Nazir Ahmad Dehlvi
Maulvi Nazir Ahmad Dehlvi, also known as "Deputy” Nazir Ahmad, was an Urdu novel writer, social and religious reformer, and orator.
Maulvi Deputy Nazir Ahmad | |
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| Born | 1831 Rehar Village, District Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Died | 3 May 1914 Delhi, India |
| Pen name | Deputy Nazir Ahmad |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Zakir Husain Delhi College (Delhi College) |
| Period | Mughal era, British Indian |
Early life and upbringing
Nazir Ahmad was born in 1831 to a family of scholars in Rehar village, Bijnor District, U.P., India. His father, Saadat Ali Khan, was a teacher at a religious seminary, madrassa. Until the age of nine, he was home-schooled in Persian and Arabic. He then studied Arabic grammar for five years under the guidance of Deputy Collector Bajnor, Nasrallah Saheb.[1]
To further Ahmad's Arabic skills, in 1842 his father took him to Delhi to study under the guidance of Abd ul-Khaliq at the Aurangabadi Mosque. Ahmad's family was greatly opposed to sending boys to educational institutions running on western lines and urged that education should be confined within the walls of the mosque. However, on a visit to Delhi College, he was offered a scholarship to complete his studies at the college. He took advantage of the opportunity and enrolled in the college in 1846. However,, he enrolled in the Urdu section of the college, as his father had said to him, “he would rather see him (Ahmad) die than learn English”.[2] From 1846 to 1853 at Delhi College, he studied under the famous Arabic scholar Mamlook Ali and the English principal Mr. Taylor, receiving regular education of Arabic literature, philosophy, math and English.[3]
During his time at the mosque at Delhi, Ahmad also discreetly arranged his own marriage to Maulvi Abd ul-Khaliq's granddaughter. Student living in the mosque helped the Maulvi Sahab with daily chores. Ahmad had to carry in his lap a little girl, who became his wife as he grew up, as his teacher was fond of his hard-working habits and good character.[4] He had one son and two daughters from the marriage.[5] His son was a high-ranking official, whose own son, Shahid Ahmed Dehlvi, was a famous writer in Pakistan.[6]
Life after Delhi College
Upon completion of his education, in 1853, Ahmad joined the British colonial administration. He began his life as a school teacher, teaching Arabic in a small school at Kunjah, in Gujarat district, in Punjab. After serving two years in Kunjah, he was appointed as deputy inspector of schools in Cawnpore, but his work there was affected by the mutiny of 1857. At the outbreak of the mutiny he rejoined his family back in Delhi. There, he witnessed the ugly experience of the year of the war.[7][8]
Over time his English improved enough that he could translate English text into Urdu. The first time his acumen at translation was put to test when upon the desire of Lieutenant Governor Sir William Muir of North Western Provinces, Ahmad translated the Income Tax Act from English to Urdu. Later a board was convened to carry out the translation of the Indian penal code to Urdu. Ahmad was an important member of board and carried out a chunk of the translation himself.[9]
In recognition for his hard work and ability, the colonial government decided to give him an appointment in the revenue department, in which he first worked as a Tehsildar, and then in 1863, as a Deputy Collector.[10]
Ahmad garnered more acclaim from his story books. As his daughters were growing up, he realized that there were no good Urdu books focused on the education of girls. He began writing a story for his daughters. The way he in ‘true to life’ manner described the ‘house of the family’ and the ‘talks between the members of the family’ captured the fascination of his girls. The girls kept pressing him to write more and more of the story. The fame of his stories spread in the neighborhood, and copies of the manuscripts were made and other girls read own their own.[11]
Initially, Ahmad wrote without any thought of publication. His writings were initially limited to a small social circle. It was the chance discovery of these stories by Mathew Kempson, the British Director of Public Instruction, on his visit to Jhansi where Ahmad was serving, that led to book being published. It was published under the name Mirat-ul-Urus, “Bride’s Mirror”, in 1869.[12]
Mirat ul Urus won huge acclaim upon being published. When Sir William Muir, who knew Ahmad from before, saw the book, he was quite impressed by it. Two months after Kempson's visit to Jhansi, where he came across Ahmad's writing, he sent Ahmad a letter telling how his book was ‘first of its kind’ and was awarded a cash prize of 1000 rupees. At a Darbar held in Agra in 1869, Sir Williams publicly praised the book. He also gave the author a clock as personal present with the author's name inscribed on it.[13]
