Doha
23 Feb 2017

Prof. Dr Abdus Samad from India, a renowned educationist and author will receive the honour alongwith a Pakistani winner, whose name will be announced after the Pakistan Jury, headed by Dr Khurshid Rizvi, holds its meeting in the first week of March in Lahore”, said Mohammad Atiq, Chairman of the Majlis.

The award function alongwith an international Mushaira will be held in Doha in October/ November this year. The award carries a cash prize of IRs. / PRs.150,000/= and a gold medal for each winner. The award is given every year to two literary personalities-one from India and the other from Pakistan, for their contribution towards the promotion of Urdu language and literature, as a life-time achievement award.

Samad was chosen by an independent jury in a meeting held at India International Centre, New Delhi, India on Saturday, 18th February. The Indian Jury comprised of Prof. Dr. Gopi Chand Narang [Chairman], Prof. Shafey Qidwai, Nand Kishore Vikram and Prof. Atiqullah.

Samad was born on 18th July, 1952 in Bihar Sharif, Nalanda. He has completed M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science. Later, he worked as U.G.C. fellow for research and teaching department of Political Science , Magadh University, Bodh Gaya. [ Jan. 1977 to Nov. 1979].

He then joined as a lecturer in Oriental College, Patna city in 1979, where he was promoted to the ranks of Reader in 1989 and Professor in 1997. His wife is also a Professor of Urdu in J.D. Women’s College, Patna. He has two sons and a grand daughter.

Samad has also acted as :

[1] Principal, Raj Narain College, Hajipur [ January, 1996 to January, 1998 ]
[2] Principal, Oriental College, Patna city [ 2005-2010 ]
[3] Chairman, Urdu Advisory Committee, Government of Bihar in the rank of a Minister of State [ 1991 – 1999 ]

Starting his literary career with short story writing, Samad later began writing novels. He has written following 6 collections of short stories and 9 novels so far:

Collections of Short Stories :
1. Barah rangon wala kamrah [ 1980 ].
2. Pas-e- deewar [ 1983 ],
3. Siyah kaghaz ki Dhajjian [ 1990 ]
4. Musical Chair [ 1996 ] 5. Aag ke andar raakh [ 2000 ] 6. Baqalam khud [ 2006 ].

Novels : 1. Do Gaz Zameen [ 1988 ], 2. Mahatma [ 1992 ] 3. Khawabon ka Savera [ 1994 ] 4. Maha Sagar [ 1996 ] 5. Dhamak [ 2004 ]
6. Bikhre Auraq [ 2010 ] 7. Shakist ki Awaz [ 2013 ] 8. Ujalon ki Siyahi [ 2015 ] 9. The journey of a Burning Boat – English [ 2011 ].
He has also written two books on Political Science, two books of translations and a sketch ” Dil me rahen Muqeem [ 2014 ]. His novel–”DO GAZ ZAMEEN” has been translated and printed in many languages of India like English, Bangla, Hindi, Punjabi, Kashmiri, Telugu, Kannad and Dogree, while his novel ” KHAWABON KA SAVERA” has been translated and printed in English by renowned English Publications Organisation — ” Macmillan”, under the title of –” DAWN OF DREAMS ”.

” Abdus Samad’s novels state the sufferrings, injustices and ups and downs of life of the common man and depict the serious problems, deep pains and tragedies of the rural life, especially Bihar, North East India, Bangla Desh, Partition of the country and humanity” said Dr. Gopi Chand Narang, Chairman of Indian Jury and former Chairman, Sahitya Academy, India.

Samad’s international fame novels – ”DO GAZ ZAMEEN ” and ” Khwabon ka Savera” got him Sahitya Academy Award in the year 1990 and Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad Award in the year 1998 respectively. In addition, Ghalib Award [ 2014 ], Bihar Urdu Academy Awards [1990 ], Uttar Pardesh Urdu Academy Award [ 1990 ] have also been conferred upon him.

Samad has also been associated with the following :

1. Convenor, Urdu Advisory Board and member, Executive Committee of the Sahitya Academy, New Delhi.[ 1993 -1997]
2. Member, Gyanpeeth Award Committee, [ Urdu ] New Delhi [ 1996 -1997 ]
3. Member, Editorial Board of the English journal ”UTTARA”, New Delhi [ 1997- 1998 ]
4. Member of a number of State level Committees, Government of Bihar like, 15-points Programme Implementation Committee for minorities, Hindi Pragiti Samiti, Executive Committee, Bihar Urdu Academy.
5. Member, Syndicate & Senate, Magadh University, Bodh Gaya [ 1995- 2002 ].
6. Member, Syndicate & Senate, Bihar University, Muzaffarpur [ 1997 -1998 ]
7. Member, high level committee, headed by the Governor of Bihar, for assistance to the writers and artistes [ 1992 – 1996 ]
8. Member, high level committee headed by the member, Board of Revenue, for recruitment of translators and typists, [ Rajbhasha ]–1992- 1996.
9. Represented India at an international meet at Almaty, Kazhakistan in August, 1995.”