Umaiordarame at 06:58, 30 April 2026

2026-04-30T06:58:58Z

New page

{{short description|Urdu linguist and scholar (1870–1961)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| era = 20th century
| image = Maulvi Abdul Haq.jpg
| caption = Maulvi Abdul Haq at the headquarters of [[Radio Pakistan]]
| honorific_prefix = ''Baba-e-Urdu''<br>[[Maulvi]]
| name = Abdul Haq
| native_name = {{nq|مولوی عبد الحق}}
| birth_date = 20 April 1870<ref name=pakpost/>
| organization = [[Anjuman-i Taraqqi-i Urdu]]
| birth_place = [[Hapur]], [[North-Western Provinces]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1961|8|16|1870|4|20}}<ref name=pakpost/>
| death_place = [[Karachi]], [[Sindh]], [[Pakistan]]
| resting_place = [[Federal Urdu University]] (Abdul-Haq campus), [[Karachi]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/356081-fuuast-marks-57th-death-anniversary-of-maulvi-abdul-haq|title=FUUAST marks 57th death anniversary of Maulvi Abdul Haq|date=17 August 2018|access-date=29 December 2021|work=The News International newspaper}}</ref>
| title = ''Baba-e-Urdu'' ({{literal translation|''Father of [[Urdu]]''|i=yes}})
| occupation= Researcher, [[scholarly method|scholar]] and a [[literary]] [[critic]]
| known for= Compiling a Standard English-Urdu Dictionary<br>and a lifetime dedication to the promotion of Urdu language
| signature = AbdulHaq Autograph.jpg
}}
{{Urdu literature}}
{{Aligarh Movement}}

'''Abdul Haq'''{{Efn|{{langx|ur|{{nastaliq|عبد الحق}}}}}} (20 April 1870 – 16 August 1961) was a Pakistani [[Urdu language|Urdu]] [[linguist]] and scholar. Often known as '''''Baba-e-Urdu''''' ({{langx|ur|{{nq|بابائے اردو}}}}, ''Father of Urdu''), he is credited for the development and promotion of Urdu language in 20th century. He is known for demanding Urdu to be made the national language of [[Pakistan]].<ref name=Dawn/><ref name=pakpost>{{cite web|url=http://www.pakpost.gov.pk/philately/stamps2004/maulvi_abdul_haq.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508032225/http://www.pakpost.gov.pk/philately/stamps2004/maulvi_abdul_haq.html |website=Pakistan Post website|archive-date=8 May 2008|date=31 August 2004|title=Profile and commemorative postage stamp of Baba-e-Urdu: Maulvi Abdul Haq|access-date=25 December 2023}}</ref>

==Early life==
He was deeply influenced by [[Syed Ahmad Khan|Sir Syed Ahmad Khan]]'s political and social views, and, following his wishes, learned English and scientific subjects. Like Syed Ahmad Khan, Abdul Haq saw Urdu as a major cultural and political influence on the lives and identity of the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent.<ref>S Krishna Bhatnagar (1969) History of the M.A.O. College, Aligarh. Asia Publishing House.</ref>

In the same year, he was appointed secretary of the [[All India Muhammadan Educational Conference]], which had been founded by Sir Syed in 1886 for the promotion of education and intellectualism in Muslim society. Sir Syed founded the [[Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu]] in 1886 in [[Aligarh]] with [[Thomas Walker Arnold]] as its first president and [[Shibli Nomani]] as the first secretary. In 1912 Haq was appointed as the secretary of the Anjuman. Under him, the organization flourished and published a number of magazines, notably ''Urdu'', launched in January 1921, ''Science'', in 1928, and ''Hamari Zaban'' (ہماری زبان; lit "Our Language"), in 1939.<ref name=dawnurdu>{{Cite web|date=2011-04-03|title=Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu — the movement lives on|url=https://www.dawn.com/2011/04/03/anjuman-taraqqi-i-urdu-the-movement-lives-on/|access-date=2023-12-25|website=Dawn newspaper|language=en}}{{dead link|date=April 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> During this period he also served as the Principal of Osmania College (Aurangabad) and retired from that position in 1930.<ref name=pakpost/>

