LAHORE: The nineteenth death anniversary of famous Urdu poet, literary columnist, critic and distinguished researcher Mushfiq Khwaja is being observed today (Wednesday).
His original name was Khwaja Abdul Hai and was born in Lahore. He pursued his academic journey by obtaining an M.A. degree in Urdu from Karachi University before affiliating himself with the esteemed ‘Anjuman Taraqi-e-Urdu’.
His association with ‘Anjuman Taraqi-e-Urdu’ served as a catalyst for Mushfiq Khwaja’s intellectual endeavours, leading to numerous significant research accomplishments. In the 1980s, he gained widespread acclaim for his literary column penned under the pseudonym ‘Khama Bagosh’, which captivated audiences across the subcontinent.
Throughout his lifetime, Mushfiq Khwaja dedicated himself to scholarly pursuits and research writing. His notable works and compilations include ‘Tazkira-i-Khush Marka-i-Zaiba’, ‘Ghalib and Safeer Bilgrami’, ‘Jaiza-e-Makhtootaat-e-Urdu’, ‘Khama Bagosh Ke Qalam Se’, ‘Sukhan Dar Sukhan’, ‘Sukhan Haay Na Guftani’, ‘Sukhan Haay Gustarana’, ‘Aabiyaat’ (a collection of poetry), and ‘Kulliyat-E-Yagana’.
Additionally, Mushfiq Khwaja contributed around fifty features on various subjects to Radio Pakistan. In recognition of his profound academic and literary contributions, he was honoured with the Presidential Medal in 1988. Mushfiq Khwaja breathed his last on February 21, 2005, in Karachi.
