Zafar Ali Khan (1874–November 27, 1956), also known as Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, was a Pakistani writer, poet, translator, and journalist who played an important role in the Pakistan Movement against British rule.
He is also regarded as the father of Urdu journalism.
Early Life and Education
Zafar was born in Sialkot, British India, into a Punjabi Jat family. He received his primary education at Mission High School in Wazirabad, Wazirabad District, matriculated from Patiala, and did his intermediate from Aligarh College. Following that, he worked in the postal department of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, where his father also worked, but resigned due to a disagreement with his superiors. He returned to Aligarh College and earned his BA there, coming fifth in his class.
Career
Following graduation, Khan was assigned secretary to Mohsin-ul-Mulk, a Muslim political leader in Bombay at the time. He then worked as a translator in Hyderabad, Deccan, eventually attaining the position of Secretary. He returned from Hyderabad to Lahore, where he began his daily Zamindar newspaper, founded by his father, Maulvi Sirajuddin Ahmad.
Relation with the Ahmadiyya Movement
Zafar Ali Khan’s relation with the Qadiani movement was acrimonious. He was among those who condemned Mirza Ghulam Qadiani for penning disparaging poetry about him. He even penned the preface to “His Holiness,” a book meant to refute the Qadiani movement. Later, when Pakistan was established, he was an outspoken supporter of the 1953 Tehreek e Khatm e Nabuwat (a movement against the Qadianis), penning vehement articles against them.
Poetry
Khan’s passion for poetry began when he was a child. His poetry contains religious and political topics. He was particularly skilled in impromptu compositions. Baharistan, Nigaristan, and Chamanistan are among his poetical works. Marka-e-Mazhab-o-Science, Ghalba-e-Rum, Sayr-e-Zulmet, and an opera Jang-e-Roos-o-Japan are among his other works.
Popular Naats
- ‘Woh shamaUjalaa jis ne kiya 40 baras tak ghaaron mein,’ sung by Mehdi Hassan, a Radio Pakistan production, a popular Naat composed by Zafar Ali Khan.
- ‘Dil jis se zinda hai woh tamanna tum hi tau ho,’ sung by Muneeba Sheikh for Pakistan Television, is a popular Naat penned by Zafar Ali Khan.
Death
He died on November 27, 1956, in Wazirabad, Punjab. Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi, his companion, led the funeral prayer.
Memorials and Legacy
In his honour, Sahiwal Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium in Sahiwal, Punjab, was renamed Zafar Ali Stadium.
He worked for the Pakistan Movement and was an outspoken opponent of British rule. Recognising Zafar Ali Khan’s services to the Pakistan Movement, the Punjab government in Pakistan established the ‘Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Trust,’ which established the annual ‘Zafar Ali Khan Award’ for outstanding journalists.
Government Molana Zafar Ali Khan Degree College is named after him at Wazirabad.
In his honour, Pakistan Post produced a commemorative postage stamp in its ‘Pioneers of Freedom’ series.
Zafar Ali Khan’s Notable Publications
Some of his notable publications include:
Poetry
- Baharistan
- Nigaristan
- Camanistan
- Raharistan
- Armaghan-e Qadiyan
- Kulliyat-i Maulana Ẓafar Ali Khan
- Ḥabsiyat
- Nashid-i Shiraz
- Khamistan-i Ḥijaz
Essays
- Ghalbah-yi Rum: ek tarikhi tafsir, historical commentary of Surat Ar-Rum on the victory of Romans over the Persians and the Muslims over the Meccan polytheists as predicted by Koran in AD 615
- Taqrir-i Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, speeches of the author, especially in regard to the Khilafat movement.
- Lata’ifuladab, on the relation between literature and Islam
- Jamaluddin Afghani, biography of the Muslim reformer and independence fighter Jamal al-Din al-Afghani
Plays
- Jang-i Rus va Japan : yani ek tarikhi drama, a play on the Russian Japanese War, 1904–1905
Translations
- Jangal buk, Urdu translation from the English of Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book
- Al-Farooq: The life of Omar the Great, English translation from the Urdu of Shibli Nomani’s Al-Farooq.