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Muhammad Izhar ul Haq

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Muhammad Izhar ul Haq
Born (1948-02-14) 14 February 1948 (age 76)
Attock, Punjab, Pakistan
OccupationUrdu poet, columnist, Civil servant
NationalityPakistani
Notable worksDiwaar-e-aab, Pani peh Bichha Takht, Talkh Nawai
Notable awardsAdam Jee award, Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal award, Pride of Performance
Website
www.izharulhaq.net

Muhammad Izhar ul Haq (born 14 February 1948) is a poet of Urdu language, a columnist and current affairs analyst from Islamabad, Pakistan. He has received critical acclaim, nationally and internationally, for his contribution to Urdu literature and journalism, and has been awarded various literary and national awards, including Pakistan's highest civil award Pride of performance in 2008, for his services in the field of literature and poetry. He has published six books of Urdu poetry and writes column in Daily Dunya, under the title "Talkh Nawai (تلخ نوائ)".[1][2]

Poetry

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Muhammad Izhar ul Haq has published six books of Urdu poetry:

  • غدر (Ghadr) (1986)
  • پری زاد (Paree-zaad) (1995)
  • پانی پہ بچھا تخت (Paani peh Bichha Takht) (winner of Allama Iqbal Award 2003[3])
  • کئی موسم گزر گئے مجھ پر (Kai Mausam Guzar Gaye Mujh Par) (collection of earlier four books) (2012)
  • اے آسماں نیچے اتر (Ae Aasmaan Neeche Utar) (2023) [4]

English translation of Izhar ul Haq's poetry can be read in the anthology "Pakistani Urdu Verse, Oxford University Press 2010", translated and edited by Yasmeen Hameed[5]. A collection of Urdu ghazals of Muhammad Izhar ul Haq can be read on Rekhta[6].

Prose (Bibliography)

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  • تلخ نوائی (Talkh Nawai)[7]
  • میری وفات (Meri Wafat) (2020) [8]
  • عاشق مست جلالی (Aashiq Mast Jalali) (2022) [9] [10]
  • ٹکلو کے کارنامے (گرافک ایڈیشن) (Tiklu Kay Kaarnamay) (2024; A children’s Novel)[11]
  • سمندر، جزیرے اور جدائیاں (Samandar, Jazeeray aur Judaiyan) (2024) [12]

Critical Reception

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Muhammad Izhar ul Haq is widely regarded as a distinguished and innovative voice in modern Urdu poetry. Critics have praised his ability to create a unique poetic atmosphere and diction that are entirely his own. His mastery lies in his use of original terminologies and metaphors to capture contemporary realities in an admirably profound manner. Renowned poet Zafar Iqbal (poet) remarked that Izhar ul Haq's poetry transforms the season of modern Urdu ghazal, offering winds, fruits, flowers, and landscapes that are distinctly different and refreshing.

Khurshid Rizvi highlighted the depth and complexity of Izhar ul Haq's poetry, describing him as a true artist whose thoughts are vast, profound, mysterious, and intricately layered. Rizvi noted that his work is woven with countless threads, including Quranic verses, Hadith traditions, sayings of elders, myths, and diverse historical elements. These elements combine to create unique poetic imagery, free from clichés and rich with meaning, evoking a sense of awe and introspection.

Iftikhar Arif celebrated Izhar ul Haq as a poet of pride for the modern era and Urdu language, placing him in the continuity of Allama Iqbal’s tradition. Arif lauded his poetic lexicon, themes, symbols, metaphors, and craftsmanship, emphasizing the unique richness and significance of his creative contributions. He described Izhar ul Haq's work as a balance and benchmark for contemporary Eastern poetry, rooted in a quest for lost identities and a search for the flames of the past.

Prolific author Mustansar Hussain Tarar characterized Izhar ul Haq's poetry as reflective of profound emotions and imagery. He compared it to a ruined tent, a submerged cheek, and a white shroud of grief, highlighting the poet’s ability to evoke a sense of longing, loss, and spiritual anticipation.

