The Legend Couple
Ashfaq Ahmed (Urdu: اشفاق احمد; 22 August 1925 – 7 September 2004) was a writer, playwright and broadcaster from Pakistan.[3] He authored several books in Urdu. His works included novels, short stories and plays for television and radio.[4] He was awarded President's Pride of Performance and Sitara-i-Imtiaz for meritorious services in the field of literature and broadcasting.[5]
Early life[edit]
Ahmed was born on 22 August 1925 in Firozpur, Punjab, British India,[6][7] into an ethnic Pashtun family of the Momand tribe.[8] He obtained his early education in his native district of Muktsar.[6][7][9] Shortly before independence in 1947, he migrated to Pakistan and settled in Lahore, Punjab.[10] He completed his Masters in Urdu literature from Government College Lahore. Bano Qudsia, his wife and companion in Urdu literary circles, was his classmate at the Government College.[11]
Education[edit]
After Partition, when Ahmed arrived at the Walton refugee camp with millions of other migrants, he used to make announcements of directions on a megaphone around the clock for the refugees. Later, he got a job in 'Radio Azad Kashmir', which was established on a truck that used to drive around in various parts of Kashmir. He then got lectureship at Dayal Singh College, Lahore for two years. Whereafter, he went to Rome to join 'Radio Rome' as an Urdu newscaster. He also used to teach Urdu at 'Rome University'. During his stay in Europe, he received diplomas in the Italian and French languages from the 'Sapienza University of Rome|University of Rome' and University of Grenoble, France. He also earned a special training diploma in radio broadcasting from New York University.[10]
Career[edit]
He started writing stories in his childhood, which were published in Phool [Flower] magazine. After returning to Pakistan from Europe, he took out his own monthly literary magazine, Dastaango [Story Teller], and joined Radio Pakistan as a script writer. He was made editor of the popular Urdu weekly, Lail-o-Nahar [Day and Night], in place of famous poet Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum by the Government of Pakistan.[3]
In 1962, Ahmed started his popular radio program, Talqeen Shah [The Preacher] which made him immensely popular among the people in towns and villages.[12] He was appointed director of the Markazi Urdu Board in 1966, which was later renamed as Urdu Science Board, a post he held for 29 years.[10] He remained with the board until 1979. He also served as adviser in the Education Ministry during Zia-ul-Haq's regime.[2] In the 1960s, he produced a feature film, Dhoop aur Saaei [Shadows and Sunshine], which was not very successful at the box office.
Early life[edit]
Ahmed was born on 22 August 1925 in Firozpur, Punjab, British India,[6][7] into an ethnic Pashtun family of the Momand tribe.[8] He obtained his early education in his native district of Muktsar.[6][7][9] Shortly before independence in 1947, he migrated to Pakistan and settled in Lahore, Punjab.[10] He completed his Masters in Urdu literature from Government College Lahore. Bano Qudsia, his wife and companion in Urdu literary circles, was his classmate at the Government College.[11]
Education[edit]
After Partition, when Ahmed arrived at the Walton refugee camp with millions of other migrants, he used to make announcements of directions on a megaphone around the clock for the refugees. Later, he got a job in 'Radio Azad Kashmir', which was established on a truck that used to drive around in various parts of Kashmir. He then got lectureship at Dayal Singh College, Lahore for two years. Whereafter, he went to Rome to join 'Radio Rome' as an Urdu newscaster. He also used to teach Urdu at 'Rome University'. During his stay in Europe, he received diplomas in the Italian and French languages from the 'Sapienza University of Rome|University of Rome' and University of Grenoble, France. He also earned a special training diploma in radio broadcasting from New York University.[10]
Career[edit]
He started writing stories in his childhood, which were published in Phool [Flower] magazine. After returning to Pakistan from Europe, he took out his own monthly literary magazine, Dastaango [Story Teller], and joined Radio Pakistan as a script writer. He was made editor of the popular Urdu weekly, Lail-o-Nahar [Day and Night], in place of famous poet Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum by the Government of Pakistan.[3]
In 1962, Ahmed started his popular radio program, Talqeen Shah [The Preacher] which made him immensely popular among the people in towns and villages.[12] He was appointed director of the Markazi Urdu Board in 1966, which was later renamed as Urdu Science Board, a post he held for 29 years.[10] He remained with the board until 1979. He also served as adviser in the Education Ministry during Zia-ul-Haq's regime.[2] In the 1960s, he produced a feature film, Dhoop aur Saaei [Shadows and Sunshine], which was not very successful at the box office.
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