Indian Urdu Writer—Deputy Nazir Ahmad (1830-1912)

Deputy Nazir Ahmad was a famous Urdu writer and also was pioneer of Urdu literature. His novels are today a basic part of the educational set of courses in the Indian sub-continent. Nazir Ahmad came from a renowned family of religious scholars, maulvis and muftis of Bijnor and Delhi. His father was a teacher in a small town near Bijnor. Deputy Nazir Ahmad studied at Delhi College from 1846 to 1853. He started his career as a teacher in Arabic, in 1854.

Deputy Nazir Ahmad was the pioneer of Urdu novel. He did a lot of work in Urdu literature, was prolific writer and published books in mixed genres.

• Mirat-al-Urus: It was regarded as the first novel of Urdu. After releasing in 1869 it was reprinted till 20 years totaling over 100,000 copies.

• Bina-tul-Nash: it was another great novel after Mirat-al-Urus by Deputy Nazir Ahmad.

• Taubat-un-Nasuh: Deputy Nazir Ahmad earned a good name in writing novels because his whole was full of teachings of moral values.

Fasaana-e-Mubtalaa, Ibn’ul Waqt, Ayyamah, Ruya-e-Sadiqah were another his famous Urdu work.