یوسف نیر(۱۹۴۷ء ۔۲۰۱۷) کا اصل نا م یوسف رحمت ہے اور نیر تخلص ہے ۔ آپ محلہ اٹاری گیٹ سیالکوٹ میں پیدا ہوئے۔(۱۰۹۰) آپ نے ایم ۔اے اردو پنجاب یونیورسٹی اور ایم۔فل اردو علامہ اقبال اوپن یونیورسٹی سے کیا۔ ۱۹۷۹ء میں آپ کی تعیناتی بطور لیکچرار گورنمنٹ کالج رحیم یار خان میں ہوئی۔ گورنمنٹ کالج سیالکوٹ سے ایسوسی ایٹ پروفیسر کے عہدے پر آپ ریٹائر ہوئے ۔(۱۰۹۱) آپ کالج میگزین lکے مدیر رہے اور ان کی ادبی تخلیقات اس میں شائع ہوتی تھیں۔ آپ کا شعری کلام ’’کاتھولک‘‘،’’نقیب‘‘ ،لاہور ،’’شاداب ‘‘ لاہور ، ’’شعاعِ نور‘‘ ،لاہور ،’’بیسویں صدی‘‘ ،لاہور اور ’’فنون ‘‘ لاہور میں شائع ہوتا رہا۔
آپ مرے کالج کی مجلسِ سخن اور مجلسِ اقبال کے انچارج رہے۔ نیرمرے کالج کے علمی و ادبی مجلہ ’’الفیض ‘‘ کے نگران رہے اور مرے کالج سے اقبال نمبر اور غالب نمبر شائع کیے۔۱۹۸۸ء میں آپ پاکستان رائٹرز گلڈ کے مرکزی صدر منتخب ہوئے۔ پنجابی ادب سنگت لندن نے انھیں ۲۰۰۰ء کاادبی ایوارڈ لندن میں ایک مشاعر ے میں پیش کیا۔ (۱۰۹۲)’’روشنی کا پہلا دن‘‘ یوسف نیر کا شعری مجموعہ الحمد پبلی کیشنز نے ۱۹۹۲ء کو شائع کیا۔
یوسف نیر ادب میں ادب برائے زندگی نظریے کے قائل ہیں۔ انھوں نے اپنی شاعری میں ہمیشہ غریب ،مظلوم اور پسماندہ معاشرے کے پسے ہوئے انسانوں کے دکھ اور محرومی کی بات کی ہے۔ وہ ظالم ،جابر اور استحصالی نظام اور افراد کی مـذمت کرتے ہیں۔ نیر گہرا سماجی شعور رکھتے ہیں وہ سماجی اور معاشرتی ظلم و ستم کو نظر انداز نہیں کرتے بلکہ اسے محسوس کرتے ہیں اور اپنی شاعری میں جا بجا بیان کرتے نظر آتے ہیں:
راہ کوئی نہیں ہے بچنے کی……
1ہر طرف شیش ناگ بیٹھے ہیں
Women employment is a practical issue of the modern age. It is adopted by almost all the nations and countries of the world. In the western countries rights of women including employment, trade, property, education etc were recognized after the efforts ofWomen Liberation Movement. However, in Islam these were declared their basic rights since the first day. A western woman is bound to earn her livelihood as it is not the duty ofa western man to provide her basic needs. However, in Islam a woman is legally protected for the provision of all her basic needs and it is the duty of her father, brother, husband and son to provide these to her. Islam permits a woman to do a job or carry out trade activities and earn money subject to some conditions. These may be carried out by the permission of her husband, father, etc. Besides employment, a woman should perform her obligations at her home and family, which is her basic duty. She must be careful about her husband and children rights. She must observe Hijab and abstain from mixing with non-mehram men and should follow other social teachings of Islam. Wealth earned by her is considered her property and she can spend it any way at her discretion. Study of Islamic History revealed that many of the wives of the prophet (Sallalla ho alaihe wassalam) and Sahabiyat (RA) carried out business activities and performed other jobs and thus earned money. They spent it to assist the Prophet's noble cause and to assist their husbands and to care their children. These activities were considered authorized and endorsed by the prophet (Sallalla ho alaihe wassalam)
Urdu Short Stories and Freedom of Expression Freedom of expression is the main theme of this thesis which has been tried to be explored in its various forms in Urdu short stories. First chapter discusses definitions, ancient, modern and Islamic concepts of freedom of expression and limitations. A historical overview of freedom of expression along with restrictions imposed in various ages has been taken into account. People who lost their lives in their struggle for freedom of expression have also been discussed in this chapter. This chapter also includes discussion on Russian literature and banned works. Third chapter encompasses freedom of expression, restriction imposed by the state and Urdu short stories starting from Prem Chand and 'Angary' and continues with a discussion on works by progressive movement. During the army rules short story writers, playwrights, poets and authors were detained and exiled. Their jobs were terminated and they were imprisoned on different charges. Religious, gender, psychological and sexual issues and autonomy of opinion is the theme of fourth chapter. Though religion is the ultimate reality but the followers of religion create hindrances in the way of expressing feelings by imposing self-created restrictions. This issue has been discussed along with Pakistani society which is a male dominated society where emergence of such issues is an ancient concept. It was a matter of great concern for researcher to include a discussion on sexual and psychological issue to understand them and discuss ways and means of expressing such feelings in short stories. Fifth chapter discusses differences emerged from class-based society of sub-continent, feudalism, capitalism which resulted in confrontation between landowner and tenants, industrialists and workers. Restrictions surfaced from such issues were highlighted in short stories which make a part of discussion in this thesis. Last chapter presents a comprehensive analysis of freedom of expression in Urdu short stories.