Mukhtar Masood (15 December 1926 – 15 April 2017) was a renowned Pakistani Urdu writer and bureaucrat.
Early life and career edit
Born in Sialkot, Punjab, British India on 15 December 1926,[1] to Shaikh Ataullah (1896 - 1968), a well-known literary scholar and professor of economics at the Aligarh Muslim University originally from Jalalpur Jattan in the Gujrat district of Punjab, Masood was a graduate of the Aligarh Muslim University as well in 1948.[2] He migrated to Pakistan in 1948 after the partition.[2] In 1949, he passed Central Superior Services (CSS) examination and went on to serve at different important positions such as commissioner and federal secretary.[3][4][2]
During his career, he served as chairman of the Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), chairman of the Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan and secretary-general of the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD).[3][2]
He wrote four books – Awaz-e-Dost, Safer Naseeb, Harf-e-Shouq, Loh-e-Ayyam – all of which are highly regarded in literary circles of Pakistan for their elegant prose and immaculate style.[3] His last book was Harf-i-shouq that was published in July 2017.[1]
Playwright Asghar Nadeem Syed reportedly said, "Mukhtar Masood was a great writer with a style similar to Qudratullah Shahab. His writings incorporated a spiritual colour, but the best thing about his work was the information it contained. He was fond of study which is why whatever he wrote was very comprehensive".[3]
He played an important role in the construction of Minar-e-Pakistan historic monument in Lahore, Pakistan. He was serving as Lahore's deputy commissioner at that time and took keen interest in the execution of the construction project.[2] This historic national monument was constructed in the 1960s during the Ayub Khan's regime. His contribution in construction of Mangla and Tarbela Dams of Pakistan is also vital. He established a state-of-the-art school and college at Chowki Village of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan and also donated all his personal books and library to the said school. He was a real patriot and a true Pakistani.
Awards and recognition edit
- To honor his contributions to Pakistani literature, he was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award by the President of Pakistan in 2004.[5][2][3][4]
- 'Aalmi Frogh-e-Urdu Adab' (World Promotion of Urdu Literature) Award in 2010.[6]
Death edit
He died in Lahore, Pakistan on 15 April 2017. Among the survivors are two sons and a daughter.[1][4]
Bibliography edit
Books by him edit
- Eye witnesses of history; a collection of letters addressed to Quaid-i-Azam, 1968. Edited by Mukhtar Masood.
- Āvāz-i dost, 1973. An account of the Pakistan Movement.[4][2]
- Safar naṣīb, 1981. Reminiscences of a Pakistani civil service officer; include travel impressions of different parts of the world.[4][2]
- Lauḥ-i ayyām, 1996. On the Islamic revolution of Iran, 1979, written by a civil servant who had been there for four years during the revolution.[4][2]
- Ḥarf-i shauq, 2018. Autobiographical reminiscences of an Urdu author and ex-civil servant of Pakistan, with special reference to his college life at Aligarh Muslim University, include one chapter on Sir Sayyid Aḥmad K̲h̲ān̲ (1817–1898).
Books about him edit
- Muk̲h̲tār Masʻūd kā uslūb, 2013, by Alt̤āf Yūsufzaʼī. Critical study of his works.
References edit
- ^ a b c Parekh, Rauf (20 November 2017). "LITERARY NOTES: Musings on history, culture and literature: Mukhtar Masood's swansong". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Rauf Parekh (18 April 2017), "Literary Notes: Mukhtar Masood: a stylish and patriotic prose writer of Urdu" Dawn (newspaper), Retrieved 26 October 2022
- ^ a b c d e "Renowned bureaucrat, writer Mukhtar Masood dead at 88". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 15 April 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Writer Mukhtar Masood passes away". Dawn (newspaper). 16 April 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ Awards for civilians announced Dawn (newspaper), Published 14 August 2003, Retrieved 26 October 2022
- ^ "Urdu forum to hold awards ceremony on June3". Gulf-Times.com website. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2022.