Sitara-e-Imtiaz
The Sitara-e-Imtiaz () also spelled as Sitara-i-Imtiaz, is the third-highest (in the order of "Imtiaz") honour and Civil decorations of Pakistan, civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes individuals who have made an "especially m ...
linguist
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...
and
lexicographer
Lexicography is the study of lexicons, and is divided into two separate academic disciplines. It is the art of compiling dictionaries.
* Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries.
* Theoreti ...
of
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
.
Early life
Born in
Delhi
Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders w ...
, Haqqee acquired his BA degree from
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University (abbreviated as AMU) is a Public University, public Central University (India), central university in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, which was originally established by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan as the Muhammadan Anglo-Orie ...
. He obtained a Master's degree in English literature from
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi, widely regarded as one of the oldest and most prestigious colleges for arts and sciences in India. It was established in 1881 by the Cambridge Mission to Delhi. The college ...
.
His father, Ehtashamuddin Haqqee, wrote short stories, a study of Persian poet
Hafez Shirazi
Khwāje Shams-od-Dīn Moḥammad Ḥāfeẓ-e Shīrāzī ( fa, خواجه شمسالدین محمّد حافظ شیرازی), known by his pen name Hafez (, ''Ḥāfeẓ'', 'the memorizer; the (safe) keeper'; 1325–1390) and as "Hafiz", ...
, ''Tarjuman-ul-Ghaib'', a translation of ''Diwan-i-Hafez'' in verse and assisted Baba-e-Urdu
Maulvi Abdul Haq
Maulvi Abdul Haq ( ur, ) (20 April 1870 – 16 August 1961) was a scholar and a linguist, whom some call '' Baba-e-Urdu'' ( ur, ) (''Father of Urdu''). Abdul Haq was a champion of the Urdu language and the demanded for it to be made the nat ...
in compiling his ''Lughat-i-Kabeer'' (Grand Urdu Dictionary).
Contribution to Urdu
Haqqee published two collections of his own poems, ''Taar-i-Pairahan'' (1957) and ''Harf-i-Dilras'' (1979). He also published ghazals under the title, ''Dil ki Zaban''.
His other publications include:
* ''Naqd-o-Nigarish'' (a work of
literary criticism
Literary criticism (or literary studies) is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often influenced by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of literature's goals and methods. Th ...
)
* ''Maqalaat-e-Mumtaz''
* ''Shaakhsaanay'' (Short Stories)
* ''Maqam-e-Ghazal'' (edited work of Hafiz Hoshiarpuri)
* ''Nashid-i-Hurriyat''
* ''Nukta-e-Raz'' (collection of research articles dealing with Urdu poetry)
* ''Bhagvad Gita'' (Urdu translation)
* ''Darpan Darpan'' (translated poetry from various languages)
* ''Intikhab-e-Kalam-e-Zafar'' (a selection of
Mughal emperor
The Mughal emperors ( fa, , Pādishāhān) were the supreme heads of state of the Mughal Empire on the Indian subcontinent, mainly corresponding to the modern countries of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The Mughal rulers styled t ...
Bahadur Shah Zafar
Bahadur Shah II, usually referred to by his poetic title Bahadur Shah ''Zafar'' (; ''Zafar'' Victory) was born Mirza Abu Zafar Siraj-ud-din Muhammad (24 October 1775 – 7 November 1862) and was the twentieth and last Mughal Emperor as well a ...
's poetry)
* ''Qitaat-e-Tareekh-e-Wafat-e-Ahle-Qalam-wa-Mutaliqeen-e-Ahle-Qalam''
* ''Lisani Masail-o-Lataif'' (collection of research articles dealing with Urdu poetry)
* ''Nazr-e-Khusro Pahelian Keh Mukarniyan''
* ''Aaeena-e-Afkar-e-Ghalib''
* ''Nok Jhonk''
* ''Suhaanay Taraanay''
* ''Phool Khilay Hain Rung Birnagay''
* ''Anjaan Rahi'' (translation of Jack Shaffer's novel Shane)
* ''Teesri Duniya'' (translation of essays on politics and economy)
* ''Soor-i-Israfeel'' (translation of Bengali poet Qazi Nazrul Islam)
* ''Khayabaan-e-Pak'' (anthology of Pakistan's folk poetry of about 40 poets)
His autobiography was serialized in the Urdu journal ''Afkaar''. He also translated
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
's
Antony and Cleopatra
''Antony and Cleopatra'' (First Folio title: ''The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The play was first performed, by the King's Men, at either the Blackfriars Theatre or the Globe Theatre in around ...
