Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi passes away

Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, a major figure in contemporary Urdu literature died of cardiac arrest in the wee hours here at Punjab Institute of Cardiology on Monday. He was 90. Born on November 20, 1916 in village Anga, district Khushab, Qasmi had some 50 books of poetry, fiction, criticism, and journalism to his credit.
A week ago he suffered from an asthma attack and was admitted at Punjab Institute of Cardiology. His funeral prayers were offered near his residence at Samanabad. Later he was laid to rest at a local graveyard. People hailing from all walks of life including Governor Punjab, Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool (Retd) attended the funeral. The governor also condoled with the bereaved family and said, "with the demise of the great intellectual, Urdu literature has been deprived of an epoch making personality."
He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.
He was a major figure in contemporary Urdu literature, Qasmi stands out among his contemporaries mainly due to his unflagging humanism, his poetry revealing his understanding, empathy and love for all people.
Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi started his career as a clerk in the government and later left government service for journalism. He was a graduate from the Punjab University. As an active member of the Progressive Writers Movement, he once held the position of secretary. He also worked as editor of Daily Imroze from 1953 to 1959 and later as editor and publisher of the prestigious literary magazine 'Funoon.'
Qasmi began writing under the influence of Progressive Writers Movement even before partition, and kept up with his writing later. A versatile writer, he wrote extensively both in prose and verse. He depicted rural life of the Punjab with all its romance as well as reality, and captured in poignant expression the plight of the village dwellers. Imtiaz Ali Taj had called him the "Premchand of Punjab".
Nevertheless, his death has caused an irreparable loss to Urdu literature. For his valuable service to Urdu literature, he was also awarded with Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Nishan-e-Imtiaz and Pride of Performance. He left behind two daughters and one son.