Urdu Prose Proper authoring and compilation in Urdu started with poetry.

Attention to prose was diverted later on. Initial prose authoring was also no more literary but of religious type. Sporadic sentences occurred in Sufis sayings and analects. Then proper books used to be written. First proper authoring of an Urdu book in prose was Pir Roshan Ba Yazid Ansaris Khairul Bayan. After him, the famous sufi poet of Bijapur, Shah Burhanuddin Jaanam wrote Kalimatu Haqaiq. Its subject matter was tasawwuf. Jaanams several pamphlets in prose besides Kalimatul Haqaiq are also available, for instance, Maqsood-e-Ibtidayee, Irshad Namah-e-Nasr etc. Jaanams successor, Mahmmod Khush Dahan also authored pamphlets in prose based on issues of tasawwuf and gnosis for instance Wajibul Wajood, Risalah-e- Tambeehul Khalaaiq and Risalah-e-Mahmmood Khush Dahan. Khush Dahans prose gives the impression of arrangement and continuity and comprehensiveness and definiteness. Jaanams son Shah Ameenuddin Ala also wrote some pamphlets in Decanis Urdu, for instance, Ganj-e-Majhfi, Wajoodiyyah, Guftar-e-Shah Ameen, Ishq Nama and Kalimatul Asrar etc. among them, Kalimatul Asrar is significant. First prose writer of Golkunda is Mulla Wajhi who was poet laureate of Sultan Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah. He wrote Sabras, first Urdu dastaan in prose, in the period of Abdullah Qutb Shah on his demand. Sabras is a master piece of Decanis prose and fist example of literary prose of Urdu. Wajhi wrote muqaffa and musajja sentences in it. In Sabras, Urdu prose appears traversing several stages of its evolution in a single jump. Apart from Sabras, Wajhi also wrote a book in prose under the title of Tajul Haqaaiq. After him, Shah Meeran Ji authored pamphlets in prose, whose names are: (1) Sharh-Sharh-e-Tamhhdaat-e-anul Qudaat, (2) Risalah Wajoodiyyah, (3) Sharh-e-Marghoobul Quloob, and Risalah Qurbiyyah. Miraan Jis mureed and successor, Miraan Yaqoob translated a Persian book, Shamailul Atqiyaa in Urdu. An important prose write of Golkunda is Abid Shah, whose three works in prose have come to our knowledge: (1) Gulzarus Saalikeen- Makhzanus Saalikeen, (2) Kanzul Mumineen and (3) Miratus Salikeen. In later period, Qissa-e-Malikuzz Zaman and Kaam Kandula and Singhasan Batteesi are significant daastaans in prose, The names of their authors are unknown. During eighteenth century, Baqar Aagaah wrote prefaces of his versified authorships in prose. Munshi Ibraheem Bijapuri of Fort Saint George College of Madras wrote Anwaar Suhailee in 1825 in Decanis language, at a time when te language was in vogue. First authentic sample of Urdu prose in northern India is Fazl-e-Ali Khans Karbal Katha. This is anj Urdu translation of Mulla Husain Waiz Hashifis Persian work Raudatushshuhada, whic was especially rendered for women. Fazli wrote Karbal Katha in 1145 AH and revised it in 1161 AH. Karbalas incidents form its subject matter. Qissah-e-Mahr Afroz wa Dilbar is first daastaan in prose from north India. Its author, Eesawi Khan Bahadur is a celebrated author of Hindi too. The year of production of Qissah-e-Mahr Afroz wa Dilbar is unknown. It becomes known from Qaraain that this Qissa would have been written in the period of Mohammad Shah Rangeele or Ahmad Shah. This is an original daastaan and the influences of khari boli on its language are obvious. Sometime earlier, Mir Mohammad Husain Khan Tahseen wrote Nai Taz-e-Murassa in which the story of Chajar Darwesh has been presented. The style of Nai Taz-e-Murassa is muqaffa and

