Naseem Hijazi
Encyclopedia
Sharīf Husain more commonly by his pseudonym Nasīm Hijāzī (Urdu
: نسیم حجازی, commonly transliterated as Naseem Hijazi, or Nasim Hijazi) (c. 1914- March 1996) was an Urdu
writer who is well-known for his novel
s dealing with Islamic history. He was born at the village of Sujaanpur near town Dhariwal, district Gurdaspur, Punjab in Pre-Partition India
in an Arain
family and migrated to Pakistan
after independence from the British Rule
and subsequent partition of India
in 1947. He lived most of his life in Pakistan
and died in March 1996.
language especially in the later 20th century. Among his popular contemporaries were Ibn-e-Safi
, Saadat Hasan Manto
, and Shafiq-ur-Rehman, all having their particular line of literature.
Naseem Hijazi is known for his potent and romantic description of history. There are only two writers prior to Hijazi who wrote history novels in Urdu: Abdul Haleem Sharar and Sadiq Sardhunwi, but Hijazi's writing is most credible in terms of historic description and accuracy. He exercised extra care to back his study of history by thorough research and to cite his sources whenever possible. Hijazi creates his powerful expression by blending this study of history with fairytale romanticism. The story usually revolves around characters who were related to, and shown present at the actual historical event that he wishes to focus on.
in terms of reviving romanticism of the past while describing long gone history. While Walter Scott
is much criticized for his controversial work and lack of historical references, Naseem Hijazi can be credited for his relatively thorough knowledge of history that is surrounded with fictitious characters to create fiction. Thus, his works are considered historical fiction, are marketed as works of fiction, and do not hold any historical bearing except for being based on a few historical facts that have been intensely romanticized.
. His novels Muhammad Bin Qasim
, Aakhri Ma'raka, Qaisar-o Kisra and Qafla-i Hijaz describe the era of Islam's rise to political, militaristic, economic, and educational power. While Yusuf Bin Tashfain, Shaheen
http://www.iqbalcyberlibrary.net/ICBN/969-416-205-018/, Kaleesa aur Aag, and Andheri Raat ke Musafir describe the period of Spanish
Reconquista
. In one of these novels (Kaleesa Aur Aag) he has painfully, yet truthfully, depicted the infamous Inquisition
that began by targeting Jews
and ended with the conversion or expulsion of the Moriscos
or Muslims.
In Akhri Chataan, he describes the Central Asia
n conquests of Genghis Khan
and his destruction of the Khwarizm Sultanate
. The novel shows the brutal conquests of the Mongols, the military geniuses of Genghis Khan
, the undying will power of Sultan Jalal ud-Din Khwarizm Shah, and the unworthy condition of the Abbassid Caliphate
of Baghdad
.
He wrote two sequential novels on British conquest of India
, and described the shortcomings of India
n nations after the collapse of Mughal Empire
. The story, Mu'azzam Ali, starts a little before the Battle of Plassey
. The lead character, Muazzam Ali joins the fight against the British
with the army of Siraj-ud-Daula. The story goes around as the character moves from one place in India
to another in search of the lost glory and freedom. He takes part in the third battle of Panipat
and finally settles in Srirangapattana that was growing in power under the towering personality of Haider Ali
. The book ends almost around the death of Haider Ali
. The second book, Aur Talwar Toot Gayee (And the Sword is Broken) is more about Haider's son Sultan Tipu
where the same character is finding his dreams being fulfilled in Tipu's valiant endeavors against the British East India Company
. The book culminates in the sad and untimely martyrdom of Sultan Tipu
.
He also wrote a novel on the Independence of Pakistan named Khaak aur Khoon
. Many believed that the novel was his own story.
".
. He has been one of the key sources of Islamic ideologies in Pakistan
and helped build valour during the Soviet-Afghan War
. Many Pakistan
i educated youngsters throughout 1950s till today are believed to have been emotionally and ideologically inspired by his writings. He enjoys a very large reader base even after his death.
(PTV) as independent drama serials. Akhri Chataan is considered to be the greatest historic attempt ever made by PTV. The theme songs composed for the serial and the character play of Sultan Jalal ud-Din by Salim Nasir
earned high acclaim.
