Shafqat Tanvir Mirza


Shafqat Tanvir Mirza – known by many as STM was a Pakistani writer and a journalist known for his activism for Punjabi culture and language. He was also a journalist union leader and was sent to jail twice because of his activities on behalf of newspapers he worked for.

Early life and education

Belonging to a Jarral Rajput family that took the Mirza nobility title during the times of emperor Akbar, his ancestors belonged to Rajouri, but Mirza himself was born in February 1932 the village of Domeli, in the Jhelum District while his father was born in Saman Burj Wazirabad, as a part of the royal Jarral Exiled family, from where his father, a Range Officer in the Punjab Forest Department, was transferred to Jhelum.
Mirza studied at schools in Chakwal, Khushab, Wazirabad, Attock, Bahawalnagar and at Gordon College, Rawalpindi.

Career

Mirza's earlier career centred on Rawalpindi, where he worked for the daily newspapers Tameer and Hilal, as well as at Radio Pakistan. In 1970, he joined Daily Musawat, subsequently moving on to Daily Imroze, where he became the editor. In the 1990s, Shafqat Tanvir Mirza joined the English language newspaper Dawn, where he contributed regular columns on Punjabi language and culture.

Activities as an author and translator

Shafqat Tanvir Mirza was also active as an author, writing and translating a number of books. He wrote in Urdu, Punjabi and English.Tehreek-i-Azadi Vich Punjab da Hissa Adab Raheen Punjab de Tareekh Resistance Themes in Punjabi Literature Making of a Nation Shah Hussain, a biography of 16th century Sufi poet Lahu suhag, a Punjabi translation of Blood Wedding by Garcia LorcaBooha Koeena, a Punjabi translation of No Exit by Jean-Paul SartreAkhia Sachal Sarmast nay, a translation of the Seraiki prose of Sachal Sarmast

Awards and recognition