musajja. Its prose is difficult and colourful. Abundance of Persian words and tarkeeb is found in it. Tahseen rendered good tenor of Persian style to Urdu prose which can be enjoyed by knowledgeable persons only. It is not within the capacity of common folks to enjoy it. Mir Chand Khattri wrote Nau Aayeen-e-Hindi in 1788-89 but he used such language in it that was in conformity with everyday usage and free from artificiality. It can be claimed that real founder of Urdu prose was Fort William College. The establishment of Fort William College has got the status of a milestone in Urdu prose writing. Common-sense and simple language was evolved by it. The real purpose of the College was to teach Urdu to English officials. Syed Abdul Lateef has lucidly described this fact in these words: East India Company has established Fort William College on very utilitarian bases. The real intention of the managers of the Company in collecting the penmen at one lace in Calcutta was to get such fluent text books written for English officials whose style was direct, simple and common-sense instead of poetic refinements and wordy complicities. Almost every writer of the College was given little chance that they would interpret his personal emotions and thoughts through the magic of his pen. The persons at the helm of college affairs were in haste for getting vital texts prepared. Therefore, they got famous alternatives, especially of commonly popular Persian books, instead of deploying these authors in authoring regular texts. (Introduction in Arbab-e-Urdu) Before Fort William College, Urdu was usually used for religious topics. Scholarly and literary topics were mostly dealt with in Persian language. For instance, Mir Taqi Meer wrte hd hsagiography in Persian. and Mushafi also wrote his hagiographies in Persian. Similarly, the history of Mughal Emperors written by Ghalib was in Persian. Fort William College properly started scholarly and literary writing in Urdu prose. Introduction of prominent persons belonging to the College is given here: The founder and the roving spirit of Fort William College was John Gilchrist who was a physician by profession. He was employed in East India Company as a physician, where he started learning Persian and Urdu. The Company also motivated its employees to learn Indian languages, so, Gilchrist was also encouraged. He gained mastery in Urdu and Persian in very short period and then started teaching India languages to Englishmen at no cost. When Lord Lesley came to India as a governor general, he recommended establishment of a college for Companys employees on a grand scale, according to which Fort William College was established in 1800. In view of Gilchrists services, he was appointed as the president of the College and a professor. But within these four years, he broth together all able and talented philologists from all over India in the College and deployed them in authoring and compilation and established such foundation of the College that even after his exit, these philologists of Fort William College continued authoring and compilation. Gilchrist himself was a pioneering author. The sequence of his authoring and compilation starts from 1787, a date much earlier than the date of establishment of the College. He prepared an EnglishHindustani dictionary besides writing following books: 1. Hindustani Ilmul Lisaan 2. Urdu ki Sarf wa Nahv (a book of grammar of Urdu language that was included in the sullabus of Fort William College)

3. 4. 5. 6.

Mashriqee Zubandaan Urdu Zubaan par Mukhtasar Muqaddimah Bayaaz-e-Hindi (A selection of the works of the authors in Fort William College) Amalee Khake (correct pronunciations and spellings of Urdu words are given in it)

Angrezi-Hindustani Dictionary was published from Calcutta in 1792. Gilchrist was fist to compile the rules pf Urdu language and an Urdu dictionary. He also wrote many books apart from above mentioned books. The quantity and quality of books written by him for learning Urdu is an forgettable achievement by him. Mir Amman Dehlvi His name was Aman and Mir Amman was his epithet. In Humayoons reign, his accestors came to India and got associated with Mughal court. This sequence continued till Alamgeer Thani. Delhi itself was Mir Ammans motherland but it got devastated by Nadir Shah Durranis attacks and people started migrating to other places. In spite of all this, Mir Amman stayed in Delhi. But it became difficult to earn the bread, he first moved to Patna and then to Calcutta. This was the time when Fort William College needed able persons and deskmen. Since, Munshi Bahadur Ali Husaini was his friend and had been discharging the services of Fort William College, Mir Amman became one of its employees through him. None knows what he served at the company later on or what the dates of his birth and death were. Mir Amman translated Qissa Chahaar Darvesh under the title of Bagh wa Bahar. Bagh wa Bahar is its historical name i.e. if the sum of its letters is reckoned, one gets the year of its authorship. Qissa Chahaar Darvesh is a Persian daastan which Mir Amman has rendered in fluent Urdu. Not only that Mir Ammans Bagh wa Bahar became famous in Urdu, it was translated in different languages of the world. After giving the details of these translations in his Arbab-e-Nasr, Syed Mahmood has rightly noted: People today even do not know any translation by any person other than Mir Amman. Mir Amman has worked so much magic in his translation that only that one is popular today and will remain popular as long Urdu persists. Addition to its value and worth will go on increasing with the passage of time. (Arbab-e-Nasr-e-Urdu p 43) After writing Bagh wa Bahar, Mir Amman translated Ikhlaaq-eMuhsini of Mulla Husaini Kashifi in Urdu. As it reveals from the Persian title of the book, morals have been deduced in the book after describing moral stories. Syed Haidar Bakhsh Haidari Syed Haidar Ali Bakhsh, a significant associate of Fort William College, was a resident of Delhi. His father arranged for good education for him. He had the facility of many good teachers. When Haidari came to know that opportunities for employment are available at Fort William College, he headed to the College and presented his Qissah-e-Mehr wa maah to Dr. Gilchrist. Gilchrist liked the language of the book and he offered employment to Haidari in Fort William College, where he passed his entire life in authoring and education. The first book that Haidari authored is Qissah-e-Mehr wa maah, the second one is Laila wa Majnoon and the third is Tota Kahani. Being impressed by Harat Nizami Ganjavis Persian mathnawee, Haft Paikar, Haidari wrote an Urdu mathnawee under the same title and on the same pattern, which

