Naeem Kausar’s collection of stories released

Eminent litterateur Naeem Kausar’s collection of short-stories has been published.

Kausar doesn’t need any introduction among Urdu readers. He has been writing incessantly since 1949 and has penned 650 stories in his six decade long literary career.

The latest collection ‘Agni Pariksha’ has sixteen afsanas including Bijuka Shakarganji, Katbe ki Faryaad and Naye Veerane, which keep the reader hooked.

The book is priced at Rs 150. Kausar, who lives in Bhopal, has dedicated the book to author and journalist Abid Suhail, who once edited monthly Kitaab from Lucknow.

Naeem Kausar was born in Begamganj in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh in 1936. His father late Kausar Chandpuri was a renowned writer. This is his fourth book.

Naeem Kausar is also editor and publisher of a fortnightly literary-socio-cultural newspaper ‘Sada-e-Urdu’ which is published from Bhopal.

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Remembering Z Rahman Naiyar and Biswin Sadi

Ziaur Rahman Naiyar, the editor of Biswin Sadi Urdu monthly, passed away recently in Delhi. He was once the owner and editor of the magazine which was visible in almost every educated Muslim household.

The magazine was earlier owned by Khushtar Girami, a noted Sikh litterateur. Later Naiyar maintained the same standards. He was also editor of the film magazine Ruby [or Roobi] that became a rival for Shama.

Biswin Sadi played an important role in cultivating the interest of readers towards high literature. Almost all the top writers and poets were published in the magazine that also had articles, political satire, cartoons, health section and short stories [afsanas].

However, a few years back he had begun withdrawing from the world. It was strange. He was shunning everything. Afterwards Biswin Sadi got closed and then he passed away silently in November 2009.

Truly, an era of Urdu journalism has ended with his demise.

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Awards for Sajida Zaidi, Zahida Zaidi and Muzaffar Hanafi

Renowned Urdu poet Muzaffar Hanafi has been selected for Pandit Brijmohan Dattatreya Award while senior poets Sajida Zaidi and Zahida Zaidi jointly get Bahadur Shah Zafar award of Delhi Urdu Academy that were announced today.

The Bahadur Shah Zafar award that comprises Rs 1.11 lakh cash and citation would be shared by the two Aligarh-based scholars and poets–Prof Sajida Zaidi and Prof Zahida Zaidi.

Hanafi gets the award of Rs 51,000. Bhagwan Das Ejaz, Ibn Kanwal, Zafar Moradabadi, Riyaz Qidwai, Zafar Agha, Ashhar Qadeer, Mohd Zakir, Yunus Jafri and Syeda Kishwar are amongst other awardees.

The names mentioned above include those selected for awards under the category of best teacher, journalist, translator, poet, fiction writer, science writing et al.

The awards for the year 2008 where finalised sometime back. Late Qamar Raees was alive then. Chief Minister Sheila Dixit okayed the list and the awards would be presented at a function soon.

By Indscribe [anindianmuslim.com]