News Desk
ISLAMABAD: Renowned poet and writer from Pakistan, Khawaja Reazuddin Atash is being remembered today (Sunday) on his 22nd death anniversary, with literary circles paying him tribute for his services to Urdu literature including language and poetry.
Atash was born in Patna, Bihar (now part of India), and migrated to Karachi following political and civil unrest in the then East Pakistan. He started writing poetry from an early age and participated actively in ‘mushairas’ and literary sittings.
Contribution to Urdu Language
Atash wrote ghazals, nazms and hamd-o-naat and authored books on the language.
He published his poems in three volumes that included “Saughat-e-Junoon” – a collection of ghazals, “Jashn-e-Junoon” – a collection of nazms, and “Vird-e-Nafas” – a collection of Hamd-o-Naat.
His notable works include “Urdu Dushman Tehreek ke Sau Saal” – a collection of investigative papers and articles about anti-Urdu movements, and “Urdu ka Shajra-e-Nasab” – a linguistic research and reference work on the language. He also published the biography of poet Dr. Mubarak Azimabadi titled “Daagh ka Akhri Charagh”: a disciple of Daagh Dehlavi.
Atash also wrote lyrics for film songs and commercial jingles and founded “Bazm-e Sukhan” in Dhaka, Karachi and Chicago. He received a number of literary awards, including the AMUAAGC Ghalib Award for his lifelong literary services.
He died on January 8, 2001, in Chicago.