perhaps remained unpublished. In Taareekh-e-Nadiri, Haidari has jotted down the events of Nadir Shah till the time of his death. This history was also written in Persian which Haidari translated in Urdu. Haidari also translated Sheikh Inayatullahs famous Persian book Bahar-eDanish under the title of Gulzar-e-Daanish. Haidaris essays, prefaces and poems are found in Guldasta-e-Haidari. Mir Sher Ali Afsos Like Haidar Bakhsh Haidari, Mir Sher Ali Afsos was also one of very famous authors of Fort William College. Afsos was born in Delhi in 1735. Then he went to Patna. After reaching to Awadh, he secured employment in its government. Next, he came TO Hyderbad and died there. During hisstay in Awadh, Afsos was appointed as a governor of a nawabs son. Leading poets of Urdu, like Mir Taqi Mir, Mirza Rafi Sauda, Mushafi, Inshaa and Jurat, were assembled at that time in Lucknow. Afsos enjoyed the patronage of leading barons of Lucknow. When Lucknow started c desolate, Afsos abandoned poetry and got associated with teaching. When the need for able and talented munshis arose in Fort Willian College, a nawab requested to an English colonel for the employ of Afsos, so, he became an employee of Fort William College at a salary of Rs. 200 p.m. on colonels recommendation. After his business in authoring an compilation at the College, Afsos expired in 1805. Afsos compiled his deewaan in Lucknow. The master piece by Afsos is his book Bagh-e-Urdu, which is a translation of Sadee universally acclaimed Gulistaan. This translation of Gulistan was carried out on the request of Dr. Gilchrist. The language of the translation rendered by Afsos is simple and fluent. After translating Sadees Gulistan, Afsos worked on revising and correcting the works translated by others. Besides, Fort William College also published sections of verse by certain leading Urdu poets. Afsos also participated in this task. Second significant achievement of Afsos after writing Bagh-e-Urdu is Aaraaish-e-Mahfil. Munshi Subhan had written a very authentic and reliable history book under the title of Khulasatut Tareekh. Afsos translated the same history book in Urdu under the title of Aaraaish-eMahfil. Its language is very tidy and fluent. Mir Bahadr Ali Husaini Syed Abdullah Kazim was the father of Mir Bahadr Ali Husaini. He had associated himself with Fort William College before Mir Amman became its employee; rather he acceded to it through Mir Amman. Mir Bahadr Ali Husaini wrote four books for Fort William College assisted Dr. Gilchrist in writing other books. Mir Bahadr Ali Husaini wrote the story of Sihrul Bayan under the title of Nasr-e-Be Nazir. His second book is Ikhlaaq-e-Hindi, which is Urdu translation of Persian translation of a Sanskrit book, Hitopdesh. Husainis third achievement is Tareekh-e-Assam, which is Urdu translation of Shahabuddin ibn Wali Moammads Persian book on history of Assam, Tareekh-e-Assam. Mirza Lutf Ali Mirza Lutf Ali is famous for his Tazkirah-e-Gulshan. His name was Mirza Ali and Lutf was his epithet. Lutfs Tazkirah-e-Gulshan-e-Hind was published by Molvi Abdullah Khan, exadministrator of Kutub Khana-e-Asifiyyah, Hyderabad. Lutf was born in Delhi and remained in Delhi till its devastation. Then he moved out of it. He wanted to come to Deccan after staying at Azimabad and Patna for a few days. But when he reached to Calcutta and met with Dr. Gilchrist, he wrote his well-known hagiography Tazkirah-e-Hind, after becoming an associate

