Karachi (Web Desk/Agencies): Eminent Urdu linguist, researcher, writer, critic and scholar Professor Dr Farman Fatehpuri was remembered on the occasion of his 98th birth anniversary on Friday.
He is widely regarded as the supreme authority on life and work of Ghalib.
Born on January 26, 1926 in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, his real name was Syed Dildar Ali.
Farman received his matriculation from Fatehpur and intermediate education from Allahabad in 1948 and graduated from Agra University in 1950. He migrated to Pakistan in 1950 and settled in Karachi.
He completed his Master of Arts, LLB and B.T. from Karachi University. In 1965, he obtained his PhD degree. wrote many scholarly articles, book reviews and editorials.
Farman Fatehpuri received Sitara-e-Imtiaz Award for his literary accomplishments in 1985 from the President of Pakistan. He holds the honour of being the first Pakistani with a D.Litt (Doctor of Letters) in Urdu in 1974.
He remained associated with Karachi University for nearly 30 years and taught many PhD students and researchers.
Farman was later appointed as the chief editor and secretary of the Urdu Dictionary Board in 1985.
In 1996, he served as a member of the Civil Services Board of the Sindh Government. He became the editor of the monthly publication, Nigar- the oldest Urdu literary journal, founded by Farman’s mentor, Allama Niaz Fatehpuri.
Farman’s works and ideas have had a strong influence on researchers investigating the poetry and prose of Ghalib and Urdu linguistics.
He was the author of more than 60 titles on the Urdu poetry of Ghalib and Allama Iqbal, including linguistics, critique and biography.
Dr Farman Fatehpuri peacefully died in his sleep during the early hours on August 3, 2013. He was laid to rest in the Karachi University graveyard.