Amar Jaleel: The Flame of Free Thought
Beyond fiction, Amar Jaleel is a columnist and commentator
He writes not just to tell a story but to ask questions —questions about faith, freedom, morality, and the meaning of life itself
In a world growing increasingly intolerant, Amar Jaleel is a reminder that the role of a writer is not to soothe but to ignite; not to flatter but to expose
By Nasir Aijaz
In the quiet town of Rohri, Sindh, in 1936, a child was born who would grow up to challenge not only the boundaries of literature but also the boundaries of thought in a society increasingly hemmed in by dogma and fear. That child was Amar Jaleel—a writer, philosopher, journalist, and, above all, a fearless truth-teller whose words have stirred hearts, provoked minds, and even sparked fury across the years.
Amar Jaleel is not just a literary figure; he is an intellectual institution, revered for his contribution to Sindhi literature, progressive thought, and freedom of expression in Pakistan. In a land where silence is often considered safer than truth, Jaleel chose truth—and paid the price with grace.
A Childhood in Changing Times
Born in British India, Jaleel grew up witnessing the chaos and dislocation caused by the Partition of 1947. The experience of national division and the accompanying trauma left an indelible mark on his consciousness. The spiritual and cultural richness of Sindh—its Sufi heritage, pluralism, and poetic traditions—also deeply shaped his worldview.
Jaleel was a bright student, eventually pursuing higher education and embarking on a career that spanned both civil service and broadcast media. He worked with the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation and in academic institutions, but even as he served in official roles, his heart and soul remained committed to literature.
The Writer Awakens
Jaleel began writing in his youth and quickly established himself in the world of short fiction. Over the years, he penned hundreds of short stories, essays, and columns, primarily in Sindhi, but also in Urdu, making his voice heard across linguistic and cultural boundaries.
Unlike traditional storytelling that follows linear plots and neat resolutions, Jaleel’s stories often feel like philosophical dialogues or inner monologues—open-ended, symbolic, and profoundly unsettling. His works are characterized by irony, minimalism, and allegory, often exploring taboo subjects with a stark, unflinching eye.
He writes not just to tell a story but to ask questions—questions about faith, freedom, morality, and the meaning of life itself. His stories frequently confront the manipulation of religion, the misuse of power, and the decay of human values.
When the Govt. Imposed Ban on his Stories
Though Amar Jaleel was threatened many times by different governments for his writings, his short story, ‘Sard Lash jo Safar’ (The journey of a cold dead body) was banned by the first-ever democratic government of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1970s. The story was about the sad incident of Kandhkot where the Hindu community was being looted and rapes were reported but the police became a party with the accused and refused to register FIRs. Later on, the Zia regime banned many of his stories.
“God Went Missing” — A Story That Shook a Nation
Among Amar Jaleel’s many stories, none caused as much public uproar as “Khuda Gum Thee Wayo” (God Went Missing). Although written decades earlier, the story drew massive national attention when Jaleel read it aloud at the Sindh Literature Festival.
The story is a metaphorical narrative, depicting a man searching desperately for God, only to be told by various gatekeepers of religion that God is not available to ordinary people. The tale is not a critique of religion itself, but a satirical, symbolic indictment of how institutional religion often distances humanity from the very values—compassion, justice, love—that the divine represents.
However, many took the story literally, accusing Jaleel of blasphemy. Social media campaigns, death threats, and legal challenges followed. Religious hardliners demanded an apology and even his execution. But Amar Jaleel stood firm. He never apologized. He never retracted a word. In a society where many bow to threats, he remained unbent—a symbol of courage and principle.
In interviews, Jaleel clarified that the story was not against religion or God but against those who exploit religion to control, silence, and oppress. The real loss, he argues, is not of faith but of the human values that faith should inspire.
A Style Rooted in Truth
Jaleel’s literary technique is deceptively simple. His language is clear, often conversational, but layered with deep symbolism. His stories are short, sometimes no more than a few paragraphs, but they carry the weight of philosophical essays. Readers come away not just entertained but challenged.
He draws inspiration not just from Sindhi folklore or Sufi poetry, but also from existential philosophy, psychology, and political theory. His characters are rarely heroes; they are often ordinary people trapped in moral dilemmas, existential crises, or systemic oppression. The real protagonist in Jaleel’s writing is conscience.
Journalism and Public Discourse
Beyond fiction, Amar Jaleel is a respected columnist and commentator. For decades, his columns have graced the pages of Sindhi and Urdu newspapers, where he discusses everything from political corruption and social injustice to cultural decay and religious intolerance.
