Hasan Askari (writer) facts for kids

Muhammad Hasan Askari (Urdu: محمد حسَن عسکری) was an important Pakistani scholar, writer, and literary critic. He lived from 1919 to 1978. He was known for his work in the modern Urdu language.

At first, Hasan Askari was very interested in Western ideas. He translated many important books from Western countries into Urdu. These included famous works from American, English, French, and Russian literature.

But later in his life, his views changed. Because of his own experiences and big changes happening in the world, he started to criticize Western ideas. He became a strong supporter of Islamic culture and beliefs.

About Hasan Askari

His Early Life

Muhammad Hasan Askari was born on November 5, 1919. This was in a village in Bulandshahr District, which was part of British India then. His family was a traditional Muslim family. They loved reading the Qur'an and classic Persian literature.

His grandfather, Maulvi Husamuddin, was a scholar. His father, Muhammad Moinul Haq, worked as an accountant. Hasan Askari was the oldest of six children in his family.

School and Teaching

In 1938, he started studying at Allahabad University. He earned a Master of Arts degree in English literature in 1942. After finishing his studies, he worked for All India Radio in Delhi. For a short time, from 1944 to 1946, he also taught English literature at Meerut College.

Moving to Pakistan

For many years, Hasan Askari found it hard to get a steady job in Delhi. His brother thought this might have made him want to move to the new country of Pakistan. The main reason for his move was the fighting and riots after the Partition of India.

In October 1947, he arrived in Lahore by himself. He asked his mother and siblings to leave Meerut and join him. In Lahore, he started to focus more on Urdu literature. He believed this literature could show the Islamic identity of his new country. He hoped Pakistan would be a place where cultural traditions would grow. He also wanted writers to be free to share their ideas.

In February 1950, he moved to Karachi. He worked as an editor for a government magazine for a few months. After that, he got a job teaching English at Islamia College. He stayed there until he passed away in 1978.

His Later Years and Passing

Hasan Askari died on January 18, 1978. He was 57 years old and passed away from a heart attack. He was buried in the Darul Ulum cemetery in Karachi. At the time of his death, he was translating a commentary on the Qur'an into English.

After he died, his personal library was given to the Bedil Library in Karachi.

Hasan Askari's Ideas

His Changing Views

Hasan Askari started his writing career by writing short stories. He was influenced by writers like Anton Chekov. He also wrote essays inspired by the Progressive Writers' Movement. This movement wanted to change society through literature.

In his early years, he liked foreign authors such as Flaubert, Chekhov, and Baudelaire. He wrote stories that were different from what other Urdu writers were doing.

However, the Partition of India made him think deeply about religion and identity. This led him to change his approach to literature. He began to focus on an Islamic view of culture. He became critical of Western ideas, especially those from America.

You can see this big change in his essays called Jhalkiyan. Before the Partition, he wrote mostly about literature and art. After the Partition, his essays became more about ideas and the role of Urdu as a cultural link for Pakistan. During this time, he also stopped supporting the Progressive ideas about literature.

His later essays show that he became a bit disappointed with Pakistan. He felt it did not lead to the cultural growth he had hoped for. However, he kept his strong beliefs about religion, philosophy, and politics.

His Thoughts on Art and Poetry

Hasan Askari was influenced by Islamic philosophers. He believed in the idea of "wahdat al wujud," which means "Unity of Existence." He wanted poetry to reveal the true "being" of a person.

He felt that Western ideas had made poetry too emotional. He wanted to go back to Islamic sources and Sufi art styles. He praised the works of scholars like Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi and Rumi. He saw their works as examples of the kind of poetry he valued. His ideas about art were closely linked to his beliefs and political views.

His Political Views

Hasan Askari was described as someone who supported a kind of Islamic socialism. He believed in a Pakistan where Muslims could live a life rich with democratic principles. He supported Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He was also a strong critic of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.

His Impact and Legacy

Hasan Askari had a direct influence on many writers. These included novelists like Intizar Hussain and poets like Nasir Kazmi.

Another writer he influenced was Saleem Ahmed. Saleem Ahmed's house in Karachi was a very important place for writers in the 1970s and early 1980s. Literary critic Rauf Parekh said that Hasan Askari gave a new way of thinking about literary criticism in Urdu. He also started a new school of thought.

Books by Hasan Askari

• Meri Behtarin Nazm (a collection of his favorite poetry) – 1942
• Riyasat aur Inqilab (translation of Vladimir Lenin’s The State and Revolution) – 1942
• Jazirey (a collection of short stories) – 1943
• Mera Behtarin Afsana (a collection of his favorite short stories) – 1943
• Qiyamat Ham Rikab Aye na Aye (a collection of novellas) – 1947
• Akhri Salam (translation of Christopher Isherwood’s Goodbye to Berlin) – 1948
• Madame Bovary (translation of Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary) – 1950
• Insan aur Admi (critical essays) – 1953
• Surkh-o Siyah (translation of Stendhal's Le Rouge et le Noir) – 1953
• Main Kyun Sharmaun (translation of Sheila Cousins’ To Beg I am Ashamed) – 1959
• Sitara ya Badban (critical essays) – 1963
• Moby Dick (translation of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick) – 1967
• Vaqt ki Ragini (critical essays) – 1969
• Jadidiyat ya Maghribi Gumrahiyon ki Tarikh ka Khakah (philosophical and critical essays) – 1979

See also

• Moinuddin Chishti
• Nizamuddin Awliya
• Ashraf Jahangir Semnani