Muhammad Izhar ul Haq
Encyclopedia
Muhammad Izhar ul Haq, is a columnist and a renowned poet of Urdu language, in Pakistan. He has received international recognition for his contribution to Urdu literature, and has been awarded Pakistan’s highest civil award Pride of performance
in 2008. He has published four books of Urdu poetry and writes weekly column in daily Nawa-i-Waqt
.
in Punjab, Muhammad Izhar ul Haq got his early education from his grandfather and father. His grandfather, Ghulam Muhammad, was a famous scholar and jurist of his time and was known to teach Persian literature
and language. Muhammad Izhar ul Haq’s father, Hafiz Muhammad Zahoor ul Haq Zahoor, also a scholar of high repute, was author of a number of books in Persian
and Urdu
in poetry as well as prose. Muhammad Izhar ul Haq topped in Government College Rawalpindi
in graduation examination and was awarded Federal Government Inter-wing fellowship under which he did his MA Economics from Dhaka University. Later, he did MA in Arabic from Punjab University
as external candidate and also learnt Uzbek
language in Islamabad. In 1972, he joined Civil Service of Pakistan after qualifying the Central Superior Services competitive examination. He ascended to the highest echelon of bureaucracy in the federal government, before retiring in 2008.
Muhammad Izhar ul Haq has three sons and two daughters, and lives with Zahida Shaheen, his wife, in Islamabad and Melbourne.
Muhammad Izhar ul Haq is considered a trend-setter in modern Urdu
Ghazal
. His first book, Diwaar-e-aab (1982) won Adam Jee award, the highest literary distinction at that time in the country. His two subsequent books in Urdu poetry, Ghadr and Paree-zaad hit the stalls in 1986 and 1995 respectively. His fourth book, Paani peh Bichha Takht, was conferred yet another honor, Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal award, in 2003.
Izhar is best known in the genre of Ghazal
, although his mastery in free-verse and prose-poem has also been established among the literary circles of South Asia
.
Sample English translation of Izhar ul Haq's poetry can be read in the anthology "Pakistani Urdu Verse, Oxford University Press 2010", translated and edited by Yasmeen Hameed
.
and abroad. He has been a regular columnist in Jang
, Daily Jinnah and presently in Nawaiwaqt. Themes of his columns usually relate to politics and society, reform and development, religion, and ethics etc. Izhar ul Haq is noted for his unique style of literary prose and especially his command over classical Urdu
and Persian
literature. The title of his Urdu column is "Talkh Nawai", which translates to "bitter discourse". Izhar ul Haq is also an occasional contributor in The News (Jang group), The Bangladesh Today, The Age (Australia), and various other national and international newspapers.
Izhar ul Haq has also contributed in the research for implementation of Urdu in Pakistan, with the National Language Authority
. In addition, he has also contributed with the National Language Authority as one of the compilers of the Qaumi English-Urdu Dictionary.
For his services to Urdu literature, Muhammad Izhar ul Haq was awarded Pride of Performance
by the government of Pakistan in 2008.
Pride of Performance
Pride of Performance , is one of the highest civil award given and conferred by the Pakistan Government to Pakistan's citizens in recognition of distinguished merit in the fields of Literature, Arts, Sports, Medicines, and Science for civilians in most particular cases.The announcement of civil...
in 2008. He has published four books of Urdu poetry and writes weekly column in daily Nawa-i-Waqt
Nawa-i-Waqt
Nawa-i-Waqt is an Urdu daily newspaper in Pakistan. Nawa-i-Waqt started its publishing on March 23, 1940 under the leadership of Hameed Nizami. The tradition is continued by his brother Majid Nizami. Nawa-i-Waqt is one of the largest circulating newspapers in the country...
.
