Ihsan H Nadiem

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Ihsan H. Nadiem (born 1940) is a prominent Pakistani archaeologist, museologist,[1] author and poet.[2]

Contents

[edit] Biography

 This biographical section is written like a résumé.
Please help improve it by revising it to be neutral and encyclopedic. (December 2007)

Born in Montgomery, Nadiem studied at Government College, Lahore, and did his postgraduation in Geography from the University of the Punjab. He was then trained as archaeologist on a scholarship by Government of Pakistan. At a later stage, he specialised in Museology on a French Government Fellowship. He joined the Department of Archaeology, Pakistan and excavated at Banbhore, Swat (Pant, Saidu-I and Saidu-II), Moenjodaro and Tulamba. As a curator he got the opportunity of keeping the charge of as diverse museums as Harappa, Umerkot, Moenjodaro, Lahore Fort and Taxila. He commanded the Regional offices of the department at Peshawar and Quetta before being posted as Incharge of the Publications Branch which he successfully reactivated after it had remained dormant for 13 years. He raised the prestigious Pakistan Institute of Archaeological Training and Research (PIATR) at Lahore, from the scratch and co-ordinated Specialized Courses, Symposia, Seminars, arranged and held at international level. He held the charge of Director, Northern Circle of Archaeology, with headquarters at Lahore and then Southern Circle of Archaeology, at Hyderabad (Sindh)/Karachi. These assignment entailed with them archaeological research and maintaining and administering the antiquity in the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and North West Frontier - in the former case - and Sindh and Balochistan in the latter case. He retired from active Government service in 2000 and has engaged himself as full-time author on Cultural Heritage of Pakistan.

He has also served as Professor in the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore where he structured courses on "Conservation of Architectural Heritage" as a subject for Master's degree in Architecture. He has published about twenty five Research Papers in different journals of international repute; over 250 popular articles on cultural heritage of Pakistan appearing in various dailies and periodicals and an Excavation Report in two volumes, from Rome. In addition, he edited Pakistan Archaeology volume 10-22, and has to his credit the preparation and publishing of numerous professional and technical reports.

He also writes English poetry. His poems have appeared in different publications, as also an exclusive collections entitled Illusory Trance(now out of print) and Golden Rays. His book on Moenjodaro, Heritage of Mankind was an instant success when first published in 1994. The edition was sold out within months. Its second edition, revised and enlarged, was published in 1995 and a third edition three years later.

[edit] Publications

[edit] Books published by Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore, Pakistan

