Muhammad Husain Azad
Encyclopedia
Muhammad Husain Azad known as Ehsan Azad, was an Urdu
writer, who is regarded as the best Urdu prose writer. He wrote prose as well as poetry but he is mostly remembered for his prose. He contribution and impact is immense to Urdu literature and prose in particular. He is famous for his masterpiece Aab-e-Hayat (meaning elixir of life). It is regarded as the most often printed and most widely read book of Urdu because of its numerous qualities, which makes it a constant companion or a book of reference for an ardent Urdu lover.
in a highly educated Persian immigrant family. His mother died when he was four years old. His father was Maulvi Muhammad Baqir (c.1810-1857), was a man of versatile talents, and was educated at the newly founded Delhi College
. Besides his many other activities he worked in the British administration. In early 1837 Maulvi Muhammad Baqir bought a press and launched the Dihli Urdu Akhbaar (Delhi Urdu Newspaper), which was probably the first Urdu newspaper in north India. Maulvi Muhammad Baqir was executed for siding with Mughals and joining the rebellion in 1857.
Muhammad Husain Azad was the only son of Maulvi Baqir and was married to Aghai Begum daughter of another Persian immigrant family. Following his father's death and a period of turmoil in Delhi, Azad migrated to Lahore in 1861.
, Lahore
,and later at Oriental College, Lahore
, found under the auspices of Anjuman-e-Punjab (Punjab Society). In Lahore he came in contact of Dr. G. W. Leitner who was the Principal and founder of Anjuman-e-Punjab. Anjuman-ePunjab's mission was solely cultural and academic, Anjuman arranged public lectures, set up a free library and reading room, compiled educational texts and translations in Indian languages, and established Lahore's famous Oriental College. The Anjuman was actively supported by leading British officials of the time and was considered a great success. In 1866 Azad became a regularly paid lecturer on behalf of the Anjuman; in 1867 he became its secretary.In 1887 he managed to set up the 'Azad Library', which earned him praise and earned the title of 'Shams ul-ulamā' (Sun among the Learned).
After undergoing great personal, health and mental loses, Azad died in Lahore in 1910, at the age of eighty.
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...
writer, who is regarded as the best Urdu prose writer. He wrote prose as well as poetry but he is mostly remembered for his prose. He contribution and impact is immense to Urdu literature and prose in particular. He is famous for his masterpiece Aab-e-Hayat (meaning elixir of life). It is regarded as the most often printed and most widely read book of Urdu because of its numerous qualities, which makes it a constant companion or a book of reference for an ardent Urdu lover.
Early life and family
He was born in DelhiDelhi
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...
in a highly educated Persian immigrant family. His mother died when he was four years old. His father was Maulvi Muhammad Baqir (c.1810-1857), was a man of versatile talents, and was educated at the newly founded Delhi College
Delhi College
Delhi College can refer to:* Zakir Husain College, Delhi, formerly known as The Delhi College, founded in 1792.* State University of New York at Delhi* Delhi College of Engineering* Delhi College of Arts and Commerce* Jagan Institute of Management Studies...
. Besides his many other activities he worked in the British administration. In early 1837 Maulvi Muhammad Baqir bought a press and launched the Dihli Urdu Akhbaar (Delhi Urdu Newspaper), which was probably the first Urdu newspaper in north India. Maulvi Muhammad Baqir was executed for siding with Mughals and joining the rebellion in 1857.
Muhammad Husain Azad was the only son of Maulvi Baqir and was married to Aghai Begum daughter of another Persian immigrant family. Following his father's death and a period of turmoil in Delhi, Azad migrated to Lahore in 1861.
Education
Around 1845 he was enrolled at Delhi College in Urdu-medium 'Oriental' section, which offered Arabic and Persian rather than English. He keenly pursued his studies for about eight years before graduating in 1854.Career
After struggling for years he gradually settled down in Lahore and started teaching at newly founded (1864) Government CollegeGovernment College
Government College refers to various colleges.* Government College University, Lahore, is probably the most frequent college referred to by this name. It may also refer to:* Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, India* Darjeeling Government College...
, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
,and later at Oriental College, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, found under the auspices of Anjuman-e-Punjab (Punjab Society). In Lahore he came in contact of Dr. G. W. Leitner who was the Principal and founder of Anjuman-e-Punjab. Anjuman-ePunjab's mission was solely cultural and academic, Anjuman arranged public lectures, set up a free library and reading room, compiled educational texts and translations in Indian languages, and established Lahore's famous Oriental College. The Anjuman was actively supported by leading British officials of the time and was considered a great success. In 1866 Azad became a regularly paid lecturer on behalf of the Anjuman; in 1867 he became its secretary.In 1887 he managed to set up the 'Azad Library', which earned him praise and earned the title of 'Shams ul-ulamā' (Sun among the Learned).
After undergoing great personal, health and mental loses, Azad died in Lahore in 1910, at the age of eighty.
Works
- Qisas ul-hind (Stories of India)-1869
- Nairang-e Khiyāl (The Wonder-World of Thought)-1880-worked on a volume of thirteen allegorical essays, mostly by Samuel Johnson and Joseph Addison, that he transcribed into Urdu.
- Āb-e HayātAab-e hayatAab-e hayat is a commentary on Urdu poetry written by Muhammad Husain Azad in 1880. The book was described as "canon-forming" and "the most often reprinted, and most widely read, Urdu book of the past century."Aab-e hayat became the single most influential source for both anecdotes and historical...
(Water of Life/Elixir)-1880-Book about the life of Urdu poets and linguistic development of Urdu.
- Sukhandān-e fārs (On Iranian Poets)- completed in 1887, published in 1907.
- Darbār-e akbarī (The Court of Akbar)-1898
See also
- Revolt of 1857
- Ibrahim Zauq
- Altaf Hussain Hali
- Gottlieb Wilhelm LeitnerGottlieb Wilhelm LeitnerGottlieb Wilhelm Leitner or Gottlieb William Leitner M.A.,Ph.D.,L.L.D.,D.O.L. was an Anglo-Hungarian orientalist.-Early life and education:...
- Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
- Anjuman-e-Punjab
- Aslam FarrukhiAslam FarrukhiDr. Aslam Farrukhi, PP, is a noted Urdu author, critic, poet, linguist, scholar and broadcaster of Pakistan. He is also known for children's writings. He remained associated as Professor and Chairman with Department of Urdu, University of Karachi for many years.- Life :Aslam Farrukhi was born on...
External links
- Table of Contents -- Digital South Asia Library at dsal.uchicago.edu Aab-eHayat link to 1907 edition printed Naval Kishore Press, Lahore.
- at dsal.uchicago.edu Aab-eHayat link to English Translation, Translated and edited by Frances W. Pritchett, in association with Shamsur Rahman Faruqi
- http://education.nic.in/cd50years/u/47/3Y/473Y0301.htm NICNIC- Banking and insurance companies:* National Insurance Company Limited, India.* National Insurance Company, Pakistan.* National Insurance Corporation, Kenya.* National Insurance Corporation, Tanzania.* National Insurance Corporation, Uganda....
, India link history of Urdu of Urdu Literature - http://education.nic.in/cd50years/u/47/3Y/473Y0303.htm NICNIC- Banking and insurance companies:* National Insurance Company Limited, India.* National Insurance Company, Pakistan.* National Insurance Corporation, Kenya.* National Insurance Corporation, Tanzania.* National Insurance Corporation, Uganda....
, India link history of Urdu of Urdu Literature - http://www.dawn.com/weekly///books/archive/020818/books5.htm
- Ghalib and the revolution of 1857 at www.interface.edu.pk