Forum Pakistan

Adib, Mirza (1914-99)
Writer. Dilawar Ali, who adopted the pen name of Mirza Adib, was an *Urdu language author. He was educated at the Islarnia College in Lahore. He was first published in 1935. He edited the magazines Adab-iLatif (Belle Letters), Musawwir (Artist) and Kalamkar (Master of the Pen). After 1962 Kalamkar became the official organ of the *Pakistan Writers' Guild.

Adib's main works include several collections of plays, including Ansu aur Sitare (Tears and Stars), Lohu aur Kalin (Blood and the Carpet), Fasil-i-Shab (The Wall of Night); He also has some collections of stories, including Jangal (Jungle), Kambal (Blanket); and collections of critical essays: Fan aur Fankar (Art and Artist), and some children's stories.

Mirza Adib's realistic work depicts the urban lower class and is permeated with compassion for man, which he believed is a victim of social inequality. Mirza Adib died in Lahore, on 31 July 1999.

WORKS: 'Sehranaward ke Khutut' (Letters of the Lonely Wanderer), 1939; 'Satwan Chiragh' (The Seventh Lamp), 1983; 'Selected Stories', 1966; 'Collections of plays: Shishea-Sang' (Glass and Stone), 1979; 'Lamhon ki Rakh' (The Ashes of Moments), 1988; (autobiography) 'Mitti ka Diya' (Clay Lamp), 1981.