92Nd Birth
Anniversary Of Hameed Naseem Commemorative Postage Stamp October 19, 2012:- Hameed Naseem was Mufasser-e-Quran,
Poet, Writer, Critic, former Deputy DG Radio Pakistan, former Director of the
PIA Arts Academy, an acclaimed broadcaster and was called “broadcaster” by
critics and his contemporaries. He was born on 6th October, 1920 at
Shah Pur Kundi, District Gurdaspur. He was a prodigious learner and poet and
started writing poetry at an early age in School days. He got opportunities to
intermingle with poets and intellectuals like Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Dr. M.D.
Taseer who were close friends of his father Abdul Aziz, known as Aziz Bitalvi,
who had profound interest in poetry. He matriculated from M.B. High School
Lahore and graduated from MAO College Amritsar. Later he moved to Lahore and
did his M.A. Engilish from Islamia College Lahore where he was the leading
poet, orator, and prose writer of the College and was especially known for his
melodious voice (taranum) which always swayed the mushairas by its profound
effect. During these days, he was a regular visitor of the famous Arab Hotel,
which lay across the Islamia College Lahore and Nageena Bakery near Anarkali;
both places were established rendezvous for the literati, poets, and scholars
of the thirties and early forties and other intellectual community of Lahore.
It was during this time that he received poetic inspiration and guidance from
Sufi Tabassum and developed lifelong friendship with him as well Zia
Jallandari, a leading poet and who regularly prodded poet inside him and
motivated him for other research and literary endeavors.
His
Tafseer-e-Quran, named, Ta’aruf Al Furqan, is composed of 5 volumes and
provides in-depth and detailed commentary on Quran, with references to
comparative religions. He wrote booklets, Aurat Islam Ki Nazar Main, for
general readers to remove their some misconceptions about the role of woman in
Islam and The Message of Islam, for the English speaking communities for better
understanding of the basic Islamic concepts.
He
was a promising poet of his times and his collection of poetry, Dood-e-Tahayar
(The Smoke of Wonderment), is an important work of classical ghazal structures,
and shows his confident grasp of the art of poetry writing which is guided by
the rules of poetry and its rhetoric. His collections of poetry, Jast-e-Janoon,
Gard-e-Malal, are also rated as valuable to Urdu literature. He was also a
known critic who wrote critique on many poets and his book, Allama Iqbal
Hemaray Azeem Shaaer, Panch Jadeed Shair, Kuch Aur Ahim Shair, introduction to
Kuleeyat Shafeeq Fatima, are widely acclaimed among the literati circles. His
book, “Allama Iqbal Hemaray Azeem Shaaer” was awarded Presidential Award
posthumously on Iqbal Day in 2003 which was received by his widow, Nafisa
Begum, and daughter, Seemin, from the President of Pakistan at the occasion of Iqbal
Day in Lahore.
Notwithstanding
his great contribution of producing 5-volumes’ of comparative religion
commentary on Quran Hakeem, his autobiography Namumkin Ki Justajo, published in
1990, will remain his most memorable work and is still rated one of the best
autobiographies in Urdu literature. This autobiography is unique in two ways –
firstly, it is written in third person and secondly, it shows a picturesque
kaleidoscope of cultural and literary life in Lahore and Amristar and in many
parts of the world in those times, wherever he lives or visited, which have now
vanished, and his contemporary personalities and events. It vividly portraits
the days at MAO College Amristar, Islamia College Lahore, early days of Radio,
and events of his colleagues like Meeraji, Noon Meem Rashid, Krishan Chander,
greatest of them all, Prof. A.S. Bukhari, the first Indian to become Director
of All-India Radio. Due to these peculiar characteristics of this
autobiography, it has been called Ahad Nama by the critics.
Mr.
Hameed Naseem also served as Director of the PIA Arts Academy in 1967 for few
years and used his talents as a programme person in the promotion of Pakistan
art and culture at international levels, mostly the destinations of the PIA at
those times. At the twilight of his life and career, Mr. Hameed Naseem was
researching and writing, Adbi Urdu Nasar, which could not be published due to
his sudden death in 1998 and is still available with his heirs as a manuscript.
He
was one of the pioneers and founders of Radio Pakistan after the creation of
Pakistan. He started daily programme, Pakistan Hamara hay, from Radio Station
Lahore which tried to inculcate national integration among the newly founded
nation. He wrote many national songs (Qaumi Taranay) during the wars of 1965
and 1971 which were sung be eminent singers like Ustad Amanat Ali, Farida
Khanum, Noor Jeha,. He had a long career in Radio Pakistan and was widely
respected as a famous broadcaster and many posthumously remember his reputation
as broadcasters’ broadcaster. He also served at BBC in London for few years on
deputation but returned to Pakistan for love of the people and the country and
declined all lucrative offers of staying at the BBC. The BBC remembered his
contributions by placing a floral commemorative wreath on his grave after his
death. He strated the programme, Roshni, and Quran-i-Hakeem aur Hamari Zindigi
and conducted the programme himself for years in his typical broadcaster’s
voice. This religious programme was so much popular among the listeners that it
was broadcasted for decades till recent years. He was also founder of the Radio
Station Hyderabad and appointed its first Station Director. Hameed Naseem
retired as Deputy Director General but kept serving the Radio Pakistan as
Advisor on Religious Affairs till the time of his death, and even performed his
duties on the last day of his life, 28th September 1998.
His
death was widely mourned in the literary circles, Radio Pakistan, PTV, and the
electronic media relayed news and the print media published news reports as
well as special features. Many famous poets and writers wrote obituaries in the
national dailies and Literary Magazines, acknowledging his contributions for
the Urdu literature, religion and Radio Pakistan. Hameed Naseem will always be
remembered for his valuable contributions to Urdu literature, Poetry, history
of Pakistan, and most importantly expounding our great religion.
On 92nd
Birth Anniversary of Hameed Naseem, Pakistan Post is issuing a commemorative
postage stamp of Rs.8/- denomination on October 19, 2012.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment