Shahab Nama
Encyclopedia
Shahab Nama is the autobiography
of Qudrat Ullah Shahab
. It was finished in 1986 and published in the same year after his death. The book has sixty chapters and 893 pages (Sang-e-Meel Publications
, Lahore
, edition 2005). From anecdotes of his childhood to the author's close proximity to all early Pakistan presidents earned Shahab Nama a household name in Pakistan
. The first chapter entitled "Iqbal-e-Jurm" (confession) is about the author's motivation for writing an autobiography. The next seven "Jammu
main plague" (Plague in Jammu), "Nanda Bus Service", "Chamkor Sahib", "Raj keroo ga khalisa baqi rahey na ko" (No one else but the Khalsa shall reign), "Maharaja Hari Singh kay sath chahay" (Tea with Maharaja Hari Singh), "Chandravati", and "ICS main dakhla" (Entry to ICS)chronicle his early life up to entry into Indian Civil Service. Chapter nine to fifteen describe author's experiences during his initial postings to different parts of India and creation of Pakistan in 1947. Four chapters are devoted to Mr. Shahab's writings and critics' comments on them. (Chapter 16 to 19). Chapter 20 is on the new state of Kashmir ("Azad Kashmir
") and 21 on assassination of the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan
("Sila-e-Shaheed"). Chapter 22 to 34 are devoted to author's experiences as Deputy Commissioner of Jhang District in Punjab. After a year in Jhang
, Mr. Shahab left for the Netherlands
on a scholarship to attend a six-month course at the Institute of Social Studies
in The Hague. Two chapters, 35 and 36 are on his impressions of the Netherlands and his decision to proceed to Hajj. Chapter 37 and 38 are a pilgrim's tale. "Jhoot, fraud aur hirs ki daldal" (The quagmire
of lies, fraud and greed), chapter 39, details author's time at the Ministry of Industries as Director. For the next 200 pages, chapter 40 through 50, Mr. Shahab delves into politics of his time as observed by him as the Principal Secretary to Governor General Malik Ghulam Muhammad, President Iskander Mirza and General Ayub Khan. The last ten chapters of Shahab Nama deal with a variety of topics such as death of his mother ("Maa ji ki wafaat"), life of an Ambassador ("Rozgar-e-safeer"), the future of Pakistan ("Pakistan ka mustaqbil)" and so on. There is a chapter titled "Iffat" dedicated to his late wife. The last chapter is about his mystical experiences.
Qudrat Ullah Shahab], at urdu-booksonline.com (Urdu)
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
of Qudrat Ullah Shahab
Qudrat Ullah Shahab
Qudrat Ullah Shahab was an eminent Urdu writer and civil servant from Pakistan. He is best known for his autobiography Shahabnama.-Early life:...
. It was finished in 1986 and published in the same year after his death. The book has sixty chapters and 893 pages (Sang-e-Meel Publications
Sang-e-Meel Publications
Sang-e-Meel Publications is a Lahore based publishing house that was established in 1962. It has the credit of being the foremost publisher of Urdu books after the partition of India in 1947...
, 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...
, edition 2005). From anecdotes of his childhood to the author's close proximity to all early Pakistan presidents earned Shahab Nama a household name 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...
. The first chapter entitled "Iqbal-e-Jurm" (confession) is about the author's motivation for writing an autobiography. The next seven "Jammu
Jammu
Jammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
main plague" (Plague in Jammu), "Nanda Bus Service", "Chamkor Sahib", "Raj keroo ga khalisa baqi rahey na ko" (No one else but the Khalsa shall reign), "Maharaja Hari Singh kay sath chahay" (Tea with Maharaja Hari Singh), "Chandravati", and "ICS main dakhla" (Entry to ICS)chronicle his early life up to entry into Indian Civil Service. Chapter nine to fifteen describe author's experiences during his initial postings to different parts of India and creation of Pakistan in 1947. Four chapters are devoted to Mr. Shahab's writings and critics' comments on them. (Chapter 16 to 19). Chapter 20 is on the new state of Kashmir ("Azad Kashmir
Azad Kashmir
Azad Jammu and Kashmir or Azad Kashmir for short, is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir...
") and 21 on assassination of the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan
Liaquat Ali Khan
For other people with the same or similar name, see Liaqat Ali Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan was a Pakistani statesman who became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Defence minister and Commonwealth, Kashmir Affairs...
("Sila-e-Shaheed"). Chapter 22 to 34 are devoted to author's experiences as Deputy Commissioner of Jhang District in Punjab. After a year in Jhang
Jhang
- Demographics :According to 1981 census of Pakistan population of Jhang was 1,970,944 with the 434,495 housing units in Jhang. In 1998 census, population of Jhang was 2,834,545, whose annually growth rate was 2.16%. Male population was 1,474,099 and female population was 1,360,446...
, Mr. Shahab left for the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
on a scholarship to attend a six-month course at the Institute of Social Studies
Institute of Social Studies
The International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Hague is a unique, independent and international graduate school in the social sciences...
in The Hague. Two chapters, 35 and 36 are on his impressions of the Netherlands and his decision to proceed to Hajj. Chapter 37 and 38 are a pilgrim's tale. "Jhoot, fraud aur hirs ki daldal" (The quagmire
Quagmire
Quagmire may refer to:* Water infused earth or a bog. Solid ground may turn to quagmire following substantial rainfall.* By extension, a situation that is difficult to get out of.* A tactical defense made when defending a territory close to a river...
of lies, fraud and greed), chapter 39, details author's time at the Ministry of Industries as Director. For the next 200 pages, chapter 40 through 50, Mr. Shahab delves into politics of his time as observed by him as the Principal Secretary to Governor General Malik Ghulam Muhammad, President Iskander Mirza and General Ayub Khan. The last ten chapters of Shahab Nama deal with a variety of topics such as death of his mother ("Maa ji ki wafaat"), life of an Ambassador ("Rozgar-e-safeer"), the future of Pakistan ("Pakistan ka mustaqbil)" and so on. There is a chapter titled "Iffat" dedicated to his late wife. The last chapter is about his mystical experiences.
External links
- Listen to ShahabNama by Qudratullah Shahab
- An Excerpt from Shahab Nama by Qudrat Ullah Shahab, at IBITIANS.com (Urdu)
- Shahab Nama Book Review in English
Qudrat Ullah Shahab], at urdu-booksonline.com (Urdu)