of Fort William College. After completing this hagiography, he came to Hyderabad where he was well received. Because of the prominent Decanis poet of that age, Sher Mohammad Khan Eemaan, the High government awarded him with a pension of Rs. 400 p.m. and a Paaliki. Being pleaed with jokes, the chief minister included him among his musaahibs and fixed another Rs. 150 p.m. as his salary. Lutf died in Hyderabad in 1822. Lutf had also compiled his kulliyat but it is non-existent now. However, Taj Press Hyderabad had published a selection from the kulliyat under the title of Deewaan-e-Muntakhab. Lutf is not reckoned among bid poets of Urdu. Actually, his entire fame rests upon Gulshan-e-Hind which he had compiled on the request of Dr. Gilchrist. Actually, it has been taken from the Persian hagiography by Gulzar-e-Ibraaheem. Hagiographys language is neither fluent nor simple. Its expressions are muqaffa and musjja but the peculiarity of the hagiography is that he written a number of such things in it that are commonly unavailable in other hagiographies. For instance, he has not only described the events of poets also presented erstwhile atmosphere and its background. In comparison to other hagiographies, more details of the events of the poets have also been given. Mirza Tapih Jan Although Mirza Tapih Jan was not included among regular munshis and penmen of Fort William College but he used to work for it. He used to revise other translators books and make selections from the works of older poets. He also commanded a status as a poet. Tapishs ancestors came to India from Bukhara. He was born in Delhi. He also knew Sanskrit. His Kulliyat was published by the College. Different hagiographers have called him as a good poet. They also admired the neatness, fasahat and freshness of his topics. The College paid him precious return for his poetic talent. The memorable book by Tapish is his highly valued writing Shamsul Bayan fi Mustalahaat-e-Hindusdtan. Light on Urdu adages and everyday usages has been shed in this book. This book was written on the intention of a baron of Dacca. Grammar of the language is discussed in this book. In all, 275 adages have been explained in this book and some couplet of some master poet has been quoted as a testimony to the adage. Mir Kazim Ali Jawan His name was Mir Kazim Ali and Jawan was his epithet. He was one of the famous munshis of Fort William College. He was a native of Delhi. But when devastation gripped Delhi, he was also forced like others to bid farewell to it. Passing through different places, he reached to Lucknow and after passing a long time there, he became to be reckoned among famous poets. Kazim Ali Jawan was also well acquainted with Brij Bhasha apart from Arabic and Persian. Impressed by his abilities, the resident of Lucknow, Col. Scott, recommended him for Fort William College. After being associated with the College, he became one of Calcutta, and passed rest of his life in authoring and compilation. His three books are available: (1) Shakuntatala Natak: Kazim Ali transferred universally acclaimed drama Shakuntala from Hidi into Urdu, (2) Barah Masa or Dastoor-e-Hind is second master piece by Kazim Ali. All festivals or Id, including their details, that Muslims celebrate during the twelve months of the year are given in this mathnawee. Jawans third book is Tareekh-e-Farishta. Jawan had translated a big part of this history that relates to Bahmani Sultans. Apart from these books, Jawan also completed selection of the verse by Urdu poets in association with other compilers, for instance, the selections from Kulliyat-e-Mir was done by Molvi Mohammad Aslam, Munshi Qhulam Qadir and Mirza Jan Tapish in association with Kazim Ali.