The Novel Khaak aur Khoon
was dramatized into a movie with the same name and is one of few block buster movies that Lollywood
or Lahore
film industry has ever produced.
It is argued that many of his novels, if provided with the production facilities of Hollywood, will produce movies equal in grandeur to Ben-Hur
, Braveheart
and The Patriot
. But due to the lack of required attention, a great work of literary art is untouched by the filming icons.
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
: نسیم حجازی, commonly transliterated as Naseem Hijazi, or Nasim Hijazi) (c. 1914- March 1996) was an Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
writer who is well-known for his novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s dealing with Islamic history. He was born at the village of Sujaanpur near town Dhariwal, district Gurdaspur, Punjab in Pre-Partition India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
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 :...
family and migrated to 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...
after independence from the British Rule
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
and subsequent partition of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1947. He lived most of his life in 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...
and died in March 1996.
The writer
As a novel writer, Naseem Hijazi is regarded as one of the finest writers of UrduUrdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
language especially in the later 20th century. Among his popular contemporaries were Ibn-e-Safi
Ibn-e-Safi
Ibn-e-Safi was the pen name of Asrar Ahmad , a best-selling and prolific fiction writer, novelist and poet of Urdu. The word Ibn-e-Safi is an Arabian expression which literally means Son of Safi, where the word Safi means chaste or righteous...
, Saadat Hasan Manto
Saadat Hasan Manto
Saadat Hassan Manto was a short story writer of the Urdu language. He is best known for his short stories, 'Bu' , 'Khol Do' , 'Thanda Gosht' , and his magnum opus, 'Toba Tek Singh'....
, and Shafiq-ur-Rehman, all having their particular line of literature.
Naseem Hijazi is known for his potent and romantic description of history. There are only two writers prior to Hijazi who wrote history novels in Urdu: Abdul Haleem Sharar and Sadiq Sardhunwi, but Hijazi's writing is most credible in terms of historic description and accuracy. He exercised extra care to back his study of history by thorough research and to cite his sources whenever possible. Hijazi creates his powerful expression by blending this study of history with fairytale romanticism. The story usually revolves around characters who were related to, and shown present at the actual historical event that he wishes to focus on.
Comparison
It would be worthwhile to compare Naseem Hijazi to Walter ScottWalter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
in terms of reviving romanticism of the past while describing long gone history. While Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
is much criticized for his controversial work and lack of historical references, Naseem Hijazi can be credited for his relatively thorough knowledge of history that is surrounded with fictitious characters to create fiction. Thus, his works are considered historical fiction, are marketed as works of fiction, and do not hold any historical bearing except for being based on a few historical facts that have been intensely romanticized.
Work
Naseem Hijazi bases most of his work in Islamic history. In dealing with this history, he shows both the rise and fall of the Islamic EmpireCaliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
. His novels Muhammad Bin Qasim
Muhammad bin Qasim
Muhammad bin Qasim Al-Thaqafi was a Umayyad general who, at the age of 17, began the conquest of the Sindh and Punjab regions along the Indus River for the Umayyad Caliphate. He was born in the city of Taif...
, Aakhri Ma'raka, Qaisar-o Kisra and Qafla-i Hijaz describe the era of Islam's rise to political, militaristic, economic, and educational power. While Yusuf Bin Tashfain, Shaheen
Shaheen (novel)
Shaheen is a historical novel written in Urdu by an Islamic historian and novelist Naseem Hijazi.It details the situation of the Muslims in Granada in 1492 when they were about to be expelled from Spain. The novel also very beautifully depicts the reasons of the destruction of Muslim's Empire in...
http://www.iqbalcyberlibrary.net/ICBN/969-416-205-018/, Kaleesa aur Aag, and Andheri Raat ke Musafir describe the period of Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
. In one of these novels (Kaleesa Aur Aag) he has painfully, yet truthfully, depicted the infamous Inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
that began by targeting Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
and ended with the conversion or expulsion of the Moriscos
Expulsion of the Moriscos
On April 9, 1609, King Philip III of Spain decreed the Expulsion of the Moriscos . The Moriscos were the descendants of the Muslim population that converted to Christianity under threat of exile from Ferdinand and Isabella in 1502...
or Muslims.