  • Portrait of Balochistan (in Press as of May 2007)
  • Peshawar: History & Cultural Heritage (2007) ISBN 969-35-1971-X
  • Islamabad: Pothohar, Taxila Valley & Beyond - History & Monuments (2006) ISBN 969-35-1904-3
  • Historic Landmarks of Lahore: An account of protected Monuments (2006) ISBN 969-35-1869-1
"… is a gallery of nearly all the beautiful protected landmarks in this historical city of festivals. From the famous Delhi gate to the Badshahi Mosque, from Gulabi Bagh Gateway to the Islamic Summit Minar and from the Tomb of Anarkali to the Samadh of protected monuments with beautifully photographed and well-placed pictures."
"The book deals with the land of NWFP and its vibrant cultural mosaic in such a fascinating way, which has not been experienced before this. It brings the far-flung areas to the desk of the reader with amazing clarity keeping the full flavour of the life. The pictorial side is simply superb and makes it a must-possession for all and sundry, who like to own a memorabilia of the enchanting land and its brave and valiant people."
  • Gardens of Mughal Lahore' (2004) ISBN 969-35
"This book is an in depth study of the gardens of Lahore accompanied by never before published photographs and illustrations from the British period… It will prove to be a good read for all those interested in knowing more about Mughal architecture."
"It is perhaps the first comprehensive study that deals in a concise but comprehensible way exclusively the region of Gandhara, Buddhism as its religion, and its outstanding forms of art and architecture. The liberal use of colour plates, as also line drawings at appropriate places, makes the treatise more useful and presentable."
"Several books about Sindh have been written in the recent times. However, this book is unique in style, elegant in appearance and fascinating in content. This compact synthesis presents the grand sweep of Sindh’s history from antiquity to the present age. The general emphasis in this book is on the structural pattern of history of Sindh rather than the chronology, which in itself gives it a singular dimension. It seeks to explain the major political, economic, social, cultural, geological and geographical forces that have shaped the history of Sindh."
  • Built Heritage of Pakistan: A Compendium of Architectural Legacy, Important Archaeological Sites and Historic Monuments (2002) ISBN 969-35-1329-0
"The book no doubt presents the first broad-spectrum study of the built heritage and architectural achievements from antiquity to at least the beginning of twentieth century. ………. This is the first modern work to draw together all the strands of Pakistan’s archaeological and architectural history – from the Indus Valley, through Gandhara, Hindu Shahiya, Islamic and vernacular architecture."
  • THAR - the Great Pakistani Desert: Land • History • People (2001) ISBN 969-35-1244-8
"There is a wealth of information in the book starting with the geographical location of the Thar desert and its topography and moving to its history, flora, fauna, races and tribes, culture and built heritage…..The book is a reminder of the paradox that is Thar – with its cruel climate and unexpected beauty."
"As one of the largest necropolises in the world, Makli has already induced many an author to write on it. However, the present treatise is different and rather more comprehensible as it gives the flavour of the first hand knowledge. The clarity of expression and flow of the language add to the beauty of the publication, which is even otherwise very well illustrated with colour photographs and line drawings."
"This is the first monograph on the religious architecture that presents a complete story of evolution of the mosque style in the historic city of Lahore in Pakistan. While dealing with sixty plus mosques of historic association the book presents in a comprehensive way the elements that influenced the changes over centuries in a city where many a culture met to give it a peculiar individuality. The treatise also presents an overview of the evolution of mosque architecture in the world in general and Pakistan in particular."
"There are few books on Lahore, still fewer by professionals who had the first hand feel of its jewels. The present effort to put together the splendours of Lahore in this book is therefore rare and commendable. On one hand it deals admirably in discerning with the evolutionary periods, while on the other individual monuments and architectural accomplishments have been dealt with clarity. The narration in each case is superb and the reader does get the real feel of the cultural heritage of the first order."
  • Rohtas – Formidable Fort of Shershah (First published 1995, second edition 2004) ISBN 969-35-0603-3
"It is the first complete book on this all-important fort. It provides massive information not only about the architecture of the fort but also about its builder and his politico-military adventures. The book is certainly an asset for serious researchers as also for all those who have some interest in architectural history and heritage."
  • Moenjodaro – Heritage of Mankind (First published 1994, 3rd Revised Edition 2002) ISBN 969-35-0525-5
"Some of the local and alien authors have written a lot about this city of the yore but what has always been lacking was the availability of a book which would present all the facts in a precise and communicable way. This demand has now been met by a professional who is fully competent to undertake such a project. In this book the knowledge about a large site and a vast subject has been ably presented in a concise form and comprehensible way, without bringing in too much of technical jargon."
"'While writing on the Great Revolution of 1857, against the East India Company’s forces, most of the authors had failed to tell the reader, in an exclusive monograph, about the part played by Punjab in that fateful movement. As compared to the main arenas of action there might not be as much, as extent or as thrusting an uprising here nevertheless it deserved an exclusive treatment at least to bring to light the main reasons for its, so to say, lack of action of the same level against the white rule or, on the contrary, throwing at their feet with full loyalty the whole weight by those who could have turned the tide if behaved differently.’ This monograph sincerely brings out this aspect of history and must provide food for further thought on the subject."
"…the collection may be a small one for many readers of English poetry but it sure would leave happy every one of us who reads good English poetry."
  • Illusory Trance (Out of print)

[edit] Books Published by Al-Faisal Publications, Lahore, Pakistan

"The book has provided a new direction and sufficient material for researchers, historians, architects and those interested in our rich history and culture….. In the absence of serious literary material on our heritage, this book is like a fresh breeze in this direction and must be kept in all private and public libraries."
"The book, inter alia, gives a comprehensive picture of the lands of the Five Rivers right from the time when the known first man inhabited it some 500,000 years ago, dealing all the way to the modern times. It is the first book that has brought the host of information between its two covers with such clarity and completeness on the wide-ranging and important, while also multiple, aspects of the land and the people of Punjab….The book carries beautiful pictures some of them of rare nature…"

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Enlightening Lankan readers on shared heritage with Pakistan", The Sunday Times, 2007-10-07. Retrieved on 2008-04-17. 
  2. ^ "AUTHOR: Historically correct", Dawn, 2005-08-14. Retrieved on 2008-04-17.