Afzal Ahsan Randawa
Birth
1937
– 2017
A renowned poet, storyteller, novelist, playwright, and translator. Professionally, he was a lawyer.
Afzal Ahsan Randhawa was a Pakistani Punjabi writer, poet, translator, playwright, and politician. He was born on September 1, 1937, in the village of Husainpura, Amritsar. His parents named him Muhammad Afzal, but he became famous under his pen name, Afzal Ahsan Randhawa. His ancestral village was Qaimpur in Narowal tehsil, Sialkot district, in Pakistani Punjab.
He received his early education in Lahore. After graduating from Murray College in Sialkot, he enrolled in Punjab University Law College, where he edited the college magazine Al-Meezan. Even during his student life, his works began appearing in the daily Imroze.
Afzal Ahsan Randhawa worked for three years at the Agriculture University and then started practicing law. Professionally, he was a successful lawyer and also took an interest in politics. In 1972, he was elected as a member of Pakistan's National Assembly from Faisalabad. While in politics, he served on many committees and held various positions. In 1973, he participated as a representative of the Pakistani government in the Fifth Asian Writers' Conference.
Despite his busy schedule, Afzal Ahsan Randhawa always found time to stay connected with literature. This is why, alongside reading literature, he began writing. Dozens of his books have been published in various forms of Punjabi literature. In 1961, he wrote his first novel, *Deeva te Darya* (Diya aur Dariya). In this way, he produced four novels, four collections of short stories, six poetry collections, one collection of TV-radio plays, three translations of African novels, one collection of African poetry, and a translation of interviews with world leaders. In addition, there is also one collection of Urdu poetry. His works were published in Gurmukhi script and became popular in Indian Punjab as well, especially his poem *Nawan Ghallughara* (New Holocaust), which opposed Operation Blue Star in 1984. Besides Punjabi, he also wrote in Urdu and English.
Keeping in mind Afzal Ahsan Randhawa's achievements, he was honored with awards and recognitions by institutions in India, Pakistan, and elsewhere. These mainly include the Pakistan Writers' Guild Award, Waris Shah Award, International Shiromani Sahitkar Award, and Baba Farid Sahit Puraskar. In addition, the Academy of Letters Pakistan granted him a Life Fellowship.
On the evening of September 18, 2017, Afzal Ahsan Randhawa passed away, just 17 days after his 80th birthday. Afzal Ahsan Randhawa elevated Punjabi literature to new heights and, through his works, highlighted social injustices and human values.
He received his early education in Lahore. After graduating from Murray College in Sialkot, he enrolled in Punjab University Law College, where he edited the college magazine Al-Meezan. Even during his student life, his works began appearing in the daily Imroze.
Afzal Ahsan Randhawa worked for three years at the Agriculture University and then started practicing law. Professionally, he was a successful lawyer and also took an interest in politics. In 1972, he was elected as a member of Pakistan's National Assembly from Faisalabad. While in politics, he served on many committees and held various positions. In 1973, he participated as a representative of the Pakistani government in the Fifth Asian Writers' Conference.
Despite his busy schedule, Afzal Ahsan Randhawa always found time to stay connected with literature. This is why, alongside reading literature, he began writing. Dozens of his books have been published in various forms of Punjabi literature. In 1961, he wrote his first novel, *Deeva te Darya* (Diya aur Dariya). In this way, he produced four novels, four collections of short stories, six poetry collections, one collection of TV-radio plays, three translations of African novels, one collection of African poetry, and a translation of interviews with world leaders. In addition, there is also one collection of Urdu poetry. His works were published in Gurmukhi script and became popular in Indian Punjab as well, especially his poem *Nawan Ghallughara* (New Holocaust), which opposed Operation Blue Star in 1984. Besides Punjabi, he also wrote in Urdu and English.
Keeping in mind Afzal Ahsan Randhawa's achievements, he was honored with awards and recognitions by institutions in India, Pakistan, and elsewhere. These mainly include the Pakistan Writers' Guild Award, Waris Shah Award, International Shiromani Sahitkar Award, and Baba Farid Sahit Puraskar. In addition, the Academy of Letters Pakistan granted him a Life Fellowship.
On the evening of September 18, 2017, Afzal Ahsan Randhawa passed away, just 17 days after his 80th birthday. Afzal Ahsan Randhawa elevated Punjabi literature to new heights and, through his works, highlighted social injustices and human values.