Sheikh Hafeezuddin Sheikh Hafeezuddins first ancestor transferred his residence from Arab to Deccan. His grandparent took permanent abode in Bengal from Deccan. The Governor General of India, Warn Hastings had opened a madrasa in Calcutta which was called Native College. Hafizuddins parent became a teacher there. His father personally paid attention to Hafizuddins training. Hafeezuddin gained very superior ability in Arabic and Oersian. When Fort William College was established, he was appointed as a teacher of Persian and Arabic in the College, considering his abilities. Dr. Gilchrist deputed translation work also to him along with teaching and training. He transferred the famous book of Persian, Ayar Daanish in Urdu under the title of Fard Afoz. Ayar Daanish is actually the story of Kalilah wa Damnah which was written in Persian by several people. Husaini Al-waiz had transferred it in Persian undr the title of Anwar Suhailee. The same story was written by Allamah Abul Fazl under the titlte of Ayar Daanish. Dr. Gilchrist published Fard Afoz after including it in his Biyaaz-e-Hindi. Complete book was published later on. It was brought out in several editions. It was also translated in English. Nihal Chand Lahori Nihal Chand Lahori was a famous munshi of Fort William College. The events of his life are also unknown. His ancestors belonged to Delhi. After the devastation of Delhi, he settled in Lahore. Then he reached to Dr. Gilchrist with the mediation of an English captain, and he was appointed as an employee in authoring and translation department of Fort William College. Only one achievement of Nihal Chand Lahori is available under the title of Madhab-e-Ishq. The story of Jajul Mulook and Gul Bakaoli is written in Persian. Chand Lahori transferred this story in Urdu under the title of Madhab-e-Ishq. The Persian story was written by Sheikh Izzatullah Bengali. As the story earned great fame and popularlity in that period, it was transferred in Urdu on instructions of Dr. Gilchrist. Madhab-e-Ishq is its historical name which gives 1270. Dozens of its editions have been brought out by now. Winessing its popularity, Daya Shankar Naseem versified it under the title of Gulzar-e-Naseem. Impact of Persian is found on language and narration of Madhab-e-Ishq. It has lesser simplicity and fluency. Lalloo Lal Kavi Although Lalloo Lal Kavi was a great scholar and poet of Hindi and he did not translate directly in Urdu but he greatly helped in Hindi and Brij Bjasha books translated in Urdu. He qrote some six books in Hindi: (1) Prem Sagar, (2) Raj Neeti, (3) Sabha Bilas, (4) Mahadev Bilas, (5) Lataaife-Hindi, and (6) Singaasan Batteesee. Lallo Lal wrote all these books in fluent and tidy Hindi. Mirza Mohammad Fitrat Mirza Mohammad Fitrat is most unknown among the authors of Fort William College. He was an ordinary poet. His valuable achievement is additions and deletions in Hadleys book on grammar. George Hadley had published his Urdu grammar in 1772 after writing it in English. English coming to India utilized this book in getting acquainted with Urdu. For this reason, many editions of this book were published in England itself, and something new used to be added with each new addition. Fitrats translated edition was published from London in 1801. Fitrat translated Bible in Urdu with the help of Hunter. Recapitulation

Fort William College was established in 1800. The purpose behind its establishment was to introduce India language and local customs to English officials. Although the College was established for meeting the Companys requirements but it greatly benefitted Urdu literature, especially Urdu prose. The prose of the books written for Fort William College was deliberately kept simple and fluent because these books were written for teaching Urdu. The greatest achievement of Fort William College is that it made Urdu prose simple, fluent and capable of expressing all types of subjects. It can be said that the real founder of Urdu prose was Fort William College, although the practice of writing colourful and rhymed prose did come to an end for a long time. ** Modern Urdu prose was started by Fort William College. But this is not the case that there are only Fort William Colleges services in rendering Urdu simpler. Mirza Ghalib played exceptional roe in simplifying Urdu. Through his letters, Mirza fetched that jargon to Urdu that even scholarly discourse, rather the language started being dealt in this language. After Mirza Ghalib, Sir Syed made Urdu the means of communication. Actually, scholarly evolution of Urdu is the result of Sir Syeds efforts to a great extent. Through his Tahzeebul Ikhlaaq, he wrote reformist essays in common language and also attracted other writers towards writing purposeful and reformist texts. Sir Syed is a movement in himself, and the roving spirit of Aligarh movement. He offered great services in the evolution of Urdu language, and for the first time appeared scholarly writings based on new topics in Urdu. Besides history, Sir Syed has left valuable treasure of literature on comparative religions, philosophy and wisdom, fiqh and tafseer. After Sir Syed, there were numerous persons following him. It is as to say that Sir Syed was the leader of the caravan and behind him marched a whole convoy, especially Shibli Nomani who was a big personality in this field. They were Sir Syeds friends themselves who introduced different genres of literature, and in this way, Urdu language started getting nourished in a wide circle. Novel In Urdu,