Intizar Hussain
{{Short description|Writer and novelist (1925–2016)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Intizar Hussain
| native_name = انتظار حسین
| native_name_lang = Urdu
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Intizar Hussain an year before his death
| pseudonym =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 21 December 1925
| birth_place = Dibai, Bulandshahr district, British India
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2016|02|02|1925|12|21}}
| death_place = Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| resting_place =
| occupation = Writer, novelist
| language = Urdu
| nationality = Pakistani
| ethnicity =
| citizenship =
| alma_mater = Meerut College
| period =
| genre =
| subject =
| movement =
| notableworks =
| awards = Sitara-i-Imtiaz
Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1986
Adamjee Literary Award
Kamal-i-Fun (Lifetime Achievement) award
Sahitya Akademi Fellowship (National Academy of Letters) of India awarded in 2007
Anjuman Farogh-i-Adab Doha's award[https://www.dawn.com/news/917349 "I'm a man only of fiction" Intizar Hussain] Dawn newspaper, Published 23 April 2009, Retrieved 18 November 2023
| years_active = 1940s – 2016
}}
Intizar Hussain or Intezar Hussain ({{langx|ur|{{nq|انتظار حسین}}}}; 21 December 1925 – 2 February 2016) was a Pakistani writer of Urdu novels, short stories, poetry and nonfiction. He is widely recognised as a leading literary figure of Pakistan.{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1236988|title=Legendary writer Intizar Hussain passes away|newspaper=Dawn newspaper|access-date=18 November 2023}}{{cite news|title=Intizar Hussain, leading Urdu writer, dies aged 92|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/03/leading-urdu-writer-intizar-hussain-dies-aged-92|access-date=18 November 2023|work=The Guardian newspaper}}
He was nominated for the International Booker Prize in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://themanbookerprize.com/news/ageless-intizar-hussain|title=The ageless Intizar Hussain|website=Man Booker Prize|access-date=8 May 2019|archive-date=8 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508063619/https://themanbookerprize.com/news/ageless-intizar-hussain|url-status=dead}}
Early life
Intizar Hussain was born on 21 December 1925 in Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh (at the time, the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh), British India. He received a degree in Urdu literature in Meerut. As someone born in the Indian subcontinent who later migrated to Pakistan during 1947 Partition, a perennial theme in Hussain's works deals with the nostalgia linked with his life in the pre-partition era.{{Cite journal|last=Memon|first=Muhammad Umar|date=29 April 2021|title=Partition Literature: A Study of Intizar Husain|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/312138|journal=Modern Asian Studies|volume=14|issue=3|pages=377–410|doi=10.1017/S0026749X00006879|jstor=312138|url-access=subscription}} Intizar Husain was often described as possibly the greatest living Urdu writer.{{Cite web |last=Raghavan |first=T. C. A. |date=2016-05-20 |title=Narrating the life of muhajirs in today's Pakistan |url=http://herald.dawn.com/news/1153405 |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Herald Magazine (Dawn Media Group) website|language=en}}
He lived in the old Anarkali Bazaar of Lahore, where he associated and socialized with the likes of Nasir Kazmi, and Muhammad Hasan Askari and together they frequented Lahore's teahouses – Pak Tea House, Nagina Bakery, Coffee House, Lords and Arab Hotel.
Lahore's literary scene was divided between two groups, Anjuman-e-Tarraqi-Pasand-Mussannifeen (Progressive Writers Movement) (a leftwing group) and the rightwing Halqa-e Arbab-e Zauq in the 1950s. Intizar Hussain decided not to be closely associated with either group and managed to stay neutral and focus on his writing career.
Literary work
He wrote short stories, novels and poetry in Urdu, and also literary columns for newspapers such as Dawn and Daily Express. The Seventh Door, Leaves and Basti are among English translations of his books.