Life after retirement
On his return to Delhi, Ahmad undertook the task of translating the Quran to Urdu. He devoted three years to this task. Assisted by four hired Maulvis, he completely absorbed himself in this task. He translated it into idiomatic Urdu, to enable Urdu speaking people to understand the content better. He also included parenthetical phrases in the translation to make the meaning of the text more clear. This translation brought more fame to Ahmad than any of his earlier publications.[14]
Towards the later part of his stay in the city, Ahmad ceased to write fiction and got more involved in Sir Syed's political activities. In these political campaigns he explored his gift at oratory. He made his first public speech at the annual meeting of Tibbia College in Delhi. This is probably when he realized that ‘his tongue could wield a greater influence than his pen’, in stirring the masses. The demand of his eloquent speeches made him to travel to Calcutta, Madras and Bombay. Aligarh and Lahore were also his frequent stops. He made the most speeches at the annual meetings of Mohammadan Educational Conferences. The Anjuman-i-Himayat Islam, Lahore invited him for their annual anniversary meetings and his lecture of sideline of the gathering attracted throngs of crowds. With his commendable sense of humor and eloquent recitation of verses, he could hold his audience ‘spell bound for two to three hours in a stretch’.[15]
Literary works
Binat-un-Nash
The novel had ‘Asghari’ from Mirat-ul-Uroos as the chief character, although here Asghari is a school teacher. The idea of female education is a core theme of this books. That is done by giving lessons in general education and physical sciences through conversations between a teacher and her student. This publishing was also a great success. This was the time when Ahmad's writings became a mode of guidance for the girls of Mohammadan families.[16]
Taubat-un-Nashuh
It is a story of a ‘penitent sinner’, who fighting cholera out of hopelessness, turns himself to the right path of God. His wife embraces the change in her husband. However, his children, especially the eldest son, have indulged into irretractable bad manners. The author talks about how the former habits of the father led to the eldest son's being spoiled. NAhmadazir through his story highlights the importance of grooming and disciplining kids as they are growing up. Simultaneously, he stresses on the youth to heed the advice of their elders.[17]
Mirat-ul-Uroos
This is the first novel written by Ahmad and it is also the first novel of Urdu literature.
It is the story of two sisters, Asghari and Akbari. Asghari was younger sister and she was really intelligent, doing every thing with wisdom and intelligence. Akbari was a foolish girl, losing much because of her foolishness.
Through this novel Ahmad tried to light up consciousness in girls about the discipline of house keeping.
Even this novel was owned by British rule and they published it in a large number.
Last days
Despite holding a post in the British government, Ahmad still preferred the traditional Indian lifestyle, rather than living life in the more anglicized modern British lifestyle.[18]
References
- Abbas, Qamar & Ahmad, Dr. Farooq & Qamar, Dua & Abbas, Mujahid & Zia, Ghazala & Abbas, Zafar. Life and Work of Deputy Nazir Ahmed: The First Novelist of Urdu. (2017) p. 214-219
- Pritchett, Frances W. “Afterword: The First Urdu Bestseller”. (New Delhi: Permanent Black, 2001). p. 204-223 http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00fwp/published/txt_mirat_intro.html
- Abbas, Qamar & Ahmad, Dr. Farooq & Qamar, Dua & Abbas, Mujahid & Zia, Ghazala & Abbas, Zafar. P.214
- Abdul Qadir, Sheikh. Famous Urdu Poets and Writers. (1947). Pp. 119-129.
- Irfan, Shahid. Deputy Nazir Ahmed: a feminist writer. Urduliterature.com. (April 4, 2017) https://theurduwriters.com/deputy-nazir-ahmad/
- Rauf Parekh (3 June 2008), "A tale of changing times", Dawn News. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- Abdul Qadir, Sheikh. p.120
- Lal, Ruby. "Gender and Sharafat: Re-reading Nazir Ahmad." Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 18, no. 1 (2008): 15-30. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27755909
- Abdul Qadir, Sheikh. p.120-121
- Abdul Qadir, Sheikh. p.121
- Abdul Qadir, Sheikh. p.123
- Abdul Qadir, Sheikh. p.124
- Abdul Qadir, Sheikh. p.124-125
- Abdul Qadir, Sheikh. The New School of Urdu Literature. (1898). pp. 47-61.
- Abdul Qadir, Sheikh. Famous Urdu Poets and Writers. p.127-128
- Abdul Qadir, Sheikh. The New School of Urdu Literature. p.55
- Abdul Qadir, Sheikh. The New School of Urdu Literature. p.57
- Abdul Qadir, Sheikh. Famous Urdu Poets and Writers. p.128-129
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