Ali Arshad Mir

Ali Arshad was born in a Muslim family in a Chishtian district, 250 km away from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. He completed his M.A. in Punjabi language graduating as a Gold Medalist, after graduation he became lecturer and then later joined Government Degree College, Depalpur as its Principal. Later, he was appointed as an Associate Professor in Government M.A.O College Lahore.[5] Later, He also worked with Mazdoor Kissan Party. He was a dervish, down to earth and straightforward man who would never go for flattery for any favours or for compromises. That’s why he was transferred 26 times during his educational career as an educationist. He was also a great activist who always raised a voice for rights of workers and those pushed to the margins of society [6] Known for his simplicity and prudent nature, prof. Arshad was a polymath as well as a philomath and had great ascendancy over punjabi language.[7]He was a man of principles and was a fearless soul. Besides being an educationist, he was also a great activist who always raised a voice for rights of workers and those pushed to the margins of society. [8]

cover of poetry book written by Ali Arshad Mir

Mir Sahab wrote his first work of poetry at the age of 16 and was considered an "Inqilabi", or profound poet, from a very early age.[9] He dedicated his life to the depiction of the suffering of the underprivileged. His poems are considered a source of inspiration for oppressed people.[10] In the 1970s, he wrote the revolutionary international anthem, "Girti hui deewaro ko aik dhaka aur do",[11] which remains a popular slogan used in rebellions. In the same era, he wrote a Pakistani shadow play, Ravi Sy Bias Tak. He compiled the posthumous work of Ustad Daman and named it Daman Daye Moti.[12]

Kaifi Azmi translated Mir's poems to Urdu. Waheed Ahmed's poem "khana badosh", considered a major Urdu work, was derived from Mir Sahab's epic poem "Gawathi Katha di War".[13]

Mir Sahab died in October 2008.[14] His last words were "nazam kuj chair baad samny ay gee" and he rests in Chistian Punjab, Pakistan.[15]

His literary work was published posthumously. His book Ik Katha De War consists of autobiographical notes about his life, beliefs and teachings. The play Ravi Sy Bias Tak is included in the syllabus of National College of Arts. His absence in society is felt every now and then whenever there is class or societal division, he was among the few to raise a voice for the liberal and progressive forces in the country. [16] Few months after his passing away, the Postgraduate Block of M.A.O. College was named “Prof Ali Arshad Mir Block” in commemoration of influential Punjabi poet and scholar. [17] In 2018, to honor his legacy and contribution to Punjabi literature, Ali Arshad Mir Punjabi Aadbi society was established at Lahore's Government M.A.O. college and the heads of all colleges of Punjab were asked to be part of it.[18]

Every year, the Mir Foundation organizes Punjabi Mela, an event that consists of poets and people associated with Punjabi literature and culture commemorating and paying tribute to Professor Arshad, by celebrating and promoting punjabi culture.[19]

3rd Mir Punjabi Mela was held in 2011 at PILAAC,Gaddafi stadum Lahore, Several poets like Rawal Shah, Baba Najmi, Sanvar Chadar, Ahmad Aqeel Rubi, Raja Saddaq Ullah and many more. [20]

4th prof. Ali Arshad Mir Punjabi Mela was held on 13 oct 2012. in that function speakers Ahmad aqeel rubi (tamgha-e-imtiaz), farooq nadeem, hasan junaid arshad, akhter khan, prof. saddit ali saqib, air commodore saeed shah, dr. waheed ahmed, ahmed latif and raja saddiq ullah presented their treatise on prof. Arshad Mir. At end of this function prof. Ali Arshad Mir foundation gave awards to the punjabi intellectuals and punjabi lovers. [21]

5th Mir Punjabi Mela was held on 13 oct 2013 at Punjab Institute of Language Art and Culture,Gaddafi Stadium Lahore in which Prof. Ahmed Aqeel Ruby, Prof. Ahmed Ali Shakir, Waheed Ahmed, Shahbaz Khawar and Prof. Dr. Shahriar Khan and others participated.[22]

6th Mir Punjabi Mela was in collaboration with majlis baba guru nanak lahore, punjabi adabi sangat lahore and punjab lok leher sahiwal on 19 oct 2014 at punjab institute of language art and culture (pilaac) near qadafi stadium lahore. makdoom ather recited few verses from holy book while speakers prof. amjad ali shakar,prof.khalid humayoun, prof. saeed bhutta,prof. zubair, akhter khan,masood malhi, awais abid and hasan junaid arshad present their treatise about mir sahab's life and art.while famous vocalist Akber ali kha present mir sahab's kalaam. [23] [24]

7th Mir Punjabi Mela held at Punjab Institute of Language, Arts and Culