Draft:Professor Syed Mujtaba Hussain

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Syed Mujtaba Hussain
سید مجتبی حسین
Born(1921-07-01)1 July 1921
Sanjarpur, Jaunpur District, United Provinces, British India
Died1 April 1989(1989-04-01) (aged 67)
Karachi, Pakistan
NationalityPakistani
Alma materUniversity of Allahabad (MA, 1945)
Occupation(s)Poet, Literary Critic, Short Story Writer, Academic
Known forFounding the Department of Urdu, University of Balochistan
SpouseNarjis Khatoon
ChildrenSyed Anis Baqar, Syed Iqbal Baqar, Syed Abbas Baqar, Syed Ghalib Baqar

Professor Syed Mujtaba Hussain (1 July 1921 – 1 April 1989) was a Pakistani Urdu poet, literary critic, short story writer, and academic. He is known for founding the Department of Urdu at the University of Balochistan and promoting higher-level research in Urdu.

Early life and education

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Syed Mujtaba Hussain was born on 1 July 1921 in Sanjarpur, Jaunpur District, United Provinces, British India, into a scholarly family. His grandfather, Abdullah, was a sadr qanungo قانون گو (chief revenue officer) and calligrapher. His father, Syed Baqar Hussain, served as Deputy Collector and had a keen interest in poetry. His mother, Qamar-un-Nisa Begum, appreciated classical Urdu literature. He had one elder brother and a sister.

Hussain received his early education in his native village and completed matriculation in 1935. He studied under notable scholars like Firaq Gorakhpuri (Urdu) and Dr. Zubair (Persian). He graduated in 1943 and earned an MA in Urdu from the University of Allahabad in 1945 with first-class honours. During this period, he began publishing in leading Urdu literary journals such as Nigar (Lucknow).[1]

Career

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After briefly running the Sangam publishing house with Firaq Gorakhpuri, Hussain joined the education department in Bombay. In 1948, he migrated to Pakistan and taught at schools in Karachi while contributing to literary periodicals. He co-edited the Urdu monthly Sha’oor with artist Aazar Zooby. Later, he worked as an information officer at the Chinese embassy, taught at National College (Karachi), and became Head of Urdu at Siraj-ud-Daula College in 1965.

In 1973, he established the Department of Urdu at the University of Balochistan and led it until 1989, fostering M.Phil and PhD-level research.[2]


Works

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Drama and fiction

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  • Intizar-e-Sehar (1951) – a collection of a play and short stories
  • Inkaar – play
  • Ahriman – play
  • Bin Bulaya Mehman – play

Critical works

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  • Tehzeeb-o-Tehreer (1959) – essays in literary criticism
  • Adab-o-Aagahi (1963) – critical essays
  • Neem Rukh (1978; revised 1986) – essays and reviews

In 2025, Dr. Hilal Naqvi compiled Hussain’s complete critical writings into a comprehensive 1,200-page anthology published by Atlantis Publications, Karachi. The volume includes his three published collections as well as previously uncollected essays from literary magazines, book reviews, forewords, interviews, symposium discussions, and editorial notes.[3]

Biographical study

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  • Agha Shair Qizilbash: Hayat-o-Sha‘iri – biography and study of the poet Agha Shair Qizilbash

Poetry

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Hussain also wrote poetry that appeared in Urdu literary journals. Selected works include:

  • غزل

پہلا شعر

عرصے سے ان کے شعر و سخن کا اسیر ہوں میں بچپنے سے عاشقِ نظمِ دبیر ہوں ٭٭٭

یہ جو ہے میری گفتگو اس پہ نہ جا کہ ذہن میں ایسی ہیں بے خیالیاں جن کا شمار ہی نہیں ٭٭٭

ان کے بغیر وقت کا جیسے شعور ہی نہیں رات بسر ہوئ تو کیا ، عمر بسر ہوئ تو کیا

  • نظم

بہت اداس ہے یہ شام زندگی کی طرح غموں کے سائے بڑھ آئے ہیں تیرگی کی طرح ہوائیں کھوئی ہوئی چل رہی ہیں کھیتوں میں مجھے بھی لے کے چلیں موجِ بے خودی کی طرح[4]

Family

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  • Father: Syed Baqar Hussain
  • Mother: Qamar-un-Nisa Begum
  • Spouse: Narjis Khatoon
  • Children: Syed Anis Baqar, Syed Iqbal Baqar, Syed Abbas Baqar, Syed Ghalib Baqar[5]


Death

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Hussain died in a road accident in Lahore on 1 April 1989, where he had gone to attend a conference. He was buried in Karachi.[6]


Legacy

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Hussain institutionalized Urdu higher-degree research at the University of Balochistan and influenced generations of scholars and writers.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Professor Syed Mujtaba Hussain". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  2. ^ "Department of Urdu - Quetta". University of Balochistan. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  3. ^ "Remembering Prof Mujtaba Husain". Dawn. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Remembering Prof Mujtaba Husain". Dawn. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Professor Syed Mujtaba Hussain". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  6. ^ "Remembering Prof Mujtaba Husain". Dawn. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Professor Syed Mujtaba Hussain". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
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[1]

  1. ^ "Department of Urdu". University of Balochistan. Retrieved 2025-08-21.