Muhammad Hanif Ramay was an internationally renowned intellectual, journalist

Journalist

A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...

 and former Governor

Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)

The Governor of Punjab is the appointed head of state of the provincial government in Punjab, Pakistan. The governor is designated by the Prime Minister and is normally regarded a ceremonial post...

 and Chief Minister of Punjab

Chief Minister of Punjab (Pakistan)

The Chief Minister of Punjab is elected by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab to serve as the head of the provincial government in Punjab, Pakistan. The current Chief Minister is Shahbaz Sharif, who became the Chief Minister of Punjab as being restored after Governor's rule starting from...

, and he was among the founding fathers of the Pakistan Peoples Party

Pakistan Peoples Party

The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...

 (PPP).He was also speaker of Punjab Assembly from October 1993 to November 1996.

Early life and education

Born near Sheikhupura

Sheikhupura

Sheikhupura or Shekhupur , formerly Kot Dayal Das or Singhpuria or Virkgarh , is an industrial city in the province of Punjab slightly northwest to Lahore in Pakistan. It is known for its historical places, and is commonly known locally as Qila Shaikhupura, because of the fort in the city,...

 in 1930, in an Arain

Arain

The Arain , are a Muslim agricultural caste settled mainly in the Punjab, with significant numbers also in Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming, traditionally being landlords or zamindars.- Origin :...

 agriculturist family, Muhammad Hanif Ramay earned a good name in politics and great respect in the profession of journalism. After completing B.A. honors degree from Government College Lahore (most prestigious educational institute in Lahore), later he did his Masters

Master's degree

A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...

 in Economics

Economics

Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...

 and Philosophy

Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...

 as well from Punjab University

University of the Punjab

University of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...

.

Hanif had an avid interest in politics from his college years in Lahore; he held various leadership positions in the local political scene of Lahore

Lahore

Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...

. Hanif is often called as one of the pioneers of Socialist Islam in Pakistan. Hanif led the way for many progressive liberal politicians in Pakistan, and he was amongst the pioneers of the original Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaeed Bhutto wing).

Political career

Hanif Ramay was elected member provincial assembly

Provincial Assembly of the Punjab

The Provincial Assembly of the Punjab is a unicameral legislature of elected representatives of the province of Punjab, which is located in Lahore in eastern Pakistan...

 on PPP ticket in 1970. He was Punjab finance minister from 1972–73, Punjab governor from February 1973 to March 1974 and was appointed chief minister of Punjab from March 15, 1974 to July 15, 1975. Later on, he developed differences with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...

 and thus was forced to resign form his position, and later imprisoned as a result of a malicious prosecution. During the same time frame he founded the left-wing newspaper Masawaat.

Personal life

In an interview he disclosed that he remained class-fellow of renowned Bollywood

Bollywood

Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...

 actor Jeetendra

Jeetendra

Jeetendra born Ravi Kapoor is an Indian actor and television producer...

.

Exile to United States

In a self imposed exile to evade prosecution from the military dictatorship, Hanif left for the U.S., in the late 1970s. Hanif Ramay was associated with University of California at Berkely in Northern California from 1980 to 1983. After the demise of his first wife (Ms. Shaheen), he married an American woman, then Joyce Murad, a widow of his close friend, and lived with her in Fort Myers, Florida

Fort Myers, Florida

Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....

(USA) for several years. Hanif was the author of many best selling Urdu and English books in Pakistan and abroad, the most famous book he ever wrote was titled Punjab ka Muqadma (Punjab's Case).

Intellectual career

Hanif is also world famous for his Picasso-inspired art and thus he became the pioneer for Islamic Calligraphy paintings, his art was exhibited all around the world and was praised in various art journals and critiques. Often Sadequain is given credit for the Calligrapic Art in Pakistan, but in fact Hanif was the true pioneer of this technique, which later inspired many painters across the world.

Return to Politics

After deciding to re-enter politics in Pakistan in early 1990s, he contested in the general election from Lahore on PPP ticket, and thus after winning he was selected as the Speaker of Punjab Assembly in 1993, and he remained in that position until 1996.

Death

Hanif died on January 1, 2006 in Lahore after a prolonged illness resulting out of an accidental fall he took at his home. Hanif's death was widely condoled around the world. Hanif Ramay left behind his widow Joyce Ramay and a son, Ibrahim, and a daughter Maryam, and several grand children. Hanif was a great family man and was particularly very close to his sisters, Begum Khursheed and Begum Rasheeda.