Hijab Imtiaz Ali

Hijab Imtiaz Ali was a Pakistani writer, editor and diarist who lived from 1908 to 1999. She remains a prominent figure in Urdu literature as a pioneer of romanticism.

Early life and education

She was born in 1908 in Madras, British India. Her family belonged to the aristocracy of the princely state of Hyderabad Deccan. Her mother, Abbasi Begum, worked as a writer for Tehzeeb-e-Niswan. Hijab began her literary journey at a very young age.

She published her first short story when she was 9 years old. This work appeared in Tehzeeb-e-Niswan and received positive feedback from readers. She is recognized as the first woman in the Indian subcontinent to publish short stories that achieved recognition.

Career

Her writing career lasted for more than 60 years. She focused on romantic stories involving women, nature and psychology. Her prose utilized unique sentence constructions and specific imagery of life. Hijab often used recurring characters across different scenarios—notable figures include Dr Gaar, Sir Harley, Dadi Zubeida and Habshan Zonash.

She served as an editor for the magazines Tehzeeb-e-Nizwaan and Phool. At age 12, she wrote her first novel titled Meri Natamam Mohabbat. This work is regarded as one of the finest love stories in Urdu literature. Other major publications include Lail-o-Nehar, Sanober Kay Saey Mein and Tasveer-e-Butaa’n.

Ali also worked as a translator. She translated the famous novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott into Urdu. Her interest in Sigmund Freud led her to study the subconscious mind in detail. This research provided the foundation for her novel Andhera Khwab.

She was an avid diarist who published entries in magazines and books. During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, she wrote her diary by candlelight during blackouts. This experience inspired her novel Mombatti ke Samne. Her final novel was titled Pagal Khana.

Beyond literature, she pursued a passion for aviation. She trained at the Lahore Flying Club and participated in various club competitions. Hijab obtained her official pilot license in 1936. According to a 1939 report by The International Women’s News, she was the first Muslim woman in the British Empire to earn an ‘A’ license as an air pilot.

While Zuleykha Seyidmammadova from Soviet Azerbaijan qualified as a pilot in 1934, Hijab remains a significant historical figure. Although Sarla Thakral is often claimed as the first Indian pilot, Hijab obtained her license around the same time and was the first to do so.

Personal life

In the 1930s, she married Imtiaz Ali Taj. He was a well-known journalist and writer for radio channels and films. Following their marriage, she moved to Lahore with him. They had one daughter named Yasmeen Tahir. Yasmeen became a notable voice for Radio Pakistan.

Her descendants continued to find success in the public eye. Her grandsons, Faran Tahir and Ali Tahir, are well-known actors. Hijab died at her home in Model Town, Lahore on 19 March 1999.

Awards and recognition

She is recognized as a pioneer of romanticism in Urdu literature. Her novel Pagal Khana earned her an award. She remains a celebrated name for her contributions to the Urdu language.