==Educational and political activities==
Haq was a scholarly critic who provided criticisms of modern Urdu works and encouraged his students to develop literary skills and appreciation of Urdu. Following his retirement from Osmania University in 1930, Haq worked to compile and edit a comprehensive and authoritative English-Urdu dictionary.<ref name=pakpost/>

==In Pakistan==
In 1948, Haq migrated to Pakistan.<ref name=dawnurdu/> In the wake of [[Partition of India|migration]] and the accompanying riots in 1947, much of his property, especially valuable manuscripts, papers and books were lost. However, some of the material which he brought to Pakistan is kept in the [[Urdu Dictionary Board]] library.<ref name=pakpost/>

The ordeals of partition and the [[emigration|migration]] also adversely affected Abdul Haq's health. He re-organised the ''Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu'' in [[Karachi]], launching [[List of magazines in Pakistan|journals]], establishing libraries and schools, publishing a large number of books and promoting education in the Urdu language and linguistic research in it.<ref name=dawnurdu/> Abdul Haq's work especially helped preserve the distinct "Old Urdu" linguistic and literary traditions of [[Hyderabad State|Hyderabad]], known as ''[[Hyderabadi Urdu]]''.<ref>M Yusuf Abbasi (1992). Pakistani Culture: A Profile. National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research. {{ISBN|969-415-023-X}}</ref> He also used his organisation for political activism, promoting the adoption of Urdu as the ''[[lingua franca]]'' and sole official language of Pakistan.<ref name=Dawn>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1278009 |title=Homage paid to Baba-e-Urdu on his 55th death anniversary|newspaper= Dawn newspaper|date= 17 August 2016|access-date=25 December 2023}}</ref>

==Death==
Despite illnesses and failing health, Haq continued to promote the active use of Urdu as a medium for all educational activities.{{Citation needed|date= June 2018}} He pushed for the creation of an Urdu College in Karachi,<ref>It became a predecessor of [[Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology]]</ref><ref name=Dawn/> the adoption of Urdu as a medium of instruction for all subjects in educational institutions and worked to organise a national Urdu conference in 1959. Suffering from cancer, He died after a prolonged period of incapacitation on 16 August 1961 in [[Karachi]].<ref name=pakpost/>

==''Baba-e-Urdu'''s publications==
For his achievements in the development and promotion of Urdu literature, he is officially regarded as ''Baba-e-Urdu''. His best known works include the English-Urdu dictionary, ''Chand Ham Asar'':چند ہم عصر, ''Maktoobat'': مکتوبات, ''Muqaddimat''مقدمات, ''Tauqeedat'', ''Qawaid-e-Urdu'':قوائد اردو and ''Debacha Dastan Rani Ketki''. The [[Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu]] remains an important intellectual organisation in Pakistan. Held in high esteem amongst the intellectuals, educationalists and scholars in Pakistan, Haq is praised for his work in promoting Muslim heritage and Urdu as a unifying medium for Pakistani Muslims.<ref>M Ayub Khan (1961). Speeches and Statements. Pakistan Publications.</ref><ref name=Dawn/>

==Commemorative postage stamp issued in 2004==
In recognition of his services to [[Urdu literature]], [[Pakistan Post]] issued a [[Commemorative stamp]] in his honor on 16 August 2004 in its 'Men of Letters' series.<ref name=pakpost/>

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== See also ==
* [[Jamiluddin Aali]]
* [[Sahar Ansari]]
* [[Josh Malihabadi]]
* [[Anjuman-i Taraqqi-i Urdu]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Maulvi Abdul Haq |birth=1870 |death=1961}}
{{Pakistan Movement}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haq, Maulvi Abdul}}
[[Category:1870 births]]
[[Category:1961 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Hapur]]
[[Category:Muhajir people]]
[[Category:Urdu-language writers]]
[[Category:Pakistani scholars]]
[[Category:Writers from Karachi]]
[[Category:Literary critics of Urdu]]
[[Category:Aligarh Muslim University alumni]]
[[Category:Pakistani lexicographers]]
[[Category:Scholars from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Pakistan Movement]]
[[Category:Writers from Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Poets from Karachi]]
[[Category:Federal Urdu University]]
[[Category:Writers from British India]]
[[Category:Scholars from Karachi]]
[[Category:Founders of Jamia Millia Islamia]]

Abdul Haq Urdu scholar - Revision history

Umaiordarame at 06:58, 30 April 2026