Mustansar Hussain Tarar
Mustansar Hussain Tarar (Urdu: مستنصر حسين تارڑ; Mustanṣar Ḥusẹ̄n Tāraṙ) S.I. (born 1 March 1939) is a Pakistani author, travel enthusiast, mountaineer, writer, novelist, columnist, TV host and former actor.[1]
Mustansar Hussain Tarar | |
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![]() Mustansir Hussain Tarar while working | |
Born | Mandi Bahauddin, Pakistan | 1 March 1939
Pen name | مستنصر حسین تارڑ |
Occupation | Novelist, actor, newspaper columnist, travelogue writer, TV Host |
Signature | ![]() |
Website | |
mustansarhussaintarar |
Early life
Mustansar Hussain Tarar was born in Ghakhar Mandi on 1st March 1939 at his maternal grandparents' house, according to the preface of his book, Lahore Awargi.[2] But he was raised in Lahore with his family that hailed from Mandi Bahauddin. His father, Rehmat Tarar, operated a small agricultural seed store by the name of "Kisan & company" that later flourished to become a major business in that field.[3]
Tarar was educated at Rang Mahal Mission High School and Muslim Model High School, both in Lahore, Pakistan.[4] He pursued higher studies at Government College, Lahore and in London.[4] While abroad he spent much of his time watching movies, hanging out with friends and reading books. In 1958, he attended the World Youth Festival in Moscow and wrote a book named Fakhta (Dove) based on his experience.[4][5]
Career
He has written more than 50 books including novels and a collection of short stories in his career.[2] His first book was a travelogue of Europe published in 1971 by the title of Nikley Teri Talaash Main (1970), dedicated to his youngest brother, Mobashir Hussain Tarar.[2] This followed a period during which he travelled in seventeen European countries, and spearheaded a new trend of travelogues in Urdu literature. So far he has over forty travelogues ('Safar Nama' in Urdu) to his credit.[2]
He also became a television actor and was, for many years, a host of Pakistan Television Corporation's (PTV) live morning show Subah Bakhair (1988) (Good Morning).[1] His unconventional and down-to-earth style of hosting earned him great popularity among people from all circles of life. He is one of the most recognised personality among children as he spent a big part of transmission time addressing children exclusively. He called himself chacha jee (paternal uncle) of all Pakistani children and soon became known by this title.[2]
![](../I/m/Mustansar_Hussain_Tarar_-_Autograph.jpg)
Tarar has been an active mountaineer for many years and has been to the base camp of the famous mountain K2 and the Chitti Buoi Glacier.[4]
Columns as a journalist and books
During his long career, he has been a newspaper columnist and a contributor in Pakistani newspapers including Dawn and Daily Aaj, and used to write a weekly column for Akhbar-e-Jahan.[4]
His books include:
- Mantiqul Tair, Jadeed (منطق الطیر، جدید) (Conference of Birds, Modern) (ISBN 9693531574, Publisher: SMP, Language: Urdu, Category: Novel Year: 2018)
- Andulus Mayn Ajnabi (اندلس میں اجنبی) (Stranger in Spain) (ISBN No:9693515471, Publisher:SMP, Language:URDU, Category: SAFAR NAMA Year: 2009) First published in 1972[2]
- Bahhao (بہاؤ) (Flow of water)[2]
- Bay Izti Kharab (بے عزتی خراب) (Insulting dishonor) – This phrase is deliberately wrong and commonly used this way in local communities, thus the book name[2]
- Berfeeli Bulandiyan (برفیلی بلندیاں) (Snowy Heights)
- Carvan Sarai (کارواں سرایےؑ) (Caravan Motel)
- Chikh Chuk (چک چک) (Remove the curtain)
- Chitral Daastan (چترال داستان) (Tale of Chitral)
- Dais Huwaa Perdais (دیس ہوے پردیس) (Homeland becomes foreign land)[2]
- Deosai (دیوسائی)- First published in 2003
- Dakia aur Jolaha (ڈاکیا اور جولاھا) (Postman and cloth-maker)[3][2]
- Gadhay Hamaray Bhai Hain (گدھے ہمارے بھایی ھیں) (Donkeys are our brothers)
- Ghar-e-Hira Mein Ek Raat (غار حراء میں ایک رات) (a night in the cave 'Hira' near Mecca)[2]
