Intikhab-e-Kalam: Shanul Haq Haqqee

Shanul Haq Haqqee (1917–2005) was one of the most versatile figures in Urdu literature—poet, short story writer, essayist, translator, lexicographer, editor, critic, humorist, and children’s author. Born in Delhi, he inherited a love for words from his father, Ehtishamuddin Haqqee, himself, a poet and translator. Haqqee’s career was closely associated with the Urdu Lughat Board in Karachi, where he worked under the guidance of Baba-e-Urdu, Molvi Abdul Haq, and later led the monumental task of compiling the most comprehensive Urdu Lughat (Tareekhi Usool Par). His contributions include Oxford English–Urdu Dictionary and the National Language Authority’s Farhang-e-Talaffuz, establishing him as one of the greatest lexicographers of Urdu.

As a poet, Haqqee was celebrated for his linguistic boldness—integrating Prakrit and Sanskrit-derived words seamlessly into Urdu verse, challenging conventions, and enriching the language’s expressive range. His ghazals, marked by originality of tone and rhythm, conveyed themes of discontent, longing, and philosophical reflection, yet always with aesthetic grace. Beyond poetry, his literary experiments revived classical forms like riddles and “keh mukarni,” echoing the spirit of Amir Khusro. Haqqee’s legacy lies not only in his creative brilliance but also in his fearless commitment to expanding Urdu’s horizons, making him a towering figure in modern Urdu literature.

About the compiler:

Dr. Rauf Parekh is an Urdu lexicographer, linguist, humorist, and a Pakistani newspaper columnist. He worked for the Urdu Lughat Board or Urdu Dictionary Board, Karachi, as Chief Editor from 2003 to 2007. He was appointed director general of National Language Promotion Department, Islamabad, in December 2020. He received “Pride of Performance” award in 2018 for his services in literature and lexicography. He also writes columns in English for the Pakistani newspapers Daily Times and Dawn newspaper. He is the chief editor of Oxford Urdu–English Dictionary.