and Chanakya Kautilya's
Arthashastra
The ''Arthashastra'' ( sa, अर्थशास्त्रम्, ) is an Ancient Indian Sanskrit treatise on statecraft, political science, economic policy and military strategy. Kautilya, also identified as Vishnugupta and Chanakya, is ...
.
He also wrote other genres of poetry, such as ''Peheylian'', ''Kehmukarnian'', and ''Qitat-i-Tareekhi''.
As a lexicographer
In addition to his regular professional duties, he remained associated with the
Urdu Dictionary Board
The Urdu Dictionary Board () is an academic and literary institution of Pakistan, administered by National History and Literary Heritage Division of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Its objective is to edit and publish a comprehensive ...
for 17 years from 1958 to 1975, compiling a 22-volume dictionary. He compiled two other dictionaries. ''Farhang-e-Talaffuz'' is a pronouncing dictionary of Urdu published by the
National Language Authority
The National Language Promotion Department ( ur, ), formerly known as the National Language Authority (or Urdu Language Authority), is an autonomous regulatory institution established in 1979 to support the advancement and promotion of Urdu, w ...
. The ''Oxford English-Urdu Dictionary'' is a translation of the eighth and ninth editions of the
Concise Oxford English Dictionary
The ''Concise Oxford English Dictionary'' (officially titled ''The Concise Oxford Dictionary'' until 2002, and widely abbreviated ''COD'' or ''COED'') is probably the best-known of the 'smaller' Oxford dictionaries. The latest edition contains ...
.
One of his personal friends was the former Chairman of
Pakistan Academy of Letters
The Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) ( ur, ) is a national academy with its main focus on Pakistani literature and related fields. It is the largest and the most prestigious learned society of its kind in Pakistan, with activities throughout th ...
and
National Language Authority
The National Language Promotion Department ( ur, ), formerly known as the National Language Authority (or Urdu Language Authority), is an autonomous regulatory institution established in 1979 to support the advancement and promotion of Urdu, w ...
,
Iftikhar Arif
Iftikhar Hussain Arif ( ur, ; born 21 March 1944), is an Urdu poet, scholar and littérateur from Pakistan. His style is romantic Urdu poetry. He has headed the Pakistan Academy of Letters and the National Language Authority. He has received t ...
, who remembers him fondly. After his death in 2005, he said that Haqqee had worked diligently and hard most of his life and had a strong belief in the proper use of ''talaffuz'' with special emphasis on diction and pronunciation.
Awards and recognition
*
Sitara-i-Imtiaz
The Sitara-e-Imtiaz () also spelled as Sitara-i-Imtiaz, is the third-highest (in the order of "Imtiaz") honour and civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes individuals who have made an "especially meritorious contribution to the ...
(Star of Excellence) by
President of Pakistan
The president of Pakistan ( ur, , translit=s̤adr-i Pākiṣṭān), officially the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is the ceremonial head of state of Pakistan and the commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces.Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam by
Ayub Khan (President of Pakistan)
Muhammad Ayub Khan (Urdu: ; 14 May 1907 – 19 April 1974), was the second President of Pakistan. He was an army general who seized the presidency from Iskander Mirza in a coup in 1958, the first successful coup d'état in the country's ...
Death
He died from complications of lung cancer in
Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga ( ), historically known as Toronto Township, is a city in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is situated on the shores of Lake Ontario in the Regional Municipality of Peel, adjoining the western border of Toronto. With a popul ...
, Canada while under his daughter's care on 11 October 2005. He was 87. Haqqee left five sons and one daughter. Like his wife, teacher Salma Haqqee, who died exactly two years earlier, he was buried in Mississauga, Canada. His wife was also a well-educated person and also a graduate of Aligarh Muslim University. Being an intellectual herself, she understood Haqqee's passion for his work and was a source of support for him all his married life.