Raza Ali Abidi


Raza Ali Abidi is a Pakistani journalist and broadcaster best known for his radio documentaries on the Grand Trunk Road in Pakistan and his travelogue along the banks of the Indus River. His published works include several collections of cultural essays and short stories. He worked with the BBC Urdu Service until his retirement in 1996.

Early life and career

Raza Ali Abidi was born in 1935 in Roorkee, a city in the Saharanpur District
of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. He moved to Karachi, Pakistan with his family in 1950, three years after the Partition of India which created Pakistan as a homeland for British Indian Muslims. He graduated from Islamia College, Karachi and worked as a relatively unknown journalist for 15 years. Then, he moved to London and worked for the BBC from 1972 to 2008.
"Raza Ali Abidi is a writer of consequence because of his travels. He owes almost all his writings to his travels but he doesn't travel at random."
In November 2013, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by The Islamia University of Bahawalpur in recognition of his services to the field of broadcasting, journalism and arts.

Publications

Travelogues

"Abidi long remained associated with the BBC Urdu Service. There seems to have been an understanding between the BBC and South Asia as each time it was the BBC which had a project in store for him. And each time it was a journey in a different manner."Jernaili Sadak – Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore Sher Darya, Sang-e-Meel Publications, 1992Jahaazi Bhai, Sang-e-Meel Publications, 1995 Rail Kahani , Sange-e-Meel Publications, 1997Kutub Khana – his travels in search of rare books and libraries
  • ''Tees Saal Baad, Pehla Safar Aur Hamare Kutub Khaane''

Literary books

Kutub KhanaUrdu ka HaalApni Awaz Jaan Saheb Hazrat Ali Ki TaqreereinJaanay PehchaaneyMalika Victoria aur Munshi Abdul KareemNaghama-gar Pehla Safar Radio ke Din Akhbar Ki Raatain Kitaben Apne Aaba Ki, 2012Tees Saal Baad
  • ''Puraane Thug''

Awards and recognition.

Tehzeeb Foundation in Pakistan awarded him 'The Literature Award' in 2013Aetraf-e-Kamal Shield by Pakistan Arts Council in 2014