پروفیسر خواجہ احمد فاروقی
جنوری کا معارف مرتب ہوچکا تھا کہ یہ اندوہ ناک خبر ملی کہ اردو کے مشہور محقق و نقاد صف اول کے ادیب اور صاحب طرز انشاء پرداز پروفیسر خواجہ احمد فاروقی ۳۱؍ دسمبر کو رحلت فرماگئے۔ اِنا ﷲ وَاِنا اِلیہ رَاجِعونْ۔
خواجہ صاحب کا خاندان علم و فضل اور سلوک و تصوف میں ممتاز تھا، انھیں انگریزی تعلیم دلائی گئی مگر اس کے باوجود بھی وہ شرافت، وضع داری اور اپنی دیرینہ خاندانی روایات کے حامل تھے۔
۱۹۱۷ء میں وہ بچھراؤں ضلع مراد آباد میں پیدا ہوئے، ۱۹۲۷ء میں گورنمنٹ ہائی اسکول ہردوئی کی پانچویں جماعت میں داخلہ لیا، یہاں ان کے والد سررشتہ دار تھے، ۱۹۳۲ء میں اعلیٰ تعلیم کے لیے میرٹھ کالج میں داخل ہوئے، تعلیم مکمل کرنے کے بعد معلمی کے پیشہ سے وابستہ ہوئے جس کا آغاز مسلم یونیورسٹی اسکول میں کیمسٹری کے استاد کی حیثیت سے کیا، پھر بعض کالجوں سے وابستہ رہنے کے بعد ۱۹۴۶ء میں دہلی کے اینگلو عربک کالج میں اردو کے لکچرر ہوئے، جس کے بعد دہلی ہی میں بودوباش اختیار کرلی، خود رقمطراز ہیں:
’’اس وقت سے کہ چالیس سال ہوگئے ہیں، دلی کاروڑا ہوں اور یہ دلی کی گلیاں کسی طرح نہیں چھٹتیں‘‘۔
حزیں از پائے رہ پیما بسے سرگشتگی دیدم
سرشوریدہ بربالین آسایش رسید ایں جا
۱۹۴۸ء میں دلی میں چاروں طرف آتش زنی، غارتگری اور قتل عام مچا ہوا تھا اور موج خوں سروں سے گزر رہی تھی، مگر خواجہ صاحب اس قلزم خون کے شناور بنے رہے۔
وہ بچپن ہی میں مطالعہ اور کتب بینی کے عادی ہوگئے تھے اور تقریر و تحریر کی مشق بھی شروع کردی تھی، ہردوئی ہائی اسکول میں جب زیر تعلیم تھے تو غنچہ (بجنور) اور پھول (لاہور) کے لیے مضامین لکھتے رہتے تھے۔ اسی زمانے میں اپنے ایک ہم جماعت کے اشتراک...
Zoroastrianism is an ancient Iranian religion founded by an Iranian Prophet and scholar Zoroaster. It is claimed by some foremost scholars that this is the most ancient religion of the world which influenced the other major religions of the world like, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The main source to know the Zoroastrianism is Avesta, Denkart and Bundahishn (sacred books) from which we know the terminologies and traditions of this religion. Main two spirits are Ahura mazda (god of pleasure and goodness) and Ahriman (god of evil) and seven more main spirits which are called as angels are Amesha spentas which show the actual spirit and direction of this ancient religion. Some of the concepts and traditions are same which exists in Islam but with different names and features, like prayers and matters after death, heaven and hell. In this article, main focus is on tradition and terminologies of this ancient religion to know its actual spirit to get the basic information and main themes for initial reader of this religion from Islamic theological pers-pective. No doubt, Zoroastrianism is one the amended religions exist on earth yet because of the similarity of various rituals with Islam. However, Zoroastrianism is being considered reve-aled religion and Zoroaster as true prophet of Allah.
