Hameed Naseem was
Mufasser-e-Quran, Poet, Writer, Critic, former Deputy DG Radio Pakistan, former
Director of the PIA Arts Academy, an acclaimed broadcaster and was called
“broadcaster” by critics and his contemporaries. He was born on 6th October,
1920 at Shah Pur Kundi, District Gurdaspur. He was a prodigious learner and
poet and started writing poetry at an early age in School days. He got
opportunities to intermingle with poets and intellectuals like Faiz Ahmed Faiz
and Dr. M.D. Taseer who were close friends of his father Abdul Aziz, known as
Aziz Bitalvi, who had profound interest in poetry. He matriculated from M.B.
High School Lahore and graduated from MAO College Amritsar. Later he moved to
Lahore and did his M.A. Engilish from Islamia College Lahore where he was the
leading poet, orator, and prose writer of the College and was especially known
for his melodious voice (taranum) which always swayed the mushairas by its
profound effect. During these days, he was a regular visitor of the famous Arab
Hotel, which lay across the Islamia College Lahore and Nageena Bakery near
Anarkali; both places were established rendezvous for the literati, poets, and
scholars of the thirties and early forties and other intellectual community of
Lahore. It was during this time that he received poetic inspiration and
guidance from Sufi Tabassum and developed lifelong friendship with him as well
Zia Jallandari, a leading poet and who regularly prodded poet inside him and
motivated him for other research and literary endeavors.
His Tafseer-e-Quran, named,
Ta’aruf Al Furqan, is composed of 5 volumes and provides in-depth and detailed
commentary on Quran, with references to comparative religions. He wrote
booklets, Aurat Islam Ki Nazar Main, for general readers to remove their some
misconceptions about the role of woman in Islam and The Message of Islam, for
the English speaking communities for better understanding of the basic Islamic
concepts.
He was a promising poet of his
times and his collection of poetry, Dood-e-Tahayar (The Smoke of Wonderment),
is an important work of classical ghazal structures, and shows his confident
grasp of the art of poetry writing which is guided by the rules of poetry and
its rhetoric. His collections of poetry, Jast-e-Janoon, Gard-e-Malal, are also
rated as valuable to Urdu literature. He was also a known critic who wrote
critique on many poets and his book, Allama Iqbal Hemaray Azeem Shaaer, Panch
Jadeed Shair, Kuch Aur Ahim Shair, introduction to Kuleeyat Shafeeq Fatima, are
widely acclaimed among the literati circles. His book, “Allama Iqbal Hemaray
Azeem Shaaer” was awarded Presidential Award posthumously on Iqbal Day in 2003
which was received by his widow, Nafisa Begum, and daughter, Seemin, from the
President of Pakistan at the occasion of Iqbal Day in Lahore.
Notwithstanding his great
contribution of producing 5-volumes’ of comparative religion commentary on
Quran Hakeem, his autobiography Namumkin Ki Justajo, published in 1990, will
remain his most memorable work and is still rated one of the best
autobiographies in Urdu literature. This autobiography is unique in two ways –
firstly, it is written in third person and secondly, it shows a picturesque
kaleidoscope of cultural and literary life in Lahore and Amristar and in many
parts of the world in those times, wherever he lives or visited, which have now
vanished, and his contemporary personalities and events. It vividly portraits
the days at MAO College Amristar, Islamia College Lahore, early days of Radio,
and events of his colleagues like Meeraji, Noon Meem Rashid, Krishan Chander,
greatest of them all, Prof. A.S. Bukhari, the first Indian to become Director
of All-India Radio. Due to these peculiar characteristics of this
autobiography, it has been called Ahad Nama by the critics.
Mr. Hameed Naseem also served as
Director of the PIA Arts Academy in 1967 for few years and used his talents as
a programme person in the promotion of Pakistan art and culture at
international levels, mostly the destinations of the PIA at those times. At the
twilight of his life and career, Mr. Hameed Naseem was researching and writing,
Adbi Urdu Nasar, which could not be published due to his sudden death in 1998
and is still available with his heirs as a manuscript.
He was one of the pioneers and
founders of Radio Pakistan after the creation of Pakistan. He started daily
programme, Pakistan Hamara hay, from Radio Station Lahore which tried to
inculcate national integration among the newly founded nation. He wrote many
national songs (Qaumi Taranay) during the wars of 1965 and 1971 which were sung
be eminent singers like Ustad Amanat Ali, Farida Khanum, Noor Jeha,. He had a
long career in Radio Pakistan and was widely respected as a famous broadcaster
and many posthumously remember his reputation as broadcasters’ broadcaster. He
also served at BBC in London for few years on deputation but returned to
Pakistan for love of the people and the country and declined all lucrative
offers of staying at the BBC. The BBC remembered his contributions by placing a
floral commemorative wreath on his grave after his death. He strated the
programme, Roshni, and Quran-i-Hakeem aur Hamari Zindigi and conducted the
programme himself for years in his typical broadcaster’s voice. This religious
programme was so much popular among the listeners that it was broadcasted for
decades till recent years. He was also founder of the Radio Station Hyderabad
and appointed its first Station Director. Hameed Naseem retired as Deputy
Director General but kept serving the Radio Pakistan as Advisor on Religious
Affairs till the time of his death, and even performed his duties on the last
day of his life, 28th September 1998.
His death was widely mourned in
the literary circles, Radio Pakistan, PTV, and the electronic media relayed
news and the print media published news reports as well as special features.
Many famous poets and writers wrote obituaries in the national dailies and
Literary Magazines, acknowledging his contributions for the Urdu literature,
religion and Radio Pakistan. Hameed Naseem will always be remembered for his
valuable contributions to Urdu literature, Poetry, history of Pakistan, and
most importantly expounding our great religion.
On 92nd Birth Anniversary of Hameed Naseem, Pakistan Post is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.8/- denomination on October 19, 2012.
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