Haider Qureshi

Haider Qureshi, born Qureshi Ghulam Haider Arshad, is a Pakistani poet, journalist, and essayist who writes in Urdu. He serves as the editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Jadeed Adab. His diverse body of work spans poetry, short stories, and critical research.

Early life and education

Haider Qureshi was born on 1 September 1953 in Rabwah, Punjab. He comes from a Siraiki-speaking family, while his father, Qureshi Ghulam Sarwar, originated from Khanpur in the Rahim Yar Khan district. After he completed his secondary level education in 1968, he began working at a sugar mill. He started writing verses when he was 18 years old.

In 1971, shortly after his marriage, he composed his first ghazal. He later pursued higher studies in literature and obtained a Master of Arts in Urdu in 1974. This academic foundation supported his subsequent transition into professional writing and criticism.

Career

Qureshi began his literary journey as an active member of circles in Khanpur. He is a prominent supporter of the Urdu mahiya, a genre that has brought him both praise and criticism from poetry circles. His extensive bibliography includes several collections of poetry such as Sulagtay Khawab, published in 1991, and Umre GurezaN, released in 1994. He also authored prose works like Afsaane, which was published by Mayaar Publications in Delhi in 1999.

He founded the Urdu literary magazine Jadeed Adab in 1978 in Khanpur, Pakistan. The publication initially relied on the sale of his spouse's jewelry to fund its operations. Although the magazine ceased publication for a time, it was later restarted from Germany. It is currently published from Germany, Pakistan, and India in both print and digital formats. Until its 2012 issue, Jadeed Adab remained the only regularly published Urdu literary magazine available in both print and online versions.

As a critic and researcher, Qureshi has produced numerous books on literary theory and specific figures. His works include studies on Dr. Wazir Agha and Dr. Gopichand Narang. He has also focused heavily on the mahiya genre through titles like Urdu mein Mahiya Nigari, which was released in 1999. His literary contributions have prompted extensive academic interest, resulting in multiple university theses across India and Pakistan. For example, Ahmad Abdurba Abbas completed an M.A. thesis at Azhar University in Cairo in 2015 regarding his poetry.

Personal life

Qureshi moved to Germany in 1994, where he continues to reside today. He is now a German national. He was married to Mubarika Haider, whose biography he authored in the book Hayat e Mubarika Haider. His personal experiences, including his pilgrimage to Mecca, have also informed his writing through works like Soo-e-Hejaaz.

Awards and recognition

The Dawn newspaper has offered praise for his poetic style. The publication remarked that his poetry represents a rich blend of traditional Urdu and local lingo. According to the newspaper, he is perhaps the only living poet who deliberately incorporates an old Punjabi dialect into the Urdu ghazal. His ability to use simple words while avoiding complexity has been noted as a praiseworthy trait in his work.