Mahbub Jamal Zahedi
Encyclopedia
Mahbub Jamal Zahedi was a veteran
journalist
and philatelist from Pakistan
. During a career of nearly fifty years he served as editor
of the Khaleej Times
, Dubai
, UAE as well the news editor and senior assistant editor of Dawn, Karachi, Pakistan.
in 1929. He was the son of Mizanur Rahman, the census
commissioner in former East Pakistan
. Zahedi studied English Literature
at the University of Dhaka
. He was married to Qamarunissa Begum, and had two daughters, Jamila and Selina, and a son, Dilawar. In 2003, Zahedi suffered a stroke
that rendered him paralysed
and bedridden.
and West Pakistan
in key positions, as well as going on assignments to Lagos
, Nigeria
; Sydney
and Melbourne
, Australia
and Beijing
, China
. Due to his left-wing views, he was jailed on several occasions. He was also the founder and editor of the popular Bangladeshi
periodical The Agatya
, in then East Pakistan.
. By the early 1960s he held the position of assistant editor.
He was also a Colombo Plan
journalism scholar in Australia
in 1955 and worked with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Gazette.
On 7 October 1958, he was arrested late at night near Purana Paltan, Dhaka, his then place of residence, while returning home after finishing some routine desk work. The reason for the arrest was the publication of a controversial story reading that the Constitution of Pakistan of 1956
had been abrogated by Iskandar Mirza.
Session. After his stint with the Pakistan Observer, Zahedi moved to Lahore
to work in the Pakistan Times
, which was then edited by the renowned poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz
. He also taught journalism at the University of Dhaka
from 1960 to 1962 as a part time lecturer
.
After Pakistan Times was taken over by the National Press Trust, he served for a short period with the Civil and Military Gazette
in 1963, quickly moving to Dawn
within the year at the invitation of its editor, Altaf Husain
, where he was given the position of news editor.
enquiry into allegations of genocide in Nigeria
.
He left Dawn in 1974 to move to Dubai
to help launch the Khaleej Times
, the first English newspaper in the Middle-East, where with Mahmoud Haroon
he rose to become one of its establishing editors. He held the position of Khaleej Times editor for over a decade.
in the mid-90s. He retired from journalism in 2001 following a stroke.
's Gibbons Stamp Monthly
and America
's Scott catalogue
.
Pakistani Prime Minister
Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani expressed grief over his demise, and offered condolences to his family. He also eulogized Zahedi’s valuable contribution in the field of journalism within and outside of Pakistan, which he said would be long remembered.
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
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 philatelist from Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. During a career of nearly fifty years he served as editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of the Khaleej Times
Khaleej Times
The Khaleej Times is a daily English language newspaper published in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Traditionally perceived as the second most popular newspaper in the UAE, Khaleej Times has struggled to keep up its circulation and entered 2011 with a print run of just under 40,000 copies...
, Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, UAE as well the news editor and senior assistant editor of Dawn, Karachi, Pakistan.
Early and personal life
Mahbub Jamal Zahedi was born in DhakaDhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
in 1929. He was the son of Mizanur Rahman, the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
commissioner in former East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
. Zahedi studied English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
at the University of Dhaka
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...
. He was married to Qamarunissa Begum, and had two daughters, Jamila and Selina, and a son, Dilawar. In 2003, Zahedi suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
that rendered him paralysed
Paralysed
Paralysed or Paralyzed may refer to:*the state of paralysis, the complete loss of muscle function for one or more muscle groups- In music :*"Paralyzed" *"Paralysed", a song by Gang of Four from their 1981 album Solid Gold...
and bedridden.
Career
Mahbub Jamal Zahedi had a journalistic career that spanned nearly five decades. He served in several newspapers in the then East PakistanEast Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
and West Pakistan
West Pakistan
West Pakistan , common name West-Pakistan , in the period between its establishment on 22 November 1955 to disintegration on December 16, 1971. This period, during which, Pakistan was divided, ended when East-Pakistan was disintegrated and succeeded to become which is now what is known as Bangladesh...
in key positions, as well as going on assignments to Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
; Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Due to his left-wing views, he was jailed on several occasions. He was also the founder and editor of the popular Bangladeshi
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
periodical The Agatya
The Agatya
The Agatya, also transliterated as The Agattya, was a Bangladeshi monthly periodical which began publishing in 1949. Its main focus was upon literature and culture in Bangladesh, and was considered very popular before the advent of newer publications...
, in then East Pakistan.
1950s
Zahedi started his career in the early 1950s working for the Pakistan ObserverPakistan Observer
The Pakistan Observer is an English-language daily newspaper published in Islamabad, Pakistan.-Circulation and publication:Although not in the league of Dawn or The News International – Pakistan's two other widely read English-language newspapers – it is popular among its...
. By the early 1960s he held the position of assistant editor.