He never hesitates to call out the military establishment, extremist clerics, or opportunist politicians. His columns are infused with a sense of historical awareness and moral urgency. While some consider his tone harsh, others see it as necessary in a country where euphemisms often hide atrocities.
The Legacy of a Rebel Writer
Amar Jaleel’s work has earned him literary acclaim, though he has always been ambivalent about awards. To him, integrity matters more than recognition. His impact, however, is undeniable. In Sindh and beyond, young writers, poets, and thinkers look up to him as a beacon of moral clarity and creative freedom.
He remains a central figure in progressive literary movements, an advocate for secularism, and a critic of blind nationalism. His stories are now taught in academic institutions, debated in public forums, and cherished by readers who yearn for truth in an age of conformity.
The Man Who Refused to Be Silent
Amar Jaleel’s life and work remind us that literature is not just about aesthetics—it is about ethics. His pen is not a feather; it is a flame. He is a writer who refused to be silent in a culture that rewards silence. A philosopher who demanded answers in a society that punishes questions.
Additional Information
Amar Jaleel (Qazi Abdul Jaleel) from Rohri, a legendry thinker, short story writer, novelist, creative columnist, Radio and Television playwright, Educational Technologist, specializes in teaching through electronic media. Amar Jaleel has authored 20 books. He is recipient of National Award, Pride of Performance (Pakistan) and Akhal Bharat Sindhi Sahat Sabha National Award (India). Life Fellow, Pakistan Academy of Letters. He writes since 1955. Amar Jaleel started writing stories when he was 11 years old and a new land was created for Muslims. His school, named “Rattan Talao”, was set on fire by the newcomers in Karachi. Ever since, the childhood memories of that horrific scene at his school, where he used to sing with his school fellows, continue to haunt him. He played for his NJV School Karachi and also featured briefly in first class cricket as wicketkeeper-batsman. His columns appear in various Sindhi, Urdu and English-language dailies of Pakistan, he started his career at Radio Pakistan, Karachi before being transferred to Islamabad, where he worked in different positions at radio and educational institutions, also worked in Alama Iqbal Open University, he is known as a popular columnist for Dawn and The Nation and working with Sindh TV channel as anchor of program “Classroom”. He has written hundreds of short stories in Sindhi, he has also written one novel in Sindhi titled Naith Gongey Ghalahyo “نيٺ گونگهي ڳالهايو” (Thus Dumb Spoke).
The mixed flavour of all three ‘Rs’ — romance, resistance and revolution, in his writing made him an iconic figure for the youth of Sindh. The index of his popularity never declined since the days of the tyrant Ayub Khan and Amar Jaleel remains the favourite and most quoted writer among young readers today.
Some of Amar Jaleel’s best known books are: Sindhu Muhinje Saah Mein”سنڌو منهنجي ساھ ۾, Dil Jee Duniya, Indra ‘اندرا’, Jadanh Maa’n Na Hoondus جڏهن مان نه هوندس, Tareekh Jo Kafan’تاريخ جو ڪفن, Munhinjo Dus Aasman Khan Puchho’منهنجو ڏس آسمان کان پڇو, Tiyoon Wujoodٽيون وجود,, Raani Kot jo Khazano رڻي ڪوٽ جو خزانو, Jeejal Mohanje Mao جيجل منهنجي ماءُ’, Chandd Wisaami Wayo. ‘ چنڊ وسامي ويو’, Adab Aen Siyasatادب ۽ سياست’, Sarad Laash Jo Safar’سرد لاش جو سفر, Lahndar Sijj Je Laaam ‘لهندڙ سج جي لام’, Sindh Naamo’سنڌ نامو”, Sindhu Baqa Ain Maan Fana Ahyan سندو بقا ۽ مان فنا آهيان., Aatam katha, He Sindh muhnji ta naahy, A Professor with a Fake Degree, To define Sufism, Wither Sufism, Enigmatic History in a Nutshell, Betrayed, Antithesis of Sufism, From Nowhere to Everywhere, The Evil Within Us.
Final Thought
In a world growing increasingly intolerant, Amar Jaleel is a reminder that the role of a writer is not to soothe but to ignite; not to flatter but to expose. His courage has come at a cost, but it has also built a legacy that no fear can erase.
Amar Jaleel is not just the voice of Sindh—he is the voice of the human conscience.
And as long as there are readers willing to think, that voice will never be silenced.
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AI-augmented article
Additional information courtesy: Sindh Hall of Merit (Facebook)