Among the five novels he wrote – Chaand Gehan (1952), Din Aur Daastaan (1959), Basti (1980), Tazkira (1987), and Aage Samandar Hai (1995) – received global praise.{{cite news|last1=Rumi|first1=Raza|title=In memoriam: Writers like Intizar Husain never die, they live on in their words and ideas|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1174770/in-memoriam-writers-like-intizar-husain-never-die-they-live-on-in-their-words-and-ideas|access-date=18 November 2023|newspaper=Dawn newspaper|date=4 February 2016}}
His other writings include Hindustan Se Aakhri Khat, Aagay Sumandar Hai, Shehr-e-Afsos, Jataka Tales, Janam Kahanian and Wo Jo Kho Gaye. Aagay Sumandar Hai (Sea is facing you in the front) contrasts the spiraling urban violence of contemporary Karachi with a vision of the lost Islamic realm of al-Andalus in modern Spain.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/intizar-hussain-pakistans-greatest-fiction-writer-dies-at-92/ Intizar Hussain, Pakistan's 'greatest fiction writer', dies at 92] The Telegraph newspaper, Published 2 February 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2023{{cite news|last1=Raj|first1=Ali|title=Intizar Hussain – the seller of dreams|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1039068/intizar-hussain-the-seller-of-dreams/|access-date=3 February 2016|work=The Daily Tribune|date=2 February 2016}}
His novel Basti is based on Pakistani history.
Among his books, "Basti" and "Khali Pinjra" have been translated into Persian by Samira Gilani.
Death
On 2 February 2016, he died at National Hospital, Defence Housing Authority at Lahore after contracting pneumonia.{{cite news|title=Intizar Hussain: Mourning an Urdu literary icon|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35486750|newspaper=BBC News|date=3 February 2016|access-date=18 November 2023}} The Indian Express newspaper termed him the "best-known Pakistani writer in the world" after Manto.{{cite news|last1=Ahmed|first1=Khaled|title=An escape from ideology|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/an-escape-from-ideology/|access-date=3 February 2016|work=The Indian Express|date=31 October 2014}}
His wife, Aliya Begum, had died in 2004 and they had no children.[http://www.newsweekpakistan.com/pakistans-greatest-fiction-writer-dies-at-92/ Pakistan's 'Greatest Fiction Writer' Dies at 92] Newsweek Pakistan website, Published 3 February 2016, Retrieved 18 November 2023
Influences
Hussain believed that two forces had risen in contemporary Pakistan: women and the mullahs. He also acknowledged his study and the influence of Buddhist texts and the Mahabharata.{{cite news|last1=Imtiaz|first1=Huma|date=13 February 2011|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/605904/festival-the-best-of-urdu-other-pakistani|title=FestivalL: The best of Urdu & other Pakistani languages|newspaper=Dawn newspaper|access-date=18 November 2023}}
Legacy
In 2016, Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) announced the ‘Intizar Hussain Award’ which would be given to a literary figure every year.{{cite news|title='Intizar Hussain Award' announced|url=http://images.dawn.com/news/1174805/intizar-hussain-award-announced|access-date=18 November 2023|work=Dawn newspaper|date=10 February 2016}}
Awards and international recognition
- Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1986.
- Kamal-e-Fun (Lifetime Achievement) Award by the Pakistan Academy of Letters in 1998.{{cite web|url=http://pal.gov.pk/?page_id=839 |url-status=dead|archive-date=31 August 2014|access-date=19 November 2023|title=List of Awardees|website=Pakistan Academy of Letters, Government of Pakistan website
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831020228/http://pal.gov.pk/?page_id=839}}
- In 2007, Hussain received the Pakistani civil award Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) by the President of Pakistan.
