Intizar Hussain or Intezar Hussain (21 December 1925 – 2 February 2016) was a Pakistani writer of Urdu novels, short stories, poetry and nonfiction. He is widely recognised as a leading literary figure of Pakistan. He was among the finalists of the Man Booker Prize in 2013.

Early life

Intizar Hussain was born on 21 December 1925 in Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh, British India. He received a degree in Urdu literature in Meerut. As someone born in the Indian subcontinent who later migrated to Pakistan during 1947 Partition, a perennial theme in Hussain's works deals with the nostalgia linked with his life in the pre-partition era. Intizar Husain was often described as possibly the greatest living Urdu writer. He lived in the old Anarkali Bazaar of Lahore, where he associated and socialized with the likes of Nasir Kazmi, and Muhammad Hasan Askari and together they frequented Lahore's teahouses – Pak Tea House, Nagina Bakery, Coffee House, Lords and Arab Hotel. Lahore's literary scene was divided between two groups, Anjuman-e-Tarraqi-Pasand-Mussannifeen (Progressive Writers Movement) (a leftwing group) and the rightwing Halqa-e Arbab-e Zauq in the 1950s. Intizar Hussain decided not to be closely associated with either group and managed to stay neutral and focus on his writing career.

Literary work

He wrote short stories, novels and poetry in Urdu, and also literary columns for newspapers such as Dawn and Daily Express. The Seventh Door, Leaves and Basti are among English translations of his books. Among the five novels he wrote – Chaand Gehan (1952), Din Aur Daastaan (1959), Basti (1980), Tazkira (1987), and Aage Samandar Hai (1995) – received global praise. His other writings include Hindustan Se Aakhri Khat, Aagay Sumandar Hai, Shehr-e-Afsos, Jataka Tales, Janam Kahanian and Wo Jo Kho Gaye. Aagay Sumandar Hai (Sea is facing you in the front) contrasts the spiraling urban violence of contemporary Karachi with a vision of the lost Islamic realm of al-Andalus in modern Spain. His novel Basti is based on Pakistani history. Among his books, "Basti" and "Khali Pinjra" have been translated into Persian by Samira Gilani.

Death

On 2 February 2016, he died at National Hospital, Defence Housing Authority at Lahore after contracting pneumonia. The Indian Express newspaper termed him the "best-known Pakistani writer in the world" after Manto. His wife, Aliya Begum, had died in 2004 and they had no children.

Influences

Hussain believed that two forces had risen in contemporary Pakistan: women and the mullahs. He also acknowledged his study and the influence of Buddhist texts and the Mahabharata.

Legacy

In 2016, Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) announced the ‘Intizar Hussain Award’ which would be given to a literary figure every year.

Awards and international recognition