Najm Hosain Syed

Najm Hosain Syed (born 1935) is a Pakistani writer of Punjabi language. He has written poetry and plays in the Punjabi language as well as literary criticism on Punjabi literature in his Recurrent Patterns in Punjabi Poetry. A well known poem of his which is also taught in schools includes; GS 55 Main Gulberg; Roz Mildiyan Di Ek Dujay Nu Kuno Kun Sunaye Achanba Gal, which is written fully in Punjabi. Also to mention, he served as a Guru (teacher) to many other teachers ie. Miss Farah, who is a teacher also at LGS 55 Main Gulberg' (1968).^[1]

Early life and career

Najm Hosain Syed was born in 1935 in Batala, Punjab, British India and later moved to Lahore, Pakistan after the independence of Pakistan in 1947.^[1] He received his master's degree in English from Forman Christian College, Lahore in 1958. For his career, he joined the Pakistan Civil Service and worked there until his retirement in 1995.^[1] He was married to classical singer Samina Syed, who died in 2016.^[2]

Najm Hosain Syed has mentored many writers and has been a source of guidance for many others interested in Punjabi literature. He reportedly does not give interviews on television or radio. He chooses to publish his books with relatively less-known publishers.^[1]

Major works

Najm Hosain Syed has written poetry, criticism and plays in Punjabi. He has published over 100 books. He is considered pioneer of the modern Punjabi literature. His Major Works include:

• Deewa Mundri (2010),
• Gal Waar Di (2010)
• Khyal Dukkad (2011)
• Rang (2000)^[1]
• Khappay (1986) - Punjabi Adabi Markaz, Lahore^[3][1]
• Kafian (1976)^[3]
• Chandan Rukh Tay Vehda
• Kkyal keh Khayal
• Takht Lahore
• Saydhaan
• Saaran
• Alfo Pairni Di Vaar^[4][1]
• Bar di Var (1969)^[1]

Download-able PDFs of his books are available on http://www.faridbhandar.org/. His music compositions, sung by his late wife Samina Hasan Syed and daughter Risham Syed, an eminent Visual artist are on https://m.soundcloud.com/saminahasansyed

Many works of Syed are directed in the form of plays by Huma Safdar's theatre "Sangat" such as "Rajni"^[5] and Ik Raat Ravi Di.^[6]