Urdu Literature | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Pakistan Press Foundation

Literary notes: Dialogue with divinity and a few other translations

Pakistan Press Foundation

HOW many books have been translated into Urdu from different languages on different topics so far? The estimated numbers differ wildly. Ubaidullah Qudsi in his book Pakistan mein zehni rujhanaat (1958) had put the number of translated books into Urdu at about 6,000. In an article, Delhi University’s Dr Abdul Haq had estimated that there were about […]


Fahmida Riaz remembered with teary eyes

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: It was an evening that exuded pure emotion and love. The cultural space T2F had a panel of some of the known writers and social figures of the city that went down memory lane to pay tribute to poet Fahmida Riaz who passed away on Nov 21 in Lahore. A few speakers even choked […]


‘There can be no terrorism in literature-loving societies’

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: Associations should not be personality-driven and if there are any rifts among the members then these should be resolved as amicably as possible. These thoughts were expressed by former Karachi commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui on Saturday while referring to recent power struggles within the Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu. “When the squabble between members of the Anjuman […]


The kingdom of Urdu literature

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: An engaging conversation, a witty sense of humour and a love for the Urdu language. These are all part of the offering each time Zehra Nigah sits down to talk. And at the Habib University on Wednesday, while addressing students, professors and lovers of Urdu adab, she shared her passion for the Urdu classics […]


‘Vernacular languages and history have a strong link’

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: Students and scholars of history were treated to some stimulating pieces of research on language and literature’s connection with history as a discipline on the third and last day of the 25th International History Conference at Karachi University on Thursday. In a session on ‘History of Language and Literature’, presided over by French historian […]


Two books launched at Karachi Press Club

Pakistan Press Foundation

Karachi: Speakers paid rich tributes to famous writer Iqbal Nazar at the inaugural ceremony of two books titled ‘Kahanian mahabat walian’ and ‘Jazeera-e-aab’ held at Karachi Press Club (KPC). Presiding over the ceremony, renowned poet and educationist Dr Pirzada Qasim said the two books were of high importance among Urdu short stories and dramas, since […]


Message of love: 8th International Urdu Conference ends on a high note

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: The 8th International Urdu Conference celebrated the Urdu language by hosting a number of thought-provoking and insightful sessions on classical and contemporary Urdu literature, Urdu drama and movies and many more. The four-day event concluded on Friday evening. This conference was meant to celebrate not just Urdu but all the languages of Pakistan, said […]


Literary Notes: Online information on Urdu literature may be misleading

Pakistan Press Foundation

Although information technology is a boon for anyone looking for any kind of information, it may well be a bane when it comes to searching correct online information on Urdu literature and language. Information available on the net may be incomplete, or even sometimes inaccurate. The problem is that the cyber-world, generally speaking, has no […]


LITERARY NOTES: Reprint galore as Urdu publishers turn to classics

Pakistan Press Foundation

IT has become something of a ritual to complain about dying reading habits. Urdu publishers say that now books don’t sell and people do not read anymore. However, talk to someone interested in reading and you will have to bear with the laments about all the substandard material being published these days. Hardly any new […]


Commercialism threatens Manto’s mansion

Pakistan Press Foundation

By: Ali Usman LAHORE: His pen created masterpieces that changed the face of Urdu literature. Many of the thoughts that must have brewed in his mind in the last seven years of his life were here, in this modest house a few hundred yards off Mall road in the neighbourhood of Lakshmi Mansion. This is […]


The plight of writers and Pakistan

Pakistan Press Foundation

After intense negotiations, a friend of mine was offered Rs 2,000 for his column each week if the organisation determined the quality of his material as being exceptional, its message clear, its facts verifiable, its style unique, its language outstanding. Yes, in a country where the minimum wage is Rs 7,000 for a minimally trained […]


The 10 best Urdu novels…and a runner-up

Pakistan Press Foundation

THE response to the piece on the best 10 Urdu autobiographies (Jan 27) has been so overwhelming that today I`m trying to present a list of the best 10 Urdu novels. Just like the previous one, this list is based on importance, relevance, readability and literary and cultural value. It is in chronological order and, […]


Prison literature in Urdu left aside to die down

Pakistan Press Foundation

THE term ‘prison literature’ refers to the literature, fiction or otherwise, created during confinement. There is a long list of works that were conceived and written in prison and recognised as literary masterpieces. For instance, Boethius, a Roman philosopher, was imprisoned by Theodoric the Great on the charges of treachery. Before being executed, Boethius penned […]


Niazmandan-e-Lahore: 20th century literary group defending Punjab’s writers

Pakistan Press Foundation

Lahore has been a favourite haunt of many intellectuals, painters, poets, journalists and writers. It has been the centre of Urdu printing and publishing since, at least, the 19th century. In fact, Urdu has been the language of literary expression in Punjab for centuries and it is believed that one of Urdu’s earliest poets was […]