He was also a Colombo Plan
Colombo Plan
The Colombo Plan is a regional organization that embodies the concept of collective inter-governmental effort to strengthen economic and social development of member countries in the Asia-Pacific Region...
journalism scholar in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1955 and worked with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Gazette.
On 7 October 1958, he was arrested late at night near Purana Paltan, Dhaka, his then place of residence, while returning home after finishing some routine desk work. The reason for the arrest was the publication of a controversial story reading that the Constitution of Pakistan of 1956
Constitution of Pakistan of 1956
The Constitution of 1956 was the fundamental law of Pakistan from March 1956 until the Revolution of October 1958.-Origins:Pakistan became independent of the United Kingdom in 1947. Under Section 8 of the Indian Independence Act, 1947, the Government of India Act, 1935 became, with certain...
had been abrogated by Iskandar Mirza.
1960s
In 1960, Zahedi covered the UN General AssemblyUnga
Unga may refer to:* Harvey Unga , American football running back* Unga, Alaska, United States* Unga , the largest land-living arthropod in the world* Unga , a traditional Scottish land measurement...
Session. After his stint with the Pakistan Observer, Zahedi moved to 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...
to work in the Pakistan Times
Pakistan Times
Pakistan Times is an independent online daily newspaper. It is published from Islamabad.-External links:**...
, which was then edited by the renowned poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Faiz Ahmad Faiz was a Pakistani intellectual, poet, and one of the most famous poets of the Urdu language. He was a member of the Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind and an avowed Marxist. In 1962, he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union...
. He also taught journalism at the University of Dhaka
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...
from 1960 to 1962 as a part time lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
.
After Pakistan Times was taken over by the National Press Trust, he served for a short period with the Civil and Military Gazette
Civil and Military Gazette
The Civil and Military Gazette was a daily English language newspaper founded in 1872 in British India. It was published from Lahore, Simla and Karachi, some times simultaneously, until its closure in 1963.-History:...
in 1963, quickly moving to Dawn
Dawn (newspaper)
Dawn is Pakistan's oldest and most widely read English-language newspaper. One of the country's two largest English-language dailies, it is the flagship of the Dawn Group of Newspapers, published by Pakistan Herald Publications, which also owns the Herald, a magazine, the evening paper The Star and...
within the year at the invitation of its editor, Altaf Husain
Altaf Husain
Altaf Husain was an eminent journalist of the South Asia. He was born on January 26, 1900 in Bangladesh. He received his early education in Calcutta and then attended Dhaka University where he graduated with an M.A...
, where he was given the position of news editor.
1970-80s
In 1970, Zahedi was elected Secretary General of Pakistan Writers' Guild. In the same year he also covered the UNUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
enquiry into allegations of genocide in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
He left Dawn in 1974 to move to Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
to help launch the Khaleej Times
Khaleej Times
The Khaleej Times is a daily English language newspaper published in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Traditionally perceived as the second most popular newspaper in the UAE, Khaleej Times has struggled to keep up its circulation and entered 2011 with a print run of just under 40,000 copies...
, the first English newspaper in the Middle-East, where with Mahmoud Haroon
Mahmoud Haroon
Mahmoud Abdullah Haroon Urdu: محمود ہارون was a veteran Pakistani politician with career spanning over five decades and chairman of the Dawn Media Group. He was the second son of Haji Sir Abdullah Haroon, the first being Yusuf Haroon, one of the leaders of Pakistan Movement...
he rose to become one of its establishing editors. He held the position of Khaleej Times editor for over a decade.
1990-2000s
In 1991, Zahedi rejoined Dawn, this time as assistant editor. He published both his books on philatelyPhilately
Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
in the mid-90s. He retired from journalism in 2001 following a stroke.
Philatelist
Zahedi is the author of two books, one on Pakistan's stamps and the other on the stamps of Gulf nations. He also published articles on the subject in some of the world's most prestigious related magazines, including BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Gibbons Stamp Monthly
Gibbons Stamp Monthly
Gibbons Stamp Monthly is a leading British philatelic magazine which can trace its roots back to 1890. GSM is published by the famous stamps and collectables firm of Stanley Gibbons and each issue includes updates to their various catalogues....
and America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
's Scott catalogue
Scott catalogue
The Scott catalogue of postage stamps, published by Scott Publishing Co, a subsidiary of Amos Press, is updated annually and lists all the stamps of the entire world which its editors recognize as issued for postal purposes. It is published in six large volumes and is also produced in...
.
Death
On 7 December 2008, Zahedi died in bed of natural causes, succumbing to a prolonged paralysis.Pakistani Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani expressed grief over his demise, and offered condolences to his family. He also eulogized Zahedi’s valuable contribution in the field of journalism within and outside of Pakistan, which he said would be long remembered.
Books
- Zahedi, Mahbub Jamal (1997) Fifty Years of Pakistan Stamps, Sanaa Publications, Karachi, Pakistan.
- Zahedi, Mahbub Jamal (1994) Gulf post: Story of the post in the Gulf, Sanaa Publications, Karachi, Pakistan