Muhammad Mansha Yaad, the short-story maestro of Urdu fiction, underscored Izhar ul Haq's innovative approach, noting that he has carved out a completely distinct territory for his poetry. Yad commended his use of new tools, including novel symbols, metaphors, and allusions, to create a body of work that stands apart from conventional poetic traditions. [13]

Intizar Hussain commented that "Izhar ul Haq is equally well-versed in the ghazal as well as in free verse. In both forms, he has been able to devise a diction, which distinguishes his verse from those of his contemporaries."[14][15][16]

This collective critique by some of the most renowned contemporary scholars and literary giants of Urdu literature firmly establishes and testifies to Muhammad Izhar ul Haq's stature as a monumental figure in modern Urdu poetry. His originality, intellectual depth, unique symbolism and transformative vision are celebrated and evidenced in the profound insights shared above. Together, these perspectives highlight how his unique diction has redefined the poetic landscape, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary literary traditions and solidifying his place as a true innovator and torchbearer of Urdu literature.

Columns

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Izhar ul Haq has been a columnist in Jang, Daily Jinnah, Nawaiwaqt, Daily 92 News, and presently in Daily Dunya [17] [18].

The title of his Urdu column is "Talkh Nawai (تلخ نوائی)", which translates to "bitter discourse". Veteran Urdu columnist Rauf Klasra in his preface to "Talkh Nawai" notes that Izhar ul Haq's command and mastery over classical literature is equally impressive whether it is Urdu, English, or Persian, and he has the ability to effectively use his literary prowess in his columns [19].

Dr. Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, Director General of the National Language Promotion Department, Islamabad, has noted that Izhar ul Haq’s works are deeply rooted in traditional Eastern values, familial bonds, and an unconditional love for his homeland. His poetry and prose stand out for their personification of concepts and emotions, rendered with spontaneity and an effortless charm that has become his signature. He further noted that his mastery of Persian literature enhances the richness of his Urdu poetry and prose, making them exemplary in both style and eloquence. Muhammad Izhar ul Haq’s literary legacy continues to inspire readers and enrich Urdu literature [20].

Other Literary Works

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Izhar ul Haq has also contributed in the research for implementation of Urdu in Pakistan, with the National Language Authority, and also contributed as one of the compilers of the Qaumi English-Urdu Dictionary, published by the National Language Authority. In addition, he contributed with Pakistan Academy of Letters in compiling yearly selection of Pakistani literature.[21]

Awards and Honors

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Muhammad Izhar ul Haq is widely regarded as one of Pakistan’s most distinguished intellectual and literary figures. His contributions to Urdu literature are celebrated for introducing new terminologies, idioms, styles, and themes. Muhammad Izhar ul Haq is the recipient of numerous literary awards and accolades, including Adamjee Literary Award, 1982, and Allama Iqbal Literary Award, 2003.

For his services to Urdu literature and poetry, Muhammad Izhar ul Haq was awarded Pride of Performance by the Government of Pakistan in 2008. The Capital Development Authority of Islamabad titled its library "Gosha-e-Izhar" in 2017 after Muhammad Izhar ul Haq's literary contribution.[22]


See also

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References

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  1. ^ Literary meeting: PAL holds session with Izharul Haq
  2. ^ Profile : 92 News
  3. ^ Pakistan Academy of Letters Archived 8 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Book Corner Jehlum
  5. ^ Pakistani Urdu Verse
  6. ^ Poetry of Muhammad Izhar ul Haq
  7. ^ Talkh Nawai
  8. ^ Meri Wafat
  9. ^ [https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1230036-notes-on-nostalgia-and-love Notes on nostalgia and love | Dr Ejaz Hussain]
  10. ^ Aashiq Mast Jalali (2nd Edition)
  11. ^ Tiklu kay Kaarnamay
  12. ^ Samandar, Jazeeray, aur Judaiyan
  13. ^ [https://bookcorner.shop/book/ay-asman
  14. ^ Review by Intizar Hussain
  15. ^ Interview: 'Poetic career is a voyage'[1]
  16. ^ Poets discuss contemporary Pakistani poetry and society
  17. ^ [2]
  18. ^ "Muhammad Izhar Ul Haq | Page 1 | Daily Urdu Columns".
  19. ^ Izhar ul Haq ki Talkh Nawai by Rauf Klasra
  20. ^ Review by Dr. Muhammad Saleem Mazhar
  21. ^ Pakistani Urdu Literature
  22. ^ CDA Library upgraded and titled after the name of renowned literary icon [3]
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