Ahmad Bashir
Encyclopedia
Ahmad Bashir (March 24, 1923 – December 25, 2004) was a writer
, journalist
, intellectual
and film director
from Pakistan
. He was the father of leading television artiste Bushra Ansari
and poetess Neelam Bashir. Begum Parveen Atif, also an Urdu
short story writer, is his sister, and his wife Mehmooda is a classical singer. He was a close friend of famous Urdu
writers Mumtaz Mufti
and Ibn-e-Insha
.
(British India) on March 24, 1923. He did his BA from Srinagar
and went to Bombay for a career in acting but soon started writing for film magazines. After partition
, he came to settle permanently into Pakistan
.
, Ahmad Bashir worked for several newspapers in Pakistan
, however, he is remembered for his days at Daily Imroze with particular fondness. He was taken as a sub-editor in Imroze where he introduced feature writing for the first time in Urdu
press. He also obtained training in film direction from Hollywood on state scholarship.
Ahmed Bashir also worked for the Department of Films & Publications and later for National Film Development Corporation (NAFDEC). He resigned after General Zia-ul-Haq imposed martial law in the country. He faced bitter hardships during this period in which he was never allowed to write columns in newspapers.
Ahmad Bashir was also a portrait writer. His notable book Jo Milay Thay Raaste Mein contains pen sketches of eminent literary personalities like Mumtaz Mufti
, Krishan Chandar, Meeraji
, Chiragh Hasan Hasrat, Hasrat Mohani
and Kishwar Naheed. He also wrote an autobiographical novel Dil Bhatkey Ga.
In 1969, Ahmad Bashir directed and produced an Urdu film Neela Parbat
. The film was Pakistan's one of the earliest experimental feature films. However, the film proved to be too much of alternative genre of his times and flopped on box-office. After the failure of Neela Parbat
, Bashir never ventured in to film making or production.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, intellectual
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
and film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
from Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. He was the father of leading television artiste Bushra Ansari
Bushra Ansari
-Early Life, education and family:Born in Karachi, Ansari is the daughter of eminent journalist and writer Ahmad Bashir. Bushra studied in Lahore at Lady Griffin School and then she did intermediate from famous Lahore College for Women University, completed her BA in 1977 from Waqarunnisa College...
and poetess Neelam Bashir. Begum Parveen Atif, also an Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
short story writer, is his sister, and his wife Mehmooda is a classical singer. He was a close friend of famous Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
writers Mumtaz Mufti
Mumtaz Mufti
Mumtaz Mufti SI , was a distinguished writer from Pakistan.-Early life:...
and Ibn-e-Insha
Ibn-e-Insha
Ibn-e-Insha was a Pakistani Leftist Urdu poet, humorist, travelogue writer and columnist. Along with his poetry, he was regarded one of the best humorists of Urdu...
.
Early life
Ahmad Bashir was born in Aimanabad near GujranwalaGujranwala
Gujranwala is a industrial city in the north-east of the Punjab province. It is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with a population of approximately 2,661,360 as on 24 June 2011...
(British India) on March 24, 1923. He did his BA from Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
and went to Bombay for a career in acting but soon started writing for film magazines. After partition
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, he came to settle permanently into Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
Works
After partitionPartition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, Ahmad Bashir worked for several newspapers in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, however, he is remembered for his days at Daily Imroze with particular fondness. He was taken as a sub-editor in Imroze where he introduced feature writing for the first time in Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
press. He also obtained training in film direction from Hollywood on state scholarship.
Ahmed Bashir also worked for the Department of Films & Publications and later for National Film Development Corporation (NAFDEC). He resigned after General Zia-ul-Haq imposed martial law in the country. He faced bitter hardships during this period in which he was never allowed to write columns in newspapers.
Ahmad Bashir was also a portrait writer. His notable book Jo Milay Thay Raaste Mein contains pen sketches of eminent literary personalities like Mumtaz Mufti
Mumtaz Mufti
Mumtaz Mufti SI , was a distinguished writer from Pakistan.-Early life:...
, Krishan Chandar, Meeraji
Meeraji
Meeraji was an eminent Urdu poet. He lived the life of a bohemian and worked only intermittently.-Early life:...
, Chiragh Hasan Hasrat, Hasrat Mohani
Hasrat Mohani
Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a romantic poet of Urdu language, journalist, politician, parliamentarian and a fearless freedom fighter of Indian Sub-continent . His real name was Syed Fazl ul Hasan. He was born in 1875 at Mohan in Unnao district of U.P...
and Kishwar Naheed. He also wrote an autobiographical novel Dil Bhatkey Ga.
In 1969, Ahmad Bashir directed and produced an Urdu film Neela Parbat
Neela Parbat
Neela Parbat is a 1969 Pakistani Urdu film directed by Ahmad Bashir. It was Pakistan's one of earliest experimental feature films....
. The film was Pakistan's one of the earliest experimental feature films. However, the film proved to be too much of alternative genre of his times and flopped on box-office. After the failure of Neela Parbat
Neela Parbat
Neela Parbat is a 1969 Pakistani Urdu film directed by Ahmad Bashir. It was Pakistan's one of earliest experimental feature films....
, Bashir never ventured in to film making or production.