Anwer Zahidi

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Anwer Zahidi(born July 9, 1946) is a Pakistani Urdu Author of more than 11 books comprising of poetry short stories, travelogue and translations. After completing his graduation in science from Punjab University, Anwer Zahidi got the degree of MBBS from Nishtar Medical College, Multan in 1970.

A practicing physician by profession, Anwer Zahidi has carved out a place for himself in the world of letters. He is a short story writer, a poet and translator. His collection of verse Sunaehre Dinon Ki Shairi ( Poetry of the Golden Days--1985) was followed by Azab-e Shaher Panah (The Torture of the Ramparts) collection of short stories, in 1991. New collection of poems Meri Aankhen Samadar and short stories Mausam Jang Ka Kahani Muhabbat Ki are under publication. Dr. Zahidi is not only a creative writer but also a literary critic. His collection of critical writings on the world's great literary figures, called Bazyaft, has just been completed. Besides, Zahidi has made a name for himself as a translator. His knowledge of Persian, which he mastered during three-year stay in Iran, is of invaluable assistance to him in his translations from Persian. He also translated Hermann Hesse in Barishon Ka Mausam (The Rainy Season) and Jung's Approaching to Unconscious for the National Language Authority. Besides these highly technical books he has also translated Arabic, Turkish and Latin American literary masterpieces. One of his masterpieces in the field of translation is Pablo Neruda's autobiography, which is certainly an invaluable addition to Urdu letters.

Mumtaz Mufti, one of the leading literary figures in Pakistan, entitled his review of Anwer Zahidi’s literary work, “Part-time poet” - implying that this work was somehow secondary to his principle vocation of a physician at a leading hospital in Islamabad. In fact, “Full-time poet and part-time doctor” would have been more accurate. Since graduation from Nishtar Medical College, Multan (University of Punjab) in 1970, he has practiced medicine, first in the military (1971-73), then as a private practitioner (1973-76), and subsequently in public hospitals in two countries, Iran (1976-80) and Pakistan (1980 to date). Yet, ever since 1968, when one of his poems got published in a reputed Urdu magazine, Nairang-e-Khyal, literature has been his primary occupation.

The literary community as well as his friends and family know Anwer Zahidi as a poet who happens to do other things - practicing medicine, writing short stories, translating literary and scientific works, writing on literature, biography, art and comparing radio programs. Of course, the practice of medicine has served him well, not only because of its inherent nobility as a calling, but also because it placed food on the table, provided insight into the human spirit, and exposed him to the cultures, languages, and literatures of at least two countries, Pakistan and Iran.

Exposure to great Western literature - in English translations – led him to an interest in translating favorite pieces from English into Urdu. Over time, Anwer zahidi has translated some of the greatest writers of various languages into Urdu. These include Tolstoy, Hesse, Neruda, Dickens, and Pessoa. From Western literature he moved gradually towards other great writers including the Kirghiz epic poet, Manas, and most importantly modern Persian poets like Neema Yosheej, Ahmad Shamlo, and Frogh Furrukhzad. Translating Iranian poetry (directly from Persian) into Urdu was enormously edifying. These writers are the pioneers of the new literary movement of Iran; they have broken the metric rigidity of the traditional Persian Ghazal and revolutionized its poetic vision, and have had a deep impact upon the literary movements in the sub-continent. The study of contemporary Persian literature completely revolutionized his poetic diction, including the infusion of elements of rebellion in early romantic formulas.

Although Anwer Zahidi is known in South Asia primarily as a “modern” poet (Nazam-e-Azad), some of his most intense work is in the genre of abstract short stories. They enable a mode of expression that is difficult to incorporate into the poetic structure. Reflecting the nature of injustice and absurdity in contemporary existence, these short stories tend to take an acrid view of life. Prose writing also led him into translations of prose and non-fiction, including memoirs (Neruda) essays (Hesse), psychology (Jung).


Literary Pursuits: Poet/Fiction writer/Translator/

Books in Urdu Poetry: 1. Sunehrey Dinon Ki Shairy-----1984

Fiction: 1. Azab-e-Shehrpanah----1991 2. Mosam Jang Ka Kahani Muhabat Ki----1996

Translations: 1. Dreechon Mein Hawa( Translation of modern Persian poetry)-----1985 2. Barishon Ka mosam ( Translation of Herman Hesse’s poetical works)---1986 3. Yadein ( translation of Pablo Neruda’ s memoirs --1996 4. Lashaoor Tak Rassai ( Translation of Jung’s Approaching the Unconscious)—1996 5. Manas ( Translation of Krighizstan Epic poetry) --- 1997 6. Pessoa Ki Nazmein (Translation of Fernando Pessoa’s poetry)---1997 7. Bazyaft- (Translation of World’s ten great poets) ----2002

Travelogue: 1. Duneya Kahein Jisay ( Travelogue of USA/Canada/ London & Dubai)---2005