One of the most provocative and influential penman of Urdu literature -- Khalique Ibrahim Khalique, passed away on September 29, after a protracted illness. He was 80.
The late Khalique Ibrahim Khalique was a good poet, critic as well as a journalist having a meritorious family background.
His father and grandfather were among those personages who actively took part in the Pakistan movement. They were experts and recognised Tabibs and were connected with the famous group of Hakeems which was known as "Attiba-e- Jhawaitola."
They were also among men of letters in their time. Hakim Mohammed Rafique Ibrahim father of Khalique, was also an admirer of scholars and men of letters. He left his home town Lucknow and settled in Hyderabad, Deccan for a few years where Khalique Ibrahim Khalique was born in 1926.
Though Khalique was born in Hyderabad, Deccan, he in fact belonged to Lucknow. He was about two years old when his father Hakim Muhammed Rafique Ibrahim returned to Lucknow. Khalique Ibrahim Khalique passed matriculation and intermediate examinations from Lucknow and completed graduation in Lahore as a private student.
He started his creative carrier as a short story writer. His first story was published in the famous magazine "Kaleem" which was coming out under the editorship of prominent poet and writer Josh Malihabadi from Delhi.
It may be mentioned that he was a bilingual writer of Urdu and English. He was also a dramatist. Some of his dramas were broadcast from All India Radio, Lucknow. Sometimes he worked in Anjuman Tarraqi Urdu (India) as a personal assistant of Baba-e-Urdu Moulvi Abdul Haq. Khalique succeeded to secure a job in the Information Film department of India, Mumbai in 1945. There he was appointed as an Indian commentary writer. He proved himself there as an active and devoted employee showing unflagging enthusiasm and ability.
Two years after his appointment, the government of India closed this department. During this tenure he got opportunities of learning a lot about the art and technique of film producing. He went back to Lucknow where he joined the daily "Tanveer" of Chaudhry Khaliq-uz-Zaman as sub-editor. He had written dialogues and scripts for some films in Mumbai. He also worked as freelance journalist in Mumbai".
He came to Karachi in 1953 and worked as freelance journalist in 1955. His experience in the field of film-making gave him opportunity to write scripts for the documentary films for Film and Publishing Section of Pakistan Information Department as a freelancer. In 1955 he got appointment in the same section where he worked for more than 16 years and retired in 1981 as a senior producer. Khalique also produced a lot of documentary films, wrote stories, dialogues and scripts privately.
The titles of some of his documentary films are "Khus Hali Ka Rasta," "Pakistan Ki Kahani," "Hamara Saqafati Warsa" and "Ghalib." In recognition of his meritorious services in this field Government of Pakistan awarded him "Sitara-e-Imtiaz" in 1969. He was a committed progressive writer and active worker of the Progressive Movement. His literary works are an undeniable fact of this phenomenon.
He has nine books to his credit. The first one was published under the title of "Kamyaab Nakam" in 1946. This is a collection of his short stories. "Aurat, Mard Aur Duniya" came out in 1950. This is his second book which consists of his dramas. His third book "Urdu Gazal Kay Pachees Sal" (criticism) saw the light of day in 1955. "Ojaloon Kay Khaab" came out in 1992 which consists of three poems."Ojaloon Kay Khaab" "Jahan-e-Maghrib Kay Rahnay Walo," "Gharib-e-Shahr. The book "Manzilain Gard Ki Manind Ori Jati Hain" is his autobiography." He has three more books of scientific essays, which are translation work from English.
The poetry of "Ojaloon Kay Khaab" depicts that the poet has deep love for human beings, a promoter of their dreams and desires. Khalique was a great lover of peace and prosperity of the universe. In this book he has tried to depict this reality.
It also mirror the desires and dreams not only of himself but of the masses too. These three poems reflect his artistic approaches with reference to the subject matter registering his eloquent expression and style. His autobiography "Manzilain Gard Ki Manind Ori Jati Hain" is an important and valuable book. It is in positive sense provocative and influential one.
Though it is an autobiography of a writer, but in fact it is also the biographies of the writer's own age. It is a history of socio-economic, socio politic, socio-culture as well as various kinds of events. It also gives a lot of information about literary movements, trends, ideologies and creative activities. It also gives a brief account of the author's friends and their life-style.
It may be opined without any doubt that the book is not revealing only about the personal life and literature of the author, but it is shows attitudes, way of thinking, educational scenario and status of political leaders and education. It may be mentioned that "Manzilain Gard Ki Manind Ori Jati Hain." is not a simple record of the events and incidents but it provides analytical views and comments on these occurrences. In this book he looks an honest critic, not only an observer only.
Khalique Ibrahim was a stylish penman. He has written compact and attractive prose. He has created many gazals, poetry and critical write-ups but due to carelessmess he did not publish them in book shape.
Khalique Ibrahim Khalique has two sons 'Haris Khalique and Tarique Khalique. One of them is a prominent poet having three books to his credit. The second son is a working journalist. At present he is connected with the news section of a TV channel.
Khalique Ibrahim Khalique's wife Hamra Khaleeq is herself a prominent short story writer and translator. She has also two books to her credit.
Khalique Ibrahim has done a lot of precious work. Although he has expired in the worldly sense, but the will continue to live in Urdu literature for a long time to come.