Novelist, dramatist, short story writer, translator, and broadcaster Murad Ali Mirza was born on August 27, 1929, and passed away on March 01, 2011
By Muhammad Habib Sanai
Murad Ali Mirza was a prominent novelist, dramatist, short story writer, translator, and broadcaster of Sindh. He was born on 27 August, 1929 in the celebrated Mirza family of Hyderabad, which has produced administrators, as well as literary luminaries. Not only his grandfathers – Mirza Budhal Beg and Mirza Dost Muhammad were renowned poets, but also his cousins, Mumtaz Mirza and Mirza Abbas Ali Beg were distinguished writers and cultural icons.
Naseer Mirza (b. 1955), a poet, writer, and broadcaster, in his profile of Murad Ali Mirza, at one place writes that he (Murad Ali Mirza) started writing in 1951. In another place, he mentions the year 1948 for his translation of Faust (an adaptation of the film plot of the 1926 silent film Faust to the form of a novel) by Hayter Preston and Henry Savage.
Murad Ali Mirza’s first pen name was Akhtar Karblai, and he used it in poetry. He has undoubtedly written novels, short stories, dramas, and essays, but he is more famous due to his translation works. His Sindhi translation repertoire includes the following books:
- Faust (an adaptation of the film plot of the 1926 silent film Faust to the form of a novel) by Hayter Preston and Henry Savage, in 1948. It is still unpublished.
- Duniya ja Azeem Afsaanaa (World’s great Short Stories) Volume-II, published by Sindhi Adabi Board, Jamshoro in 1968. He also edited and revised its first volume which was translated by Rasheed Bhatti and published in 1966.
- Poorab Jaaee (Daughter of East) by Benazir Bhutto published by Indus Publication.
- Akelaee ja hik sawo saal (Hundred Years of Solitude) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez published by Sindhica Academy, Karachi in 2000.
- Adabi Tanqeed ja Usool (Principles of Literary Criticism by Lascelles Abercrombie (1881-1938) published by Institute of Sindhology, in 1981. (This book was translated in 1961 as completion of the requirement of Monograph for MA Sindhi.)
- Asia joon lok Kahaniyoon (Folk Tales of Asia) published by Sindhi Adabi Board, Jamshoro in 1984. It contains 16 folk tales of different countries of Asia.
- Aalmi Afsaanaa (International Short Stories) published by the Sindhi Adabi Board in 2004. It contains a translation of 20 short stories.
- Moonjharo (Sultan’s Dilemma) by Tawfiq al-Hakim (A play), published by Sindhi Adeeban ji Sehkaari Sangat, in 1981.
- Biography of Dr. Ruth Pfau, published by Phoenix Books, Hyderabad in 2007.
- Writings and Speeches of Benazir Bhutto.
Moreover, he has also translated numerous essays and short stories, which were published in Sindhi periodicals. These translations should also be compiled and published as anthologies.
Original Creations
He was a novelist, short story, and drama writer of repute. His original oeuvres include:
- Saami Sij Wara (Bright faced Master) (a biographical Novel about the life of popular Sindhi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitaee), published by Kaveeta Publications, Hyderabad in 2008. He commenced its writing in the year 1985 and it first appeared in installments in some Sindhi periodicals such as Latif, Karachi and Amerta, Hyderabad. When seven installments were published in Latif Magazine, its editor Ali Ahmed Brohi sent him several letters, wherein he was threatened to discontinue this novel, otherwise be ready to face the dire consequences. Being a cautious person, he discontinued its publication. However, after a long break, he resumed his work on this historical novel and succeeded in completing it in 2007.
- Rat warnee raat (Blood-coloured Night) is an incomplete novelette. Its first three chapters were published in an anthology entitled Murad Sahib compiled by Naseer Mirza and published by Sindhi Adabi Board Jamshoro in 2014.
- Shah Abdul Latif (Biography for Children) published by the Institute of Sindhology, Jamshoro in 1984.
- Five Radio Plays, relayed on Radio Pakistan Hyderabad station.
- 08 TV Plays including one serial and one drama in Urdu about the life of Hoshoo Sheedi, shown on Pakistan Television.
Compilations and Editing
He has also compiled, edited, and revised some books, which include the following prominent ones:
- Mauj Mauj Mehran (Urdu Translation of Sindhi Poetry by Ilyas Ishki). Mirza Sahib has written an informative Introduction in Urdu about the development of Sindhi literature. It was published by Injmane Taraqi Urdu Pakistan, Karachi in 1973.
- Duniya ja Azeem Afsana, Volume 1, translated by Rasheed Bhatti and published by Sindhi Adabi Board in 1966.
Services in Broadcasting
He joined Radio Pakistan as a Producer in 1962 and retired as Program Manager in 1989. During his broadcasting career, he produced a lot of dramas, musical and literary programs, and memorial lectures delivered by celebrated scholars of Sindh and also he conducted interviews with some distinguished scholars of Sindh, which are now of historical importance. In 1980, when the first century of Sindhi Drama was being celebrated, he recorded an opera entitled Lela Majnoon penned by Mirza Qaleech Beg. Also in 1986, he contributed to the direction and development of another opera to be presented on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebrations of Sukkur Barrage.
Other Important assignments
After his retirement, he was appointed as the Secretary, Sindhi Language Authority, and worked there from 1st June, 1991 to 8th December, 1991. He also worked as the Secretary, the Sindhi Adabi Board, Jamshoro from 27th April 1995 to 30th March 1996. In both appointments, unfortunately, he could not complete his tenure.
Anthologies about Him
Naseer Mirza has compiled two anthologies about his literary contribution and life. These were published in the year of 2014. The first one entitled Murad Sahib was published by Sindhi Adabi Board, Jamshoro, It contains his two interviews, 08 short stories, three chapters of the incomplete novel Rat warnee raat, three dramas, one travelogue piece, some letters written to Mumtaz Mirza and others, and several write-ups about him written by his fellow writers and friends. Another anthology published by the Sindh Culture Department is entitled Qalam jinee je hath me. It contains the last chapter of his novel Sami Sij Warau (Bright faced Master), 40 essays, reviews, three prefaces, 08 translated essays, and three interviews conducted by him.
Awards
He was awarded Pride of Performance in 1994 for his outstanding services in literature.
Last days
He suffered a stroke of paralysis in early January, 2011 and remained hospitalized for some time. He could not recover from this illness and breathed his last on first March, 2011 at his home. He was buried in the graveyard of Dargah of Data Juman Shah, Tando Agha Hyderabad.
He always shied away from exhibitionism and even he did not keep all his works safe. Therefore, his numerous compositions are still untraceable, despite hectic efforts made by Naseer Mirza, who collected his numerous original and translated essays, short stories, dramas, interviews, etc. to get them published in the anthologies discussed above.
Indeed in his death, we have lost a nice writer and translator, who up to the last enriched the Sindhi language.
Read: Ali Baba – One of the doyens of Sindhi fiction
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Muhammad Habib Sanai is based in Hala town of Sindh. He is a freelance writer and contributes his research-based articles to various newspapers and other publications.
Photo courtesy: Radio Pakistan
