Hasan Askari
Encyclopedia
Muhammad Hasan Askari (1978–1919) was one of the most respected name among scholars, critics, writers and linguists of modern Urdu
. He was an important voice within the modernist movement.
Askari was born on November 5, 1919 in a village in Bulandshahr District
, in western Uttar Pradesh
, India
. He joined Allahabad University
as an undergraduate in 1938 and went on to earn a Master’s degree in English literature
in 1942. After completing education, he joined All India Radio
, Delhi
. For a brief period around 1944, he also taught English literature at Delhi College (now,
Zakir Husain College).
After independence, he and his family migrated to Pakistan
and finally settled in Karachi
in 1950. He joined Islamia College Karachi. By 1955 Askari became increasingly engaged in the transition to and formulation of Pakistani national culture, practically abandoning his previous work that had focused on discussions of style in Urdu language and literature.
Jadidiyat is one of his premier works. He translated western literary, philosophical and metaphysical work into Urdu, especially from English
, French
, and Russian
. He translated Lenin's State and Revolution
in 1942 and Maxim Gorky
's work, main ne likhna kesay sikha in 1943. He also translated Arabic mystic literature and Buddhism
into Urdu. In his later part of life, he went against the Progressive Writers’ Association on account of its sole dependency on Socialism
. He was the first who introduced René Guénon
, Frithjof Schuon
and Martin Lings
to Indian and Pakistani Muslims. Preceding his death, he was working on an English translation of the Quranic tafsir Ma'ariful-Quran and finished a little more than one chapter before he passed on.
He died on January 18, 1978 in Karachi
.
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...
. He was an important voice within the modernist movement.
Askari was born on November 5, 1919 in a village in Bulandshahr District
Bulandshahr District
Bulandshahar District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. Bulandshahr city is the district headquarters.-Geography:...
, in western Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, 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...
. He joined Allahabad University
Allahabad University
Allahabad University , is a premier Central University located in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Its origins lie in the Muir Central College, named after Lt...
as an undergraduate in 1938 and went on to earn a Master’s degree in English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
in 1942. After completing education, he joined All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
, Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. For a brief period around 1944, he also taught English literature at Delhi College (now,
Zakir Husain College).
After independence, he and his family migrated to 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...
and finally settled in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
in 1950. He joined Islamia College Karachi. By 1955 Askari became increasingly engaged in the transition to and formulation of Pakistani national culture, practically abandoning his previous work that had focused on discussions of style in Urdu language and literature.
Jadidiyat is one of his premier works. He translated western literary, philosophical and metaphysical work into Urdu, especially from English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
. He translated Lenin's State and Revolution
State and Revolution
The State and Revolution , by Vladimir Lenin, describes the role of the State in society, the necessity of proletarian revolution, and the theoretic inadequacies of social democracy in achieving revolution to establish the dictatorship of the proletariat.Citing Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx, Lenin...
in 1942 and Maxim Gorky
Maxim Gorky
Alexei Maximovich Peshkov , primarily known as Maxim Gorky , was a Russian and Soviet author, a founder of the Socialist Realism literary method and a political activist.-Early years:...
's work, main ne likhna kesay sikha in 1943. He also translated Arabic mystic literature and Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
into Urdu. In his later part of life, he went against the Progressive Writers’ Association on account of its sole dependency on Socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
. He was the first who introduced René Guénon
René Guénon
René Guénon , also known as Shaykh `Abd al-Wahid Yahya was a French author and intellectual who remains an influential figure in the domain of metaphysics, having written on topics ranging from metaphysics, sacred science and traditional studies to symbolism and initiation.In his writings, he...
, Frithjof Schuon
Frithjof Schuon
Frithjof Schuon, was a native of Switzerland born to German parents in Basel, Switzerland. He is known as a philosopher, metaphysician and author of numerous books on religion and spirituality....
and Martin Lings
Martin Lings
Martin Lings was an English Muslim writer and scholar, a student and follower of Frithjof Schuon, and Shakespearean scholar...
to Indian and Pakistani Muslims. Preceding his death, he was working on an English translation of the Quranic tafsir Ma'ariful-Quran and finished a little more than one chapter before he passed on.
He died on January 18, 1978 in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
Literary work
- Jazeeray (collection of short stories) - 1947
- Qeyamat hum rakaab na aay (collection of long stories) - 1947
- Insaan aur Aadmi (critical essays) - 1953
- Sitara ya Baadban (critical essays) - 1963
- Waqt ki Raagni (critical essays)
- Jadidiyat (philosophical and critical essays)