Tribute Dr Ghulam Mustafa Khan

Dr Ghulam Mustafa Khan [d. 2005] can truly be said to be a teacher of teachers [ustadh al-asatadha]. In his long and distinguished academic career spanning over six decades, he brought into existence literally hundreds of teachers in his subject Urdu and also created in many of them a taste for critical research that resulted in the existence of a whole corpus of standard critical material. This will endure in academic circles for a long time. It was his common habit to encourage his students, especially those of an academic bent of mind, to enrol for a Ph.D. In the course of which he would proffer them all kinds of assistance even if he were not their research supervisor. As such, the names of Dr Najmul Islam, who succeeded him as Chairman, Department of Urdu, University of Sindh, stands out. Dr Najmul Islam was the editor of a scholarly research journal, Tehqiq, which appeared in over 20 volumes in his own lifetime. Each issue contained scores of critical essays of a very high academic standard including his own [Dr N. Islam’s]. There is also the name of Dr Hasrat Kasganjvi, who emerged as a creative artist and critic of merit later on authoring dozens of books of high academic standard. The list is long and distinguished and contains the names of the major teachers of Urdu language and literature at the main Pakistani universities. Apart from Urdu teachers, the thousands of persons who had the benefit of attending his lectures and courses are also evidence of his intellectual wide-ranging scholarship. Then there is the select circle of his murids who formed his circle of spiritual knowledge and who had proffered their religious devotion at his hands. To these he gave the benefit of his spiritual counsel and advice as well as the vast knowledge he possessed of the Islamic sciences in his table-talk. Among these persons, the name of ex-President Ziaul Haq is most prominent.

اردو افسانہ اور آزادی اظہار کے مسائل

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.