, majority of people living in those states adopted Roman Urdu as a more convenient medium of written communication as compared to a bit tricky and demanding original Arabic-Perso script used by conventional Urdu.

It was a common medium of written communication of amongst the Christians residents of those areas till 1960s. The Bible Society of India even published (still does, but to lower extent) Roman Urdu Bibles, which were quite in demand during that time; but the eventual promotion of Hindi in Indian states and traditional Arabic-Perso script in Pakistan diminished the advent of Roman Urdu.

The conditions remained like this till Bollywood (popular name for Indian film industry) started using Roman Urdu as one of the main scripts for its movie titles (along with Hindi). Since the influence of Bollywood film industry has increased quite significantly since the last quarter of the preceding century, it has helped Roman Urdu resurface all over again.

In addition to that, people have started using Roman Urdu as a convenient mode of written communication via SMS (short messaging service) through mobile phones. It has also contributed in re emergence of Roman Urdu with greater significance.