Progressive Writers' Movement
Encyclopedia
The Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind or Progressive Writers' Movement ' onMouseout='HidePop("8632")' href="/topics/Hindi">Hindi
: अखिल भारतीय प्रगतिशील लेखक संघ) was a progressive
literary movement in the pre-partition British India, consisting of a few different writers groups around the world.
The groups were anti-imperialistic and left-oriented, and sought to inspire people through their writings advocating equality and attacking social injustice and backwardness.
According to The Dawn
, "Progressive Writers Movement in Urdu literature
was the strongest movement after Sir Syed's education movement. The progressives contributed to Urdu literature some of the finest pieces of fiction and poetry. Undoubtedly, they were the trend-setters for the coming generation of writers, and their role cannot be denigrated or denied."
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
: अखिल भारतीय प्रगतिशील लेखक संघ) was a progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
literary movement in the pre-partition British India, consisting of a few different writers groups around the world.
The groups were anti-imperialistic and left-oriented, and sought to inspire people through their writings advocating equality and attacking social injustice and backwardness.
According to The 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...
, "Progressive Writers Movement in Urdu literature
Urdu literature
Urdu literature has a long and colorful history that is inextricably tied to the development of that very language, Urdu, in which it is written...
was the strongest movement after Sir Syed's education movement. The progressives contributed to Urdu literature some of the finest pieces of fiction and poetry. Undoubtedly, they were the trend-setters for the coming generation of writers, and their role cannot be denigrated or denied."
- The Indian Progressive Writers' Movement and Association first began after the publication of Angare (Burning Coals), a collection of short stories by Ahmed Ali, Sajjad Zaheer, Rashid Jehan and Mahmuduz Zafar in 1932 and its postcription by the British U. P. Government in 1933. A League of Progressive Authors, was first announced by Ahmed Ali and Mamuduz Zafar in The LeaderThe Leader (Allahabad newspaper)The Leader was one of the most influential English-language newspapers in India during British Raj. Founded by Madan Mohan Malviya, the paper was published in Allahabad. Under C. Y. Chintamani, a dynamic editor from 1909 to 1934, it acquired a large readership in North India...
of Allahabad dated April 5, 1933, which later expanded and became the Indian Progressive Writers' Association. - The Indian Progressive Writers' Association was set up in London in 1935.
- The Progressive Writers' Association was set up in KolkataKolkataKolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
in July 1936. - The All India Writers' Association was set up in LucknowLucknowLucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
on 10 April 1936 under the leadership of Syed Sajjad Zahir and Ahmed AliAhmed AliAhmed Ali was an Indian novelist, poet, critic, translator, diplomat and scholar, who was responsible for writing Twilight in Delhi. Born in Delhi, India, he was involved in progressive literary movements as a young man...
. - The All Pakistan Progressive Writers Association was set up in Pakistan in December 1947.
Writers
Among the prominent members of the movement have been:- Sajjad ZaheerSajjad ZaheerSyed Sajjad Zaheer was a renowned Urdu writer, Marxist thinker and revolutionary.- Life :...
- Professor Ahmed Ali
- Mahmuduzzafar
- Rashid JahanRashid JahanRashid Jahan was an Indian writer who inaugurated a new era of Urdu literature written by women. She wrote short-stories and plays and is perhaps best remembered for her involvement with the explosive Angarey , a collection of groundbreaking and unconventional short stories written by young...
- Sadat Hassan Manto
- Sibt-e-Hassan
- Ali Jawad ZaidiAli Jawad ZaidiSyed Ali Jawad Zaidi is a much feted Urdu poet, scholar and author of over 80 books in many languages.He was also a freedom fighter, lawyer & later bureaucrat, however he is primarily known as one of the most prominent figures in Urdu Literature.Internationally renowned as a poet-scholar-critic...
- Prof. Zoe Ansari
- Dr M. D. Taseer
- Faiz Ahmed FaizFaiz Ahmed FaizFaiz 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...
- Vijaydan DethaVijaydan DethaVijaydan Detha also known as Bijji is a noted writer from Rajasthan and a recipient of Padma Shri award. He is also recipient of several other awards such as Sahitya Akademi Award and Sahitya Chudamani Award....
- Khagendra ThakurKhagendra ThakurKhagendra Thakur is a reputed Hindi writer and literary critic from Jharkhand and long time General Secretary of Progressive Writers Association. He stepped into the field of Hindi literature over four decades ago as a poet and gradually switched over to prose and writing...
- Bhisham SahniBhisham SahniBhisham Sahni भीष्म साहनी was a Hindi writer, playwright, and actor, most famous for his novel and television screenplay Tamas , a powerful and passionate account of the Partition of India...
- Dr Nusrat Jehan
- Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi
- Ahmed FarazAhmed FarazAhmad Faraz born Syed Ahmad Shah on January 14, 1931, in Kohat, was a Pakistani Urdu poet. He was considered one of the greatest modern Urdu poets of the last century. Faraz is his pseudonym 'takhalus'...
- Habib JalibHabib JalibHabib Jalib was a Pakistani revolutionary poet. A left-wing activist and politician, he was a staunch democrat who opposed martial law, authoritarianism and state oppression.-Early life:...
- Gul Khan Nasir
- Kaifi AzmiKaifi AzmiKaifi Azmi was an Indian Urdu poet. He is considered to be one the greatest Urdu poets of 20th century. Together with Pirzada Qasim, Jon Eliya and many others he participated in many memorable mushairas of 20th century.-Early life:...
- Krishan ChanderKrishan ChanderKrishan Chander was an Urdu and Hindi Afsaana Nigaar, or short story writer. He wrote mainly in Urdu, but was well-versed in Hindi and English....
- Ismat ChughtaiIsmat ChughtaiIsmat Chughtai 1 was an eminent Urdu writer, known for her indomitable spirit and a fierce feminist ideology. She was considered the grand dame of Urdu fiction, as one of the four pillars of modern Urdu short story, the other three being Saadat Hasan Manto, Krishan Chander, and Rajinder Singh Bedi...
- Rajinder Singh BediRajinder Singh BediRajinder Singh Bedi was an eminent progressive Urdu writer, playwright and a Hindi film director, screenwriter and noted dialogue writer....
- Habib TanvirHabib TanvirHabib Tanvir was one of the most popular Indian Urdu, Hindi playwrights, a theatre director, poet and actor. He is the writer of plays such as, Agra Bazar and Charandas Chor...
- Prem Nath DarPrem Nath DarPrem Nath Dar an Urdu language short story writer from the Kashmir Valley. His short stories are generally recognised as progressive writings of mid twentieth century [Prem Nath Dar (25 July 1914 – 6 September 1976) an Urdu language short story writer from the Kashmir Valley. His short stories are...
- Ali Sardar JafriAli Sardar JafriAli Sardar Jafri was an Urdu writer, poet, critic and film lyricist from India.-Early life and education:Ali Sardar Jafri was born in an aristocratic family in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, where he spent his formative years....
- Josh MalihabadiJosh MalihabadiJosh Malihabadi was a noted Urdu poet born in British India, who was an Indian citizen until 1958, when he emigrated to Pakistan and became a Pakistani citizen...
- Jan Nisar AkhtarJan Nisar AkhtarJan Nisar Akhtar was an important 20th century Indian poet of Urdu ghazals and nazms, and a part of the Progressive Writers' Movement, who was also a lyricist for Bollywood....
- Majrooh SultanpuriMajrooh SultanpuriMajrooh Sultanpuri was an Urdu poet, lyricist and songwriter...
- Ghulam Rabbani Tabban
- Makhdoom MohiuddinMakhdoom MohiuddinMakhdoom Mohiuddin or Abu Sayeed Mohammad Makhdoom Mohiuddin Huzri was an Urdu poet and Marxist political activist of India. He was a distinguished revolutionary Urdu poet...
- Munshi PremchandMunshi PremchandMunshi Premchand , was a famous writer of modern Hindi-Urdu literature. He is generally recognized in India as the foremost Hindi-Urdu writer of the early twentieth century...
- Majnun GorakhpuriMajnun GorakhpuriAhmad Siddiq "Majnun Gorakhpuri" Urdu:احمد صدیق مجنوں گورکھپوری was an eminent and leading Urdu short story writer, poet and literary critic of his time.- Life :...
- Firaq GorakhpuriFiraq GorakhpuriRaghupati Sahay , better known under his pen name Firaq Gorakhpuri , was a writer, critic, and one of the most noted contemporary Urdu poets from India...
- Amrita PritamAmrita PritamAmrita Pritam was a Punjabi writer and poet, considered the first prominent woman Punjabi poet, novelist, and essayist, and the leading 20th-century poet of the Punjabi language, who is equally loved on both the sides of the India-Pakistan border, with a career spanning over six decades, she...
- Majaz Lucknawi
- Sahir LudhianviSahir LudhianviSahir Ludhianvi was a popular Urdu poet and Hindi lyricist and songwriter. Sahir Ludhianvi is his pseudonym...
- Sulaiman AreebSulaiman AreebSulaiman Areeb was an Urdu poet, who was born 1922 in Hyderabad, Deccan. He was of Hadhrami Arab origin whose ancestors arrived from Hadramaut to Hyderabad. His father Sulaiman bin Abd al-Razzaq was Risaldar in Nizam's time. He was married twice and second time to Safia Begum, who herself was an...
- Raja ZulqarnainRaja ZulqarnainRaja Zulqarnain is a Pakistani Lawyer and politician. As of 2010, he was General Secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan.He is married and has four sons and a daughter.-See also:* Pakistan Bar Council...
Further reading
- Ali, Ahmed, The Prison House: Collection of Short Stories, Akrash Publishing, Karachi, 1985, see AfterwordAfterwordAn afterword is a literary device that is often found at the end of a piece of literature. It generally covers the story of how the book came into being, or of how the idea for the book was developed....
- Ali Husain Mir & Raza Mir, Anthems Of Resistance. Roli Books, 2011. ISBN 8186939261.
- Progressive Movement and Urdu Poetry, by Ali Sardar JafriAli Sardar JafriAli Sardar Jafri was an Urdu writer, poet, critic and film lyricist from India.-Early life and education:Ali Sardar Jafri was born in an aristocratic family in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, where he spent his formative years....
- Sajjad Zaheer and Progressive Writers’ Movement
- Zeno (Safdar Mir), Cultural Notes: A Writer Committed to Progressivism (Ahmed Ali), Dawn, Karachi, 13 June 1986, p.iv.
- The Journal of Indian Writing in English, A Tribute to Ahmed Ali, Editor, G.S. Balarama Gupta, Vol. 23, January-July 1995, Nos. 1-2.
- Ali, Orooj Ahmed, Sajjad Zaheer, Dawn-Letters, January 15, 2006.
- Alvi, Dr. Khalid. Angare Ka Tarikhi Pusmanzar aur Tarraqi Pasand Tahrik, (Historical Perspective of Angare and The Progressive Writers' Movement), Educational Publishing House, Kucha Pandit, Delhi 1995.