Microbial solubilization of coal has been considered as a promising technology to convert raw coal into valuable products. The biological conversion of coal to alternative fuel products can be an efficient and environmentally friendly mean of utilizing the current coal reserves, including those that are difficult to utilize with conventional methods. Understanding the details of microbial coal solubilization leading up to methanogenesis is essential in order to establish new energy production techniques and industrial processes that are cost and energy efficient. The present study was aimed at investigating and exploring the prospects of possible intervention of biotechnological approaches into conventional fuel sciences for the extraction of alternative fuel options like methane. In this regard, seven coal samples, originating from different coal areas of Pakistan, were subjected to detailed chemical analyses including maceral analysis and these indicated that samples belonging to different coal ranks with vitrinite value ranging from 0.27% to 2.13% pointing towards their diverse geological history. To study coal solubilizing potential of aerobic microorganisms, initially a total of 50 different aerobic bacterial and fungal isolates have been isolated from soil, coal and water samples of Salt Range Coal Mines, Chakwal, Pakistan, but on the basis of solubilization potential, only four isolates selected for further study. The intensity of biosolubilization was measured by determining the weight loss of the coal pieces and was observed to be about 25.93% by Pseudomonas sp. AY2, 36.36% by Bacillus sp. AY3 and 50% by Trichoderma sp. AY6 while Phanerochaete sp. AY5 showed maximum coal solubilization potential, i.e. 66.67% in 30 days. Ultraviolet Visible spectrum revealed an increase in the pattern of absorbance of all treated samples as compared to control referring to solubilization. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated alterations in structure of treated coal in comparison to control coal suggesting breakdown in complex structure of coal. The major absorbance bands in infrared spectroscopy for solubilization product were attributed to carbonyl (1600cm-1), hydroxyl (3450cm-1), cyclane (2925cm-1), ether linkage (1000-1300cm-1), carboxyl (3300-2500cm-1) and side chains of aromatic ring (1000-500cm-1). The presence of microorganisms and surface erosion of coal residues as compared to control samples were observed by scanning electron microscopy, suggested that isolated microorganisms were able to survive in coal for a longer period of time. Therefore, these microorganisms isolated from coal mines have excellent potential for coal solubilization which is considered as a crucial step in coal methanogenesis allowing them to be used successfully for in-situ methane production to meet future energy demands. Coal samples were investigated further for their ability to support microbial methane production in laboratory incubations. For this purpose, bioassay with two different exogenous microorganisms WBC2 (collected from wetlands), and IF (from PRB) were employed. Among all samples, CH sample which is low volatile bituminous coal produced maximum methane 34.9 µmol CH4/g coal with WBC2 consortium, followed by SR (subbituminous coal) with 30.18 µmol CH4/g.Relatively lower methane level was observed with IF consortium, however, maximum concentration observed in case of SR coal was 25.1 µmol CH4/g coal. Acetate accumulated in control incubations where methanogenesis was inhibited, pointing towards acetoclastic pathway and indicated acetate utilization and production during the course of methanogenesis. Methanogenesis inhibited control and bioassay incubations showed nearly same levels of hydrogen, proposed that acetoclastic might be the dominant pathway for methanogenesis. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide was produced and consumed during the course of methane production, suggesting their role in complex methanogenic pathway chemistry. Liquid extracts were analyzed through Excitation-Emission Matrix Spectroscopy (EEMS) to obtain qualitative estimates of solubilized coal; these analyses exhibited the release of complex organic moieties. Quantative Polymerase chain reaction analysis for mcrA functional genes suggested microbial quality as well as quantity have significant influence on methane production levels. Therefore, bioassay, suggests an attractive tool for assessing the potential of coal for biogenic methane generation, and provides a platform for studying the mechanisms involved in this economically important activity. Conclusively, the current evidence of Pakistan’s coal potential to be used for cost effective and energy efficient processes particularly the low volatile bituminous coal, would open numerous advantages to the current coal energy infrastructure.