Maulana Salahuddin Ahmad (1902-1964)

Maulana Salahuddin Ahmad, editor of one of the most prestigious journals, Adabi Dunya, was born on March 25, 1902. According to Rauf Parekh, he was not ‘Maulana’ in the sense that the word is most often used today.

In those days, Maulana or Moulvi denoted a degree in oriental learning. Parekh says ‘Maulana’ Salahuddin Ahmed was most of the times attired in western outfits.

For Zamir Niazi, Maulana Salauddin was a guide, guru and a patron of an entire generation. He founded Islamic Literature Company in 1927and launched in 1928 Khayalistan, a literary magazine from Lahore.

Parekh says Allama Tajver Najeebabadi had launched Adabi Dunya from Lahore in May 1929, but when he sold it to Salahuddin Ahmed, its new era began and it became one of Urdu’s most popular and respected literary magazines of its times. Maulana Salahuddin Ahmed died on June 14, 1964 in Sahiwal.

Source: PTV, ‘Speak Urdu movement’ and Salahuddin Ahmed, an article by Rauf Parekh in Dawn on June 9, 2014 and The Press in Chains by Zamir Niazi

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Agha Nasir (1937-2016)

Born on February 9, 1937 in Meerut, India, Agha Nasir was an outstanding director, producer, broadcaster and a TV playwright. After graduating from the University of Karachi, he started his career with a stint with Radio Pakistan in 1955.

Yawar Hayat (1943-2016)

Born on October 18, 1943, Yawar Hayat is celebrated as one of the chief architects of Pakistan Television (PTV). The son of Brigadier Azmat Hayat Khan, he was the grandson of Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan

F.E. Choudhry (1909-2013)

Affectionately known as Chacha in the journalist community, F. E. Choudhry is credited to have introduced innovative features to photojournalism, such as cricket action photography, pictorial and

Altaf Gauhar (1923-2000)

Altaf Gauhar was a man of extraordinary versatility, charm and intelligence. He was born in Gujranwala and received his education from the Government College, Lahore, after which he joined All-India Radio

Abdullah Malik (1920-2003)

Journalist, writer and political activist, Abdullah Malik wrote in his book Purani Mehfilain Yaad aa Ra'hi Ain: "I can declare with pride that I have spent my entire life wedded to the same commitment

Saleem Asmi

Beginning his journalistic career in 1959, Saleem Asmi joined The Times of Karachi as a sub-editor. Like most journalists from his era, he became part of The Pakistan Times, becoming the newspaper's city editor.

Ahmed Ali Khan (1924-2007)

Born in 1924 in Bhopal, Ahmed Ali Khan's association with Dawn began in Delhi in 1946 and ended in Karachi in 2004. He remained with the newspaper for nearly 42 years - 28 of them as editor

Anjum Niaz (1948-2018)

Before joining journalism, Anjum Niaz taught at the Karachi American School and Pakistan American Council. A master's in English Literature from the Punjab University, she joined the

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