Pakistani Writer and Poet:Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi.
Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, famous Pakistani poet and author, was born in the year 1916 on 20th November. He died in 2006 on the 10th of July. He was born in Anga, Khushab in the subcontinent. ‘Nadeem’ was his pen name. Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi graduated from the University of Punjab in 1935. His family was a rather religious family. They were famous as the Peerzada, Qadri family. He played the role of the secretary for the “Progressive Writers Movement” for which he had been arrested several times during the 1950s and 1970s. He was a diamond with multi facets. His work is not only based in the Urdu language but also English. Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi worked in various aspects. He was a wonderful poet, journalist, critic, dramatist and a brilliant short story writer.
Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi has written a total of fifty books in the following genres; poetry, fiction, journalism, criticism and art. His Afsanas are equated to that of Prem Chand for their quality of rural culture depiction. The element of humanism is greatly depicted in his work. He was an outstanding poet of his time. Not only did he receive the prestigious Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1968 but also the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 1980 and Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pakistan Academy of Letters.
Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi edited the magazine “Funoon” for about half the century. By doing this, he mentored a whole new generation of writers. His other works as an editor includes; “Phool”, “Tehzeeb-i-Niswaan”, “Adab-i-Lateef”, “Savera”, “Naqoosh” and ‘Daily Imroze”. Short stories by him include “Ghar Se Ghar Tak”, “Kapaas Ka Phool” and “Bhoot”. His story “Gandasa” was the inspiration for the character of 1979 film “Maula Jatt”. One of his poems, “The Feed” has been included as part of the syllabus for the intermediate students in Pakistan.