Ahmad Bashir
Ahmad Bashir (Urdu: احمد بشیر) (March 24, 1923 – December 25, 2004) was a writer, journalist, intellectual and film director from Pakistan. He was the father of leading television artists Bushra Ansari, Asma Abbas, Sumbal and poet & author Neelam Ahmad Bashir. Begum Parveen Atif, also an Urdu short story writer, is his sister. His wife Mehmooda was his partner since 1947.[1] He was a close friend of Urdu writers Mumtaz Mufti and Ibn-e-Insha.
Ahmad Bashir احمد بشیر | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 24, 1923 Eminabad near Gujranwala, Punjab, British India |
| Died | December 25, 2004 (aged 81) Lahore  |
| Occupation | Writer, Journalist |
| Nationality | |
| Subject | Literature, biography, socialism |
| Notable works | Dil Bhatkey Ga, Jo Milay Thay Raaste Mein, film Neela Parbat (1969) |
| Spouse | Mehmooda |
| Relatives | Parveen Atif, Bushra Ansari (daughter), Neelam Bashir Grandchildren: Meera Ansari, Nariman Ansari, Waqas Abbas, Zara Abbas, Saif Bahu Sheikh |
Early life
Ahmad Bashir was born in Eminabad near Gujranwala (British India) on March 24, 1923. He gained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Srinagar and went to Bombay for a career in acting but soon started writing for film magazines. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, he came to settle permanently in Pakistan.
Career
After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, Ahmad Bashir worked for several newspapers in Pakistan. However, he is known for his days at Daily Imroze with particular fondness. He worked as a sub-editor at Imroze where he introduced feature writing for the first time in Urdu press. He also obtained training in film direction from Hollywood on state scholarship.[1]
Bashir also worked for the Department of Films & Publications, Government of Pakistan, and later for National Film Development Corporation, Pakistan (NAFDEC). He resigned after General Zia-ul-Haq imposed martial law in the country in 1977. He faced bitter hardships during this period in which he was never allowed to write columns in newspapers.[1]
Bashir was also a portrait writer. His book Jo Milay Thay Raaste Mein contains pen sketches of eminent literary personalities including Mumtaz Mufti, Krishan Chandar, Meeraji, Chiragh Hasan Hasrat, Hasrat Mohani and Kishwar Naheed. He also wrote an autobiographical novel Dil Bhatkey Ga.[1]
In 1969, Bashir directed and produced an Urdu film, Neela Parbat.[2] This film was considered Pakistan's early experimental feature films. However, the film proved to be too much of an alternative genre at the time and flopped at the box-office.[3] After the failure of Neela Parbat, Bashir never ventured back into film making or film production.
Awards and recognition
- Pride of Performance Award in 1994 by the President of Pakistan
Death
Bashir died in Lahore of liver cancer on December 25, 2004.[1]
References
- http://www.dawn.com/2004/12/26/top6.htm 'Ahmad Bashir dies'- Obituary of Ahmad Bashir on Dawn newspaper, Published December 26, 2004, Retrieved June 24, 2016
- http://www.citwf.com/film240193.htm, Ahmad Bashir's film Neela Parbat (1969) on Complete Index To World Film (C.I.T.W.F) website, Retrieved June 24, 2016
- http://pakfilms.net/movies/details.php?pid=803 Archived December 20, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Film 'Neela Parbat' (1969) on PAKfilms database website, Retrieved 17 Dec 2016
External links
- Profile of Ahmad Bashir and his work on Danka – Pakistan's Cultural Guide, Retrieved June 24, 2016
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Ahmad Bashir also used to write columns in Daily The Frontier Post