In Akhri Chataan, he describes the Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
n conquests of Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
and his destruction of the Khwarizm Sultanate
Khwarezmian Empire
The Khwarazmian dynasty or Khwarezmian dynasty, also known as Khwarezmids, dynasty of Khwarazm Shahs or Khwarezm-Shah dynasty was a Persianate Sunni Muslim dynasty of Turkic mamluk origin.They ruled Greater Iran in the High Middle Ages, in the period of about 1077 to 1231, first as vassals of...
. The novel shows the brutal conquests of the Mongols, the military geniuses of Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
, the undying will power of Sultan Jalal ud-Din Khwarizm Shah, and the unworthy condition of the Abbassid Caliphate
Abbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or, more simply, the Abbasids , was the third of the Islamic caliphates. It was ruled by the Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphate from all but the al-Andalus region....
of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
.
He wrote two sequential novels on British conquest of India
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, and described the shortcomings of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n nations after the collapse of Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
. The story, Mu'azzam Ali, starts a little before the Battle of Plassey
Battle of Plassey
The Battle of Plassey , 23 June 1757, was a decisive British East India Company victory over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies, establishing Company rule in South Asia which expanded over much of the Indies for the next hundred years...
. The lead character, Muazzam Ali joins the fight against the British
United 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...
with the army of Siraj-ud-Daula. The story goes around as the character moves from one place in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to another in search of the lost glory and freedom. He takes part in the third battle of Panipat
Third battle of Panipat
The Third Battle of Panipat took place on 14 January 1761, at Panipat , about 60 miles north of Delhi between a northern expeditionary force of the Maratha Confederacy and a coalition of the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Abdali with 2 Indian Muslim allies—the Rohilla Afghans of the Doab, and the...
and finally settles in Srirangapattana that was growing in power under the towering personality of Haider Ali
Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers...
. The book ends almost around the death of Haider Ali
Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers...
. The second book, Aur Talwar Toot Gayee (And the Sword is Broken) is more about Haider's son Sultan Tipu
Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...
where the same character is finding his dreams being fulfilled in Tipu's valiant endeavors against the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. The book culminates in the sad and untimely martyrdom of Sultan Tipu
Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...
.
He also wrote a novel on the Independence of Pakistan named Khaak aur Khoon
Khaak aur Khoon
Khak aur Khoon is a historical novel by Nasīm Ḥijāzī that describes the sacrifices of Muslims of the Sub-continent during the time of partition in 1947....
. Many believed that the novel was his own story.
Theme of the work
This writer seems to have been inspired a lot by Allama Muhammad Iqbal's poetry. He tries, not very unlike Iqbal, to remind his readers of the lost glory of the Muslims and in a way inspire them to work with commitment to achieve lost glory in all walks of life. He portrays Islamic tolerance, the will to fight for the protection of the weak, and the love for arts and knowledge. His readers believe that he has best illustrated Allama Muhammad Iqbal's Islamic philosophical ideal of Khudi (Self) in Urdu prose, where in a way he has justifiably imparted the message that is presented in Iqbal's "The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in IslamThe Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam
The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam is a compilation of lectures delivered by Muhammad Iqbal on Islamic philosophy; it was published in 1930. These lectures were delivered by Iqbal in Madras, Hyderabad, and Aligarh...
".
Impact and influence
Naseem Hijazi has immensely influenced his readers both in and out of PakistanPakistan
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...
. He has been one of the key sources of Islamic ideologies in 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...
and helped build valour during the Soviet-Afghan War
Soviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
. Many 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...
i educated youngsters throughout 1950s till today are believed to have been emotionally and ideologically inspired by his writings. He enjoys a very large reader base even after his death.
Naseem Hijazi on screen
Three of Naseem Hijazi's novels have been dramatized. Akhri Chataan and Shaheen were dramatized in 1980s and were televised on Pakistan Television CorporationPakistan Television Corporation
The Pakistan Television Corporation is Pakistan's national television broadcaster. The first live transmission of PTV began on November 26, 1964, in Lahore...
