Writer, intellectual Dr Ayub Mirza passes away
LAHORE: Well-known progressive writer and intellectual Dr Ayyub Mirza, father of Dr Amjad Mirza, passed away in Glasgow, Scotland on August 15.
He was a key figure of the Democratic Students Federation (DSF), which led the student movement coordinated by the Inter-Collegiate Body (ICB) that shook the entire country and resulted in significant concessions for students’ rights until the clampdown on all progressive forces in Pakistan in 1953.
Dr Mirza was born to a working class family in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir on May 21, 1929. Dr Mirza had his first taste of politics as a student in Rawalpindi. He worked closely with prominent Marxist activists like Abid Minto, Dr Haroon Rashid and Dr M Sarwar in establishing the first DSF office in Rawalpindi. He was elected its general secretary. While still a student, he joined the Communist Party of Pakistan.
He graduated in medicine and then came to the UK. Faiz Ahmed Faiz visited Dr Ayub Mirza in London and requested him to return home. Dr Mirza returned to Pakistan in 1964 and formed the Pak-China Friendship Association.
His writings include Faiz’s biography “Hum Key Thehray Ajnabi”, Dada Amir Hyder’s biography (in Urdu) “Dada”, a collection of Urdu verse, “Lahoo Main Dhanak”, “Faiz Nama”, a 600-page book which was also published in India, and his autobiography, “Bergay Jahan Deeda”.
Source: Daily Times
Date:8/17/2010
” 
” 
” 
” 
