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Ashfaq Ahmed
Pakistani writer (1925–2004) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ashfaq Ahmed (Urdu: اشفاق احمد خان; 22 August 1925 – 7 September 2004) was a Pakistani writer, playwright and broadcaster.[1][2] His works in Urdu included novels, short stories and plays for Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan. He is the recipient of Presidential Pride of Performance and Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) awards for his everlasting services in the field of broadcasting and literary heritage of Pakistan.[3]
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Early life and education
Ashfaq Ahmed was born on 22 August 1925 in Muktsar, Punjab, British India, in an ethnic Pashtun family of the Mohmand tribe.[1][4][5][6] His early education was in Muktsar.[4][5][7]
He completed a Master of Arts degree in Urdu literature from Government College Lahore. His wife, Bano Qudsia, was also a student there.[8] Subsequently, he served as a lecturer at Dayal Singh College in Lahore for two years. He later moved to Rome, where he worked as an Urdu newscaster for Radio Rome and taught Urdu at the University of Rome. During his time in Europe, he earned diplomas in Italian and French from the University of Rome and the University of Grenoble, respectively. He also obtained a specialized diploma in radio broadcasting from New York University.[9]
Ahmed travelled widely and could speak Pashto, Punjabi, Urdu, English, Italian and French.[1]
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Career
Literature
Ahmed wrote over thirty books. His short story (afsana), Gaddarya (The Shepherd) earned him early fame in 1955.[2]
From his own resources, he created the Central Board for the Development of Urdu in Lahore.[3]
Cinema
In 1968, he wrote and directed the Urdu movie Dhoop Aur Sayay (Sun and Shades), which was also the only Urdu production of Hakim Ali Zardari. It was a failure at the box-office, but Ahmed argued that it was because its content was ahead of its time and anticipated the Parallel cinema movement in India.[9]
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Later years, death and legacy
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On 7 September 2004, Ahmed died of pancreatic cancer. He was buried in Model Town, Lahore, Pakistan.[1]
In November 2004, Allama Iqbal Open University staff organized an event in Islamabad to pay tributes to Ahmed. At this event, Chairman, National Language Authority, Fateh Muhammad Malik stated that with the death of Ashfaq Ahmed, a vacuum had been created in the literary world of Pakistan. Chairman, Pakistan Academy of Letters, Iftikhar Arif also paid tribute to him as a dynamic literary figure and said that one of his priorities had always remained welfare of the people.[3]
Selected media work
Radio plays
- Talqeen Shah (1962)
- Baithak (The Guest Room)
Television shows
Selected bibliography
Summarize
Perspective
Ashfaq Ahmed authored numerous works including short stories, novels, plays, essays, and spiritual reflections. Below is a list of his major books:
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Awards and recognition
- Pride of Performance Award (1979)[11]
- Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award by the President of Pakistan[12]
See also
References
External links
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