(PTV) as independent drama serials. Akhri Chataan is considered to be the greatest historic attempt ever made by PTV. The theme songs composed for the serial and the character play of Sultan Jalal ud-Din by Salim Nasir
Salim Nasir
Saleem Nasir was a Pakistani film and TV actor. He was born in Nagpur, India, with his experience in film and television acting, he developed mastery in artistic skills and built a career on based on his versatile...
earned high acclaim.
The Novel Khaak aur Khoon
Khaak aur Khoon
Khak aur Khoon is a historical novel by Nasīm Ḥijāzī that describes the sacrifices of Muslims of the Sub-continent during the time of partition in 1947....
was dramatized into a movie with the same name and is one of few block buster movies that Lollywood
Lollywood
Lollywood refers to the Pakistani film industry based in the city of Lahore. The word "Lollywood" was first coined in the summer of 1989 in the now defunct magazine "Glamour" published from Karachi by a gossip columnist Saleem Nasir. The film industry in Lahore started in 1929 with the opening of...
or 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...
film industry has ever produced.
It is argued that many of his novels, if provided with the production facilities of Hollywood, will produce movies equal in grandeur to Ben-Hur
Ben-Hur (1959 film)
Ben-Hur is a 1959 American epic film directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston in the title role, the third film adaptation of Lew Wallace's 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. The screenplay was written by Karl Tunberg, Gore Vidal, and Christopher Fry. The score was composed by...
, Braveheart
Braveheart
Braveheart is a 1995 epic historical drama war film directed by and starring Mel Gibson. The film was written for the screen and then novelized by Randall Wallace...
and The Patriot
The Patriot (2000 film)
The Patriot is a 2000 historical war film directed by Roland Emmerich, written by Robert Rodat, and starring Mel Gibson, Chris Cooper, and Heath Ledger. It was produced by the Mutual Film Company and Centropolis Entertainment and was distributed by Columbia Pictures...
. But due to the lack of required attention, a great work of literary art is untouched by the filming icons.
Novels/books by Naseem Hijazi
- Khaak aur KhoonKhaak aur KhoonKhak aur Khoon is a historical novel by Nasīm Ḥijāzī that describes the sacrifices of Muslims of the Sub-continent during the time of partition in 1947....
(Dirt and Blood) - Yousuf bin TashfinYusuf ibn TashfinYusef ibn Tashfin also, Tashafin, or Teshufin; or Yusuf; was a king of the Almoravid empire, he founded the city of Marrakech and led the Muslim forces in the Battle of Zallaqa....
- Akhari Chattan (Volume-1) Online (The Last Rock)
- Akhari Chattan (Volume-2) Online (The Last Rock)
- Aakhari Marka (The Last Battle) (fiction)
- Andheri Raat Ke Musafir (Travelers of the Dark Night)
- Aur Talwar Toot Gai (Volume-1) (And the Sword was Broken)
- Aur Talwar Toot Gai (Volume-2) (And the Sword was Broken)
- Daastaan-e-Mujahid (Tale of the Fighter)
- Gumshuda Qaafley (The Lost Caravans)
- Insaan Aur Devta (The Human and the Deity
- Kaleesa Aur Aag (Church and Fire)
- Muhammad Bin QasimMuhammad bin QasimMuhammad bin Qasim Al-Thaqafi was a Umayyad general who, at the age of 17, began the conquest of the Sindh and Punjab regions along the Indus River for the Umayyad Caliphate. He was born in the city of Taif...
- Pakistan Se Diyare Haram Tak (travelogue)
- Pardesi Darakht (The Alien Tree) (fiction)
- Pouras Ke Hathi (Poras's Elephants) (comedy)
- Qafla-e-Hijaz (The Caravan of Hijaz)
- Qaisar-o-Kisra (Caesar and Kisra)
- Saqafat Ki Talaash (In Search of Culture) (comedy)
- Shaheen(Volume-1) (The Eagle)
- Shaheen(Volume-2) (The Eagle)
- So Saal Baad (After 100 Years) (comedy)
- Sufaid Jazeera (The White Island) (comedy)
External links
- A phd Thesis Written on Naseem Hijazi's Novel "THE CRITICAL AND EXPLORATIVE ANALYSIS OF NASIM HIJAZI'S HISTORICAL NOVEL WRITING" Read Online http://eprints.hec.gov.pk/1846/1/1773.htm