- Guzara Naheen Hota (گزارا نہیں ہوتا) (Hard to get by)
- Gypsy (جپسی)
- Hazaron Hain Shikway (ہزاروں ھیں شکوے) (Have thousands of complaints)
- Hazaron Raastay (ہزاروں راستے) (Thousands of paths)
- Hunza Dastaan (ہنزہ داستان) (Tale of Hunza)
- K-2 Ki Kahani (کے ٹو کہانی) (K2 Story)- First published in 1993[2]
- Kaalaash (کالاش) (Kafiristan)
- Khana Badosh (خانہ بدوش) (Gypsi)- First published in 1983
- Moorat (مورت) (Idol)
- Moscow Ki Sufaid Raatein.ماسکو کی سفید راتیں ( White nights of Moscow)
- Munh Wal Kabbey Shariff Dey (منہ ول کعبے شریف دے) (Face towards Qibla) [Experience of performing HAJJ]- First published in 2006
- Nanga Parbat (نانگاپربت) (book named after the mountain of the same name)
- Nepal Nagri (نیپال نگری) (Land of Nepal)- First published in 1999
- Niklay Teri Talash Main (نکلے تیری تلاش میں) (Out in your search)- First published in 1970[2]
- Pakhairoo (پکھیرو) (Birds)- A book in the Punjabi language
- Parinday (پرندے) (Birds)
- Parwaz (پرواز) (Flight)
- Payar Ka Pehla Shehr (پیار کا پہلا شہر) (Love's first city)- First published in 1974[1]
- Putli Peking Ki (پتلی پیکنگ کی) (Monument from Peking)- First published in 2009
- Qilaa Jangi (قلعہ جنگی) (Fortified war)
- Qurbat-e-Marg Main Mohabbat (قربت مرگ میں محبت) (Love, when you are near death)[3][1]
- Raakh (راکھ) (Ash)
- Ratti Gali- First published in 2005
- Safar Shumal Kay (سفر شمال کے) (Journeys of the north)- First published in 1991
- Shamshaal Baimesaal (شمشال بیمثال) (Extraordinary Shamshaal) First published in 2000
- Shehpar (شہپر) (Wings)
- Shuter Murgh Riasat (شتر مرغ ریاست) (Ostrich State)[3]
- Snow Lake (سنو لیک) First published in 2000
- Sunehri Ullo Ka Shaher (سنہری الو کا شھر) (The city of golden owl)
- Yaak Saraey (یاک سرائے) (Yaak Inn)- First published in 1997
- Khas-o-Khashak Zamane (خس و خاشاک زمانے) (Novel)
- Alaska Highway – (ISBN 9693524446 Publisher: SMP Language: URDU Subject: TRAVELOGUE Year: 2011)
- Australia Awargi (آسٹریلیا آوارگی) (Travelogue, 2015)
- 15-Kahaniyan (15 کہانیاں) (Short Stories, 2015)
- Rakaposhi Nagar (راکاپوشی نگر) (Travelogue, 2015)
- America Key Sou Rang (امریکا کے سو رنگ) (Travelogue of America, 2015)
- Aur Sindh Behta Raha (اور سندھ بہتا رہا) (Travelogue of Sindh, 2016)
- Haramosh Naqabil e Faramosh (Travelogue of Haramosh peak, 2017)
- Karvaan Siraye (کاروان سرائے) (2001 )
- Ullu Hamare Bhai Hain (الو ھمارے بھا ئئ ھین)
- Lahore Awargi
- Pyar ka Pehla Punjab
- Siyah Aankh Mein Tasveer[2]
- Tarar Nama
Drama
He is also the author of many famous drama series for Pakistan Television Corporation or PTV.
- Hazaron Raastey (Thousands of Paths)[3]
- Parinda (Bird)
- Shehpar (Wings)
- Sooraj Ke Sath Sath (staying along with the Sun)
- Keilash (Name of a tribe in northern areas of Pakistan)
- Fareb (illusion)
Travelogue writer
As a mountaineer and a travelogue writer himself, Tarar has long promoted the cause of tourism projects in the Northern Areas of Pakistan.[3]
Awards and recognition
- Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) - Awarded in Literature by the President of Pakistan in 2017[6]
- Pride of Performance Award - Awarded in Literature in 1992[2]
- Anjuman Farogh-i-Urdu (Qatar) Award[2]
References
- Haroon Ashraf (28 December 2015). "The rise and rise of Mustansar Hussain Tarar". The Nation (newspaper). Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- A decent man can't be a good writer - Mustansar Tarar Dawn (newspaper), Published 19 February 2009, Retrieved 26 April 2019
- Profile of Mustansar Hussain Tarar on urduadab4u.com website Published 31 August 2010, Retrieved 26 April 2019
- Profile of Mustansar Hussain Tarar on urduwire.com website Archived 20 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 26 April 2019
- Flashback: Diary of a vagabond (Mustansar Hussain Tarar) Dawn (newspaper), Published 2 December 2012, Retrieved 26 April 2019
- Mustansar Hussain Tarar award info on Associated Press of Pakistan website Published 23 March 2017, Retrieved 26 April 2019