Personal life
Born on 14 Feb 1948 in the village Jhendial, in the district of AttockAttock
Attock is a city located in the northern border of the Punjab province of Pakistan and the headquarters of Attock District...
in Punjab, Muhammad Izhar ul Haq got his early education from his grandfather and father. His grandfather, Ghulam Muhammad, was a famous scholar and jurist of his time and was known to teach Persian literature
Persian literature
Persian literature spans two-and-a-half millennia, though much of the pre-Islamic material has been lost. Its sources have been within historical Persia including present-day Iran as well as regions of Central Asia where the Persian language has historically been the national language...
and language. Muhammad Izhar ul Haq’s father, Hafiz Muhammad Zahoor ul Haq Zahoor, also a scholar of high repute, was author of a number of books in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
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...
in poetry as well as prose. Muhammad Izhar ul Haq topped in Government College Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
in graduation examination and was awarded Federal Government Inter-wing fellowship under which he did his MA Economics from Dhaka University. Later, he did MA in Arabic from Punjab University
Punjab University
Punjab University may refer to:In India:*Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana*Punjab Technical University*Punjabi University, Patiala*Panjab University, ChandigarhIn Pakistan:*University of the Punjab, Lahore...
as external candidate and also learnt Uzbek
Uzbek language
Uzbek is a Turkic language and the official language of Uzbekistan. It has about 25.5 million native speakers, and it is spoken by the Uzbeks in Uzbekistan and elsewhere in Central Asia...
language in Islamabad. In 1972, he joined Civil Service of Pakistan after qualifying the Central Superior Services competitive examination. He ascended to the highest echelon of bureaucracy in the federal government, before retiring in 2008.
Muhammad Izhar ul Haq has three sons and two daughters, and lives with Zahida Shaheen, his wife, in Islamabad and Melbourne.
Poetry
Muhammad Izhar ul Haq has four books of poetry to his credit:- Diwaar-e-aab (winner of Adamjee Award for Literature 1982)
- Ghadr (1986)
- Paree-zaad (1995)
- Paani peh Bichha Takht (winner of Allama Iqbal Award 2003 )
Muhammad Izhar ul Haq is considered a trend-setter in modern 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...
Ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
. His first book, Diwaar-e-aab (1982) won Adam Jee award, the highest literary distinction at that time in the country. His two subsequent books in Urdu poetry, Ghadr and Paree-zaad hit the stalls in 1986 and 1995 respectively. His fourth book, Paani peh Bichha Takht, was conferred yet another honor, Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal award, in 2003.
Izhar is best known in the genre of Ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
, although his mastery in free-verse and prose-poem has also been established among the literary circles of South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
.
Sample English translation of Izhar ul Haq's poetry can be read in the anthology "Pakistani Urdu Verse, Oxford University Press 2010", translated and edited by Yasmeen Hameed
Yasmeen Hameed
Yasmeen Hameed is a Pakistani Urdu poet. Yasmeen Hameed has over 25 years of experience in the fields of literature, art and education. She is presently working as ‘Writer in Residence’ in the Social Sciences Department at Lahore University of Management Sciences...
.
Columns and other literary works
Izhar ul Haq writes columns in the leading Urdu newspapers of PakistanPakistan
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...
and abroad. He has been a regular columnist in Jang
Jang
Jang may refer to:*Jang , part of Maloelap Atoll, in the Marshall Islands*Jang, Nepal* Jang, the Tibetan name for Naxi, a county-level district of Luzhou city, Sichuan Province, China....
, Daily Jinnah and presently in Nawaiwaqt. Themes of his columns usually relate to politics and society, reform and development, religion, and ethics etc. Izhar ul Haq is noted for his unique style of literary prose and especially his command over classical 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...
and Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
literature. The title of his Urdu column is "Talkh Nawai", which translates to "bitter discourse". Izhar ul Haq is also an occasional contributor in The News (Jang group), The Bangladesh Today, The Age (Australia), and various other national and international newspapers.
Izhar ul Haq has also contributed in the research for implementation of Urdu in Pakistan, with the National Language Authority
National Language Authority
The National Language Authority is an autonomous regulatory institution established in 1979 to support the advancement and promotion of Urdu which is the national language of Pakistan. Initially it was aimed at creating a synergy between national and provincial governments and institutions for...
. In addition, he has also contributed with the National Language Authority as one of the compilers of the Qaumi English-Urdu Dictionary.
For his services to Urdu literature, Muhammad Izhar ul Haq was awarded Pride of Performance
Pride of Performance
Pride of Performance , is one of the highest civil award given and conferred by the Pakistan Government to Pakistan's citizens in recognition of distinguished merit in the fields of Literature, Arts, Sports, Medicines, and Science for civilians in most particular cases.The announcement of civil...
by the government of Pakistan in 2008.