Syed Qasim Mahmood

Syed Qasim Mahmood was a prominent Pakistani intellectual who worked as an Urdu short story writer, novelist, and encyclopedist. He managed various publishing companies to release 211 books throughout his career. His writings covered diverse topics including literature, science, politics and sociology.

Early life and education

Syed Qasim Ali Shah was born on 17 November 1928 in Kharkhoda, which is a town located in the Sonipat district of British India. His father, Syed Hashim Ali Shah, served as a landlord. In 1955, Mahmood entered the master's program at the University Oriental College within the Urdu Department. He did not complete this degree.

Career

Mahmood began his professional journey in 1948 when he worked as a manager for the literary monthly Alamgir. He moved to the weekly Khiam in 1949. By January 1950, he held a clerical position at Punjab University. During this period, he organized the Urdu League organization to promote Urdu as the national language of Pakistan.

While working at the university, he wrote articles for Mashiat and corresponded with the scholar Maulvi Abdul Haq. In December 1950, he served as an assistant to Muhammad Shafi, the editor-in-chief of the Urdu translation of the Encyclopedia of Islam. He also acted as the editor for the newspaper Khwateen. From 1951 to 1960, he worked for the company known as Publishers United.

In October 1951, the Punjab government established the Official Language Committee to translate English terms into Urdu. Although his education level was below the standard requirements, Governor Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar granted him permission to join the committee on 18 August 1951. Mahmood subsequently resigned from the university to focus on this role. He also joined literary groups such as Halqa-e Arbab-e Zauq and Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin.

Mahmood translated his first novel, Une vie, into Urdu as Aik Dil in 1952. He requested a foreword from Saadat Hasan Manto, but the writer declined the request. After leaving the committee, he became the joint secretary of Halqa-e Arbab-e Zauq, a position he held until 1972. In 1956, his professional reach expanded as he worked for Maktaba Jadid, Gosha e adab and Railway Book Stall. He contributed to various publications including Humayun, Ujala, Qandeel, Imroz and Nawa-i-Waqt.

His academic contributions included five Urdu textbooks on political science and economics. These works were Asan Mashiat, Mashiat kay Jadid Nazeray, Mubadi Mashiat and Usool Siasiat. He also authored Cleopatra Kee Kahani and Sikander Azam Kee Kahani. In 1957, he served as the assistant editor for Lailo-Nihar, where he edited the "So Sala Jang Azadi 1857" issue.

In 1958, Mahmood published Jansi Rasomat, a book describing sexual customs from various regions such as Greece and China. The Government of Punjab banned the text for being obscene, but he was eventually acquitted in court after Urdu writers testified to its scholarly nature. Later that year, he became the assistant editor of the journal Sahifa. He also founded Shish Mahal Kitab Ghar and launched the monthly magazine Ilm.

His literary output continued with the novella Pundit Jalaluddin Nehru in 1959 and the short story anthology Dewar Pather Kee in 1960. In 1963, his only novel, Chalay Din Bahar Kay, was released. He became the editor-in-chief of Siara Digest in 1964. During 1965, he joined Ferozsons to edit articles for the Urdu Encyclopedia, specifically covering the alphabet from seen to yay.

In 1966, he served as the editor for Adab-e-Latif and published his second anthology, Qasim Kee Mendi. He was also appointed to the board of editors for the Urdu Jamia Encyclopedia, which was based on the Columbia Encyclopedia. This project included collaboration with Justice S. A. Rahman and Maulana Ghulam Rasool Mehr. Finally, he accepted a position as the head of the National Book Council's Lahore office after being encouraged by Ibn-e-Insha. In this role, he launched the magazine Kitab and organized large-scale book fairs in various parks.

Personal life

Following his tenure at Lailo-Nihar, Mahmood sought a spiritual path. He spent one year living in a cell at the Data Darbar, which is the shrine of the Sufi saint Ali al-Hujwiri.