Shafiq-ur-Rahman () (9 November 1920 – 19 March 2000) was a Pakistani humorist and short-story writer of Urdu language.
A medical doctor by profession, Rahman served in Pakistan Army and received the Hilal-e-Imtiaz for his military and civilian services. He has been appreciated by the writers and critics of Urdu literature.
Biography Rahman was born on 9 November 1920 in a Rajput family in Kalanaur, Rohtak district, British India. He received his education in Bahawalpur. He completed his MBBS from King Edward Medical College, Lahore in 1942, and post-graduation in tropical medicine and public health from Edinburgh, in 1952. Rahman began writing humorous stories during his school days. His stories were published in a literary monthly magazine Khayyam. His first book Kirneyn was completed before he joined the medical college and was published in 1938, while he was still a medical student.
Rahman joined the Indian Army Medical Corps and served at different war fronts during the Second World War. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, he joined the Pakistan Army and eventually rose to the rank of general. By then, most of his important works like Shagufay, Lehrein, Parvaaz, and Hamaqatein, had been published. Later in 1954, another collection of his humorist essays Mazeed Hamaqatein was published. He also served as chairman of the Academy of Letters of Pakistan from 1980 to 1985. He continued to write till his death.
Rahman had three sons, Attique, Khalique and Ameen. He died on 19 March 2000 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Style and themes Rahman's work added a new dimension to humour in Urdu literature. He created a world that was very real with all its joys, pains and anguish. It was an affirmation of life and of human values: empathy, compassion and respect. Even the seemingly frivolous and trivial situations had hidden meanings that probed deep into the human psyche. His language was simple, spontaneous and expressive. His unforgettable characters include Razia, Shaitaan, Hukoomat Aapa, Maqsood Ghora, Buddy, Judge Sahab, Nannha and many other girls including Sarwat, Kishwer, Sa'da, Azra Aapa, Nasreen, Akhtar, Ainak etc.
Awards and recognition He was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) Award by the President of Pakistan for his military and civilian services after his death on 23 March 2001.
Views In 2015, the Dawn Newspaper included Rehman's book Parvaaz in its list of "The 100 best Urdu books".
Rahman has highly been praised by Urdu writers, like:
An excerpt Owais Mughal talks of Shafiq-ur-Rahman, the humorist. He recalls:
Here is an approximate translation of the poem:
Bibliography Kirnein (Rays of Light) 1942 Shagofey 1943 Lehrein (Waves) 1944 Madd-o-jazar (Ebb and Flow) 1946 Parwaaz (Flight) 1945 Himaqatain 1947 Mazeed Himaqatain 1948 Pachtaway (Regrets) 1948 Turup Chaal 1948 Dajla (a travelogue) 1980 Insaani Tamasha (an Urdu translation of The Human Comedy) Dareechay 1989 Jaini Muskurahatein (smiles)
References
External links Shafiq-ur-Rehman: A Legendary Writer on Pakistan Link (United States newspaper) History Of Urdu Language