Hameed Nizami

Hameed Nizami
Born 3 October 1915
Sangla Hill, Lyallpur, Punjab, British Indian Empire
(Present-day Pakistan)
Died 22 February 1962 (aged 46)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Resting place
 Taxali Gate Cemetery
Nationality United Kingdom (1915–47)
Pakistan (1947–62)
Citizenship Pakistan
Education BA and MA in English literature
Alma mater Islamia College
Punjab University
Occupation Journalist
Years active 1935–62
Political party
 Muslim League
Movement Pakistan Movement
Religion Islam
Relatives Majid Nizami (brother)

Hameed Nizami (Punjabi, Urdu: حمید نظامی‎; b. 3 October 1915 – 22 February 1962), was an eminent journalist, literary figure, Pakistan Movement activist, and the founder as well as the editor-in-chief of the Urdu-language newspaper, the Nawa-i-Waqt (lit. Daily Times).

He earned national prominence for penning several political articles and opinionated columns in support of successful Pakistan Movement whilst played crucial role in the growing influence of the print journalism in Pakistan.[1]

Biography

Hameed Nizami was born in the remote railway junction located in Sangla Hill, few miles far from the vintage Lyallpur (now Faisalabad), Punjab, British Indian Empire, on 3 October 1915.[2] He hailed from a Punjabi family and initially studied at the local school in Faisalabad at his own expense.[3] He attended the Islamia College where he gained BA in Journalism.[3] Furthermore, he attended the Punjab University where he attained the MA in English Literature.[3]

During his years in college, he was politically active, having found and served president of the Punjab Muslim Federation of the Muslim League.[3] His role as student leader and journalist led him to become closer to Muhammad Ali Jinnah. After attaining master's degree in journalism, he joined the press directorate of the Punjab government for a short brief of time before joining the literary staff of the Orient Press.[4]

Nawa-i-Waqt

In 1940, Nizami left the Orient Press to establish the Nawa-i-Waqt, which he became newspapers' first editor-in-chief from Lahore on 23 March 1940.[5] The Nawa-i-Waqt was a monthly newspaper but he quickly converted the newspaper into weekly on 15 December 1942.[5] After hiring more staff and gaining more credibility, the Nawa-i-Waqt began publishing its articles and news headlines on daily purposes on 19 July 1944.[5] The first edition of the Nawa-i-Waqt came out on 22 July 1944 a Muslim prayer and a message of the Muhammad Ali Jinnah.[5]

Nizami's efforts made Nawa-i-Waqt with all its limitations a powerful voice of the people for the cause of Muslim League and penned several articles for the support for the Pakistan Movement.[5] He was noted as the strong spokesman for the support of democracy in the country, and harshly penned a column against the first martial law imposed by President Iskander Mirza.[6] Through his newspaper, he took hard stance on communism and supported the capitalism stance during the 1950s.[7]

He began to raise voice against the martial law despite hardship imposed by the government.[8] He once described the martial law as a "dark night".[6]

Death and legacy

Hameed Nizami died on 25 February 1962 in Lahore.[9] His death was mourned throughout the country.[4] After his death, the newspaper founded the "Hameed Nizami Memorial Society" (HNMS) dedicated to his style of journalism, and held memorial session in remembrance of his name each and every year.[10] His journalism style was influenced by the renowned philosopher, Iqbal, and had conveyed his words in articles penned by him.[10] To many conservative politicians, Nizami is noted as a crucial figure in shaping the print media in Pakistan.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Staff correspondents (26 February 2012). "Hameed Nizami gives new face to journalism". Balochistan Times. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  2. ↑ Gupta, Om (2006). Encyclopaedia of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Delhi: Isha Books. ISBN 8182053897.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Ikram, S. M. (1993). Indian Muslims and Partition of India. Delhi: Atlantic. ISBN 8171563740.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mirza, Sarfaraz Hussain (1978), The Punjab Muslim Students Federation: An Annotated Documentary Surve, 50 53, Islamabad: Research Society of Pakistan, Xc2cAAAAMAAJ
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Talbot, Ian (1988). Provincial politics and the Pakistan movement : the growth of the Muslim League in North-West and North-East India, 1937–1947 (1st. ed. ed.). Karachi: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195773873.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Aziz, Umar (3 March 2013). "Hameed Nizami's legacy being distorted'". Pakistan Today, 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  7. ↑ Editorial (d). "Today's Nawa-e-Waqt News Paper in Urdu". Nawa-e-Waqt. Retrieved 23 December 2013. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ↑ Siddique, Hassan (21 February 2011). "Hameed Nizami's legacy is under illegal occupation'". Pakistan Today, 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  9. ↑ Iqbal, Javed (3 March 2013). "Hameed Nizami remembered". The Nation, 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Staff report (26 January 2012). "Hameed Nizami, a man of simple words". Pakistan Today, 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2013.

External links