- Sahitya Akademi Fellowship (National Academy of Letters) of India awarded in 2007.[https://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/fellows/sahitya_akademi_fellowship.jsp Sahitya Akademi Fellowship awarded to Intizar Hussain in 2007 (scroll down to Premchand Fellowship)] Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters), Government of India website, Retrieved 18 November 2023
- In 2013, he was shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize after Frances W. Pritchett translated his Urdu novel Basti into English.{{cite news|title=Pakistani novelist among finalists for Man Booker International Prize|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/498508/pakistani-novelist-among-finalists-for-man-booker-prize/|access-date=1 February 2017|work=The Express Tribune|date=24 January 2013}}
- He received a lifetime achievement award at the Lahore Literary Festival. Newsweek Pakistan called him "Pakistan's most accomplished living author" in 2014.{{cite news|last1=Ahmed|first1=Khaled|title=Silent Type|url=http://newsweekpakistan.com/silent-type/|access-date=18 November 2023|work=Newsweek Pakistan|date=6 October 2014}}
- Hussain was made an Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in 2014{{cite web|title=Hommage de Fleur Pellerin, ministre de la Culture et de la Communication, à Intizar Hussain|url=http://www.culturecommunication.gouv.fr/Presse/Communiques-de-presse/Hommage-a-Intizar-Hussain|publisher=Ministry of Culture|access-date=3 February 2016|language=fr}}
- He was also the first ever winner of the prestigious Premchand Fellowship awarded by Sahitya Akademi of India in 2007.
Bibliography
- A Chronicle of the Peacocks: Stories of Partition, Exile and Lost Memories{{cite book|title=A Chronicle of the Peacocks: Stories of Partition, Exile and Lost Memories|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0195671742|url=https://archive.org/details/chronicleofpeaco0000inti|access-date=1 February 2017|url-access=registration}}
- The Death of Sheherzad{{cite book|title=The Death of Sheherzad|date=2014|publisher=HarperCollins India|isbn=978-9351362876}}
- Basti (1979) (Town){{cite book|title=Basti|year=2012|publisher=The New York Review of Books|isbn=9781590175828|url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13531502-basti|access-date=1 February 2017}}
- Aagay Samandar Hai (Beyond is the Sea) (1995)
- Chiraghon Ka Dhuvan (Lamp Smoke) (memoir) (1999)
- Chaand Gahan (2002){{cite book|last1=Hussain|first1=Intizar|title=Chaand Gahan|publisher=Sang-e-meel|isbn=978-9693506174|url=https://www.amazon.com/Chaand-Gahan-Intizar-Hussain/dp/B00KPBEVHM/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1485983655&sr=1-6|access-date=1 February 2017}}
- Ajmal-I Azam (2003){{cite book|last1=Hussain|first1=Intizar|title=Ajmal-I Azam|year=2003|publisher=Sang-e-meel|isbn=978-9693509915|url=https://www.amazon.com/Ajmal-I-Azam-Intizar-Hussain/dp/B00KPBCSQ8/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1485983655&sr=1-7|access-date=1 February 2017}}
- Surakh Tamgha (2007){{cite book|last1=Hussain|first1=Intizar|title=Surakh Tamgha|isbn=978-9694265308}}
- Qissa Kahanian (2011){{cite book|last1=Hussain|first1=Intizar|title=Qissa Kahanian|year=2013|isbn=978-9695811788}}
- Justujoo Kya Hai (autobiography) (2012)
- Apni Danist Mein (2014){{cite book|last1=Hussain|first1=Intizar|title=Apni Danist Mein|year=2014|publisher=Sanjh Publications|isbn=9789693527339|url=http://www.libertybooks.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=33314|access-date=1 February 2017}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.urdu-columns.com/search/label/Intizar%20Hussain?max-results=5 Column archive]
{{Authority control}}
{{Pride of Performance for Arts}}
{{SahityaAkademiFellowship}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hussain, Intizar}}
Category:People from Bulandshahr district
Category:Pakistani dramatists and playwrights
Category:Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz
Category:Pakistani Sunni Muslims
Category:Recipients of the Adamjee Literary Award
Category:Recipients of the Pride of Performance