Mir Tanha Yousafi
Encyclopedia
Mir Tanha Yousufi, born Muhammad Saleh on January 1, 1955 in the village Adam Ke Cheema, tehsil Daska
, district Sialkot
, Punjab
Pakistan, is one of well-known and popular contemporary Punjabi
and Urdu
writers.
He is best known for his Punjabi literature. He has so far produced two short story collection and five novels in Punjabi. Most of his work has been transliterated in Gurumukhi script in Indian Punjab.
Beside his Punjabi works, he is a well known Urdu and Punjabi poet.
“Fanoon (Lahore)” edited by late Ahmed Nadeem Qasimi,
“Takhleeq (Lahore)” edited by Azhar Javed,
"Moaasir (Lahore)” edited by Ata-ul-Haq Qasimi,
“Adabiyat (Pakistan Academy of Letters' quarterly magazine) and
“Kitab (Literary magazine of Pakistan Book Foundation).
Second collection of Urdu poetry is ready to go to the press. The contents of this book would be styled similar to the "Luknat". A good portion of this next Urdu poetry collection has already been contributed to various magazines.
A few of his Urdu Afsanas have been published in magazines.
“Sver International” edited by Jamil Paul,
“Rvel” and “Meeti” edited by Ilyas Ghumman,
“Lehraan” edited by Akhter Hussain Akhter and
"Pancham" edited by Saqib Maqsood.
And here entered Ilyas Ghumman in his life. Ilyas Ghumman, an electrical engineer by profession, is a Lahore based renowned Punjabi writer, worker and publisher. He has a world fame for organizing events regarding the development and progress of Punjabi language, literature and culture. He asked Yousufi to try his pen for writing down some novelette/novel. This suggestion of Ghumman drove Mir Tanha Yousufi to produce his first Punjabi novel
“Masood Khaddar Posh Trust's Award” is regarded as the most respectable of all awards in Punjabi. It is well known in Pakistani Punjabi writers’ community what “Masood Khaddar Posh Trust's Award” actually means. Some writers spent their life span to win it just for once!
When “Masood Khaddar Posh Trust's Award” for 2005 was made public; “Kaalaa Chaanan” was declared a winner and by this achievement Mir Tanha Yousufi became a writer who had won “Masood Khaddar Posh Trust's Award” three times in a row — a hat trick — a unique honor for any Pakistani Punjabi writer.
This book picked up "Pakistan Writers’ Guild Punjab's Best Prose Book in Punjabi printed in 2005.
The same book was judged for “Razia Farrukh Kahani Award, 2005” and was announced the Best Short Stories’ Book of the year.
2005 remains a milestone and memorable year for Mir Tanha Yousufi's writing career with 4 awards on two books.
This makes Mir Tanha Yousufi a unique writer with 4 consecutive Masood Khaddar Posh Trust Awards.
Script in Pakistan) into Gurumukhi (the East Punjab
Script of India) has already taken place. This, in a way, shows the popularity of his writings across the borders.
2: He has been invited to visit various literary gatherings around the world, especially India and UK, but could not manage due to his uncertain work schedule as Geologist
in the field.
3: “Ik Samadar Paar” has been approved as “extra study book” for M.A.
Punjabi Literature’s exams at Guru Nanak Dev University
, India
.
4: Many of his short stories have been published in India and other countries where Punjabi in read and spoken.
5: A good number of his short stories have been included in many “Best Short Stories of Punjabi” selections, both in Pakistan and elsewhere.
6: Some of his Punjabi
short stories have been translated in Pakistan’s national language, Urdu.
Daska
Daska is a growing industrial city with a population of around 440,200 in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The town is the capital of Daska Tehsil one of four tehsils of Sialkot District. It is located at 32°19'60N 74° 20' 60E-Name:The name Daska is said to be a distortion of "Dah Kos"...
, district Sialkot
Sialkot
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...
, Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
Pakistan, is one of well-known and popular contemporary Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
and 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.
He is best known for his Punjabi literature. He has so far produced two short story collection and five novels in Punjabi. Most of his work has been transliterated in Gurumukhi script in Indian Punjab.
Beside his Punjabi works, he is a well known Urdu and Punjabi poet.
Literary life
Mir Tanha Yousufi started his literary voyage as an Urdu poet. Since 1972, when he was an undergraduate science student, he kept sending his ghazals and poems to various literary magazines and literary pages of national news papers.Work in Urdu
From 1986 onwards he continued contributing poems, ghazals and short stories to Urdu magazines including:“Fanoon (Lahore)” edited by late Ahmed Nadeem Qasimi,
“Takhleeq (Lahore)” edited by Azhar Javed,
"Moaasir (Lahore)” edited by Ata-ul-Haq Qasimi,
“Adabiyat (Pakistan Academy of Letters' quarterly magazine) and
“Kitab (Literary magazine of Pakistan Book Foundation).
Urdu Poetry
His first Urdu poetry collection “Luknat(Fumbling)" was published in 1996. It contains modern as well as traditionally styled ghazals with a handful of poems (free versed as well as metered). The book was received with a critical acclaim and appreciation from the contemporary men of letters.Second collection of Urdu poetry is ready to go to the press. The contents of this book would be styled similar to the "Luknat". A good portion of this next Urdu poetry collection has already been contributed to various magazines.
Urdu Prose
Although Yousufi has a good number of Urdu short stories; both in post modern and plain traditional style, yet the matter is not sufficient enough to be presented in the form of a book. He does believe in quantity, yet he feel that quality is of prime importance which is a must for any creative piece of work.A few of his Urdu Afsanas have been published in magazines.
Punjabi Work
Punjabi being his mother tongue; it was but natural to keep moving between Urdu poetry to Punjabi poetry. This drove him to write Punjabi prose as well, which he did with consistency and ended up with the publication of his first book in Punjabi. Some of these magazines are listed as:“Sver International” edited by Jamil Paul,
“Rvel” and “Meeti” edited by Ilyas Ghumman,
“Lehraan” edited by Akhter Hussain Akhter and
"Pancham" edited by Saqib Maqsood.
Punjabi Prose
Yousufi's first Punjabi short story collection “Sooraj Uggan Taa’en [Till the Sun Rises]” was published in 1996. This book proved to be his introduction in Punjabi literary world.And here entered Ilyas Ghumman in his life. Ilyas Ghumman, an electrical engineer by profession, is a Lahore based renowned Punjabi writer, worker and publisher. He has a world fame for organizing events regarding the development and progress of Punjabi language, literature and culture. He asked Yousufi to try his pen for writing down some novelette/novel. This suggestion of Ghumman drove Mir Tanha Yousufi to produce his first Punjabi novel
Treh
“Treh {Thirst}” in 1998. Fluently written, clear in thoughts, rushing story lines and the purity of the language made this book a surprise for the Punjabi readers.Ik Samadar Paar
Seeing the response on “Treh”, Mir Tanha Yousufi was asked for more. Thus his second novel “Ik Samandar Paar [Across One Sea]”, published in 2000, won the prestigious Punjabi literary award from “Masood Khaddar Posh Trust”.“Masood Khaddar Posh Trust's Award” is regarded as the most respectable of all awards in Punjabi. It is well known in Pakistani Punjabi writers’ community what “Masood Khaddar Posh Trust's Award” actually means. Some writers spent their life span to win it just for once!
Khiddoo
Taking further courage, he penned down his next novel “Khiddoo [The Cotton Ball]”; which won the award from “Masood Khaddar Posh Trust” for the second time, in the year 2002.Kaalaa Chaanan
During all these years of writing “Treh”, “Ik Samandar Paar” and “Khiddoo”, along with his continuous activities in other Urdu and Punjabi writings (both poetry and prose), he had been thinking to write down something real big, a saga in Punjabi language. A deep research work, knowledge of the history and geography of the backdrop locale of the novel, the study of the civilization, culture and anthropology of area was needed. And thus, was written his Pakistan’s “National Literary Award, 2005” or “Syed Waris Shah Award, 2005” winner Punjabi novel “Kaalaa Chaanan [Black Light]”; which spans over 728 pages and is the thickest novel in Punjabi published in Pakistan till 2005.When “Masood Khaddar Posh Trust's Award” for 2005 was made public; “Kaalaa Chaanan” was declared a winner and by this achievement Mir Tanha Yousufi became a writer who had won “Masood Khaddar Posh Trust's Award” three times in a row — a hat trick — a unique honor for any Pakistani Punjabi writer.
Tae Faer
To cater the demand of Punjabi loving people, the short stories written after “Sooraj Uggan Taen” were collected. These stories had been published in various Punjabi magazines and kept making waves all these years due to style, language and intellect. The book was named “Tae Faer [Then What?]”and was published in 2005.This book picked up "Pakistan Writers’ Guild Punjab's Best Prose Book in Punjabi printed in 2005.
The same book was judged for “Razia Farrukh Kahani Award, 2005” and was announced the Best Short Stories’ Book of the year.
2005, a Milestone
2005 remains a milestone and memorable year for Mir Tanha Yousufi's writing career with 4 awards on two books.
Annha Khooh
His latest novel “Annha Khooh [Abandoned Well]” was published in 2008 and this novel too, got “Masood Khaddar Posh Trust's Award”.This makes Mir Tanha Yousufi a unique writer with 4 consecutive Masood Khaddar Posh Trust Awards.
Punjabi Poetry
A lot of Yousufi's Punjabi poetry has been published in various Punjabi magazines in Pakistan. Being well known as a poet, his readers are waiting his over due collection of poetry.Works
- Luknat ([Stutter]), Urdu Poetry (1996)
- Sooraj Uggan Taa’en (Till the Sun Rises), Punjabi short story collection (1996)
- Treh (Thirst), Punjabi Novel (1998)
- Ik Samandar Paar (Across one sea), Punjabi Novel (2000)
- Lucknat, Urdu Poetry (2002)
- Khiddoo (The Cotton Ball), Punjabi Novel (2002)
- Tae Faer (Then What?), Punjabi Novel (2005)
- Kaalaa Chaanan (Black Light), Punjabi Novel (2006)
- Annha Khooh (Abandoned Well), Punjabi Novel (2008)
The Outcome
1: Transliteration of his Punjabi novels (which are published in Shahmukhi or UrduUrdu
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...
Script in Pakistan) into Gurumukhi (the East Punjab
East Punjab
East Punjab was the part of the Punjab region that went to India following the Partition of the Punjab Province of British India between India and Pakistan in 1947...
Script of India) has already taken place. This, in a way, shows the popularity of his writings across the borders.
2: He has been invited to visit various literary gatherings around the world, especially India and UK, but could not manage due to his uncertain work schedule as Geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
in the field.
3: “Ik Samadar Paar” has been approved as “extra study book” for M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
Punjabi Literature’s exams at Guru Nanak Dev University
Guru Nanak Dev University
Guru Nanak Dev University was established at Amritsar, India on November 24, 1969 to commemorate Guru Nanak Dev's birth quincentenary celebrations. Guru Nanak Dev University campus is spread over 500 acres near village of Kot Khalsa, nearly 8 km west of the Amritsar City on Amritsar - Lahore...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
4: Many of his short stories have been published in India and other countries where Punjabi in read and spoken.
5: A good number of his short stories have been included in many “Best Short Stories of Punjabi” selections, both in Pakistan and elsewhere.
6: Some of his Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
short stories have been translated in Pakistan’s national language, Urdu.
Awards
- “Ik Samadar Paar [Across One Sea]”, published in 2000, won the prestigious Punjabi literary award from “Masood Khaddar Posh Trust”.
- “Khiddoo [The Cotton Ball]” won the award from “Masood Khaddar Posh Trust” in the year 2002.
- "Kaalaa Chaanan (Black Light)” won the “Masood Khaddar Posh Award” in 2005.
- “Kaalaa Chaanan [Black Light won Pakistan’s “National Literary Award, 2005” {also called "Syed Waris Shah Award"}.
- “Tae Faer [Then What?]” published in 2005, picked up “Razia Farrukh Kahani Award”, being the Best Short Stories’ Book of the year.
- “Tae Faer [Then What?]” won the “Pakistan Writers’ Guild, Punjab" Award for 2005 as the Best Prose Book in Punjabi.
- “Annha Khooh (Abandoned Well)” won the “Masood Khaddar Posh Award” in 2008.
External links
- MIR Tanha Yusufi has already published a collection of short stories http://www.apnaorg.com/columns/stmirza/column-2.html
- Programs & Activities / National Literary Awards "Reference Kala Chanan" http://www.academy.gov.pk/nationallit.html#Syed
- Mir Tanha Yousufi Punjabi Poetry http://www.apnaorg.com/poetry/tanha/
- Mir Tanha Yousufi Punjabi Poetry http://www.hungamaforums.com/forumdisplay.php?s=acaa03608e6a5bd15f5b49b79af71e16&f=26
- Read Punjabi Short Story by Mir Tanha Yousufi http://www.apnaorg.com/punjabimagazines/saver-3/
- An organization to promote Punjabi language, literature, culture and harmony among all Punjabis http://www.apnaorg.com/
- امارات کے اہل قلم http://www.urdumanzil.com/adab_nama/uae/index.html
- Introduction to Punjabi Language http://www.scribd.com/doc/31673457/Introduction-to-Punjabi-Language