Shan-ul-Haq Haqqee
Encyclopedia
Shan-ul-Haq Haqqee Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Tamgha-e-Quaid-i-Azam, was a notable Urdu
poet
, writer
, journalist
, broadcaster
, translator, critic
, researcher
, linguist and lexicographer of Pakistan
.
Born in Delhi
, Haqqee acquired his BA from Aligarh Muslim University
. He obtained a Master's in English literature from St. Stephen's College, Delhi
. He was a scion of a great literary family from Delhi
. His father, Maulvi Ehtashamuddin Haqqee, wrote short stories, a study of Hafez
, Tarjuman-ul-Ghaib, a translation of Diwan-i-Hafiz in verse and compiled a dictionary.
Haqqee recited his first ghazal
at an annual poetic gathering of St. Stephen's College.
, and Chanakya Kautilya's Arthashastra
.
He tried his hand at other genres of poetry, such as Peheylian, Kehmukarnian, and Qitat-i-Tareekhi too.
. The Oxford English-Urdu Dictionary, a phenomenal work that instantly became a ‘must’ for every scholar and student of Urdu, is a translation of the eighth & ninth editions of Concise Oxford English Dictionary
.
In addition to the libraries in South Asia, some of Haqqee's books may be found at the Library of Congress, and University of Toronto Library.
on October 11, 2005. He was about 88. Haqqee left five sons and one daughter. Like his wife, a well-respected teacher Salma Haqqee who died exactly two years earlier, he was also buried in Toronto, Canada.
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...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, translator, critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
, researcher
Researcher
A researcher is somebody who performs research, the search for knowledge or in general any systematic investigation to establish facts. Researchers can work in academic, industrial, government, or private institutions.-Examples of research institutions:...
, linguist and lexicographer of 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...
.
Born in 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...
, Haqqee acquired his BA from Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University ,is a residential academic university, established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammedan Angelo-Oriental College and later granted the status of Central University by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 1920...
. He obtained a Master's in English literature from St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi located in Delhi, India. The college admits both undergraduates and post-graduates, and awards degrees under the purview of the University. Famous for its rich history and many traditions, St...
. He was a scion of a great literary family from 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...
. His father, Maulvi Ehtashamuddin Haqqee, wrote short stories, a study of Hafez
Hafez
Khwāja Shamsu d-Dīn Muhammad Hāfez-e Shīrāzī , known by his pen name Hāfez , was a Persian lyric poet. His collected works composed of series of Persian poetry are to be found in the homes of most Iranians, who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day...
, Tarjuman-ul-Ghaib, a translation of Diwan-i-Hafiz in verse and compiled a dictionary.
Haqqee recited his first 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...
at an annual poetic gathering of St. Stephen's College.
Contribution to Urdu
He published two anthologies of poems, Tar-i-Pairahan (1957) and Harf-i-Dilras (1979), a later collection of his selected ghazals was published under the title, Dil ki Zaban. His other publications include, Naqd-o-Nigarish (criticism), Maqalaat-e-Mumtaz, Shaakhsaanay (Short Stories), Maqam-e-Ghazal (edited work of Hafiz Hoshiarpuri), Nashid-i-Hurriyat, Nukta-e-Raz, Bhagvad Gita (Urdu translation),Darpan Darpan (translation of poetry from various languages), Intikhab-e-Kalam-e-Zafar, Qitaat-e-Tareekh-e-Wafat-e-Ahle-Qalam-wa-Mutaliqeen-e-Ahle-Qalam, Lisani Masail-o-Lataif, Nazr-e-Khusro PaheliaN Keh MukarniyaN, Aaeena-e-Afkar-e-Ghalib, Nok Jhonk, Suhaanay Taraanay, and children's literature with the title, Phool Khilay Hain Rung Birnagay (Poems for children 8–80 years old), Anjaan Rahi (translation of Jack Shaffer's novel Shane), Teesri Duniya (translation of essays on politics and economy), Soor-i-Israfeel (translation of Bengali poet Qazi Nazrul Islam), Khayabaan-e- Pak (anthology of Pakistan's folk poetry of about 40 poets), and he also wrote his autobiography that was serialized in Urdu journal Afkaar.He also translated the Shakespeare's Antony and CleopatraAntony and Cleopatra
Antony and Cleopatra is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607. It was first printed in the First Folio of 1623. The plot is based on Thomas North's translation of Plutarch's Lives and follows the relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony...
, and Chanakya Kautilya's Arthashastra
Arthashastra
The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy which identifies its author by the names Kautilya and , who are traditionally identified with The Arthashastra (IAST: Arthaśāstra) is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and...
.
He tried his hand at other genres of poetry, such as Peheylian, Kehmukarnian, and Qitat-i-Tareekhi too.
As a lexicographer
Haqqee has done his mother tongue a great service in the field of lexicography and linguistics. In addition to his regular professional duties, he remained associated with the Urdu Dictionary Board for 17 years from 1958 to 1975, compiling a monumental 24-volume dictionary, that may termed as his labor of love. Apart from Urdu Dictionary Board’s work, Haqqee compiled two dictionaries. Farhang-e-Talaffuz is a pronouncing dictionary of Urdu published by National Language AuthorityNational 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...
. The Oxford English-Urdu Dictionary, a phenomenal work that instantly became a ‘must’ for every scholar and student of Urdu, is a translation of the eighth & ninth editions of Concise Oxford English Dictionary
Concise Oxford English Dictionary
The Concise Oxford English Dictionary is probably the best-known of the 'smaller' Oxford dictionaries. The latest edition of the Concise Oxford English Dictionary contains over 240,000 entries and 1,728 pages...
.
In addition to the libraries in South Asia, some of Haqqee's books may be found at the Library of Congress, and University of Toronto Library.
Death
He died from complications of lung cancer in Mississauga, CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on October 11, 2005. He was about 88. Haqqee left five sons and one daughter. Like his wife, a well-respected teacher Salma Haqqee who died exactly two years earlier, he was also buried in Toronto, Canada.
External links
- http://www.dawn.com/weekly/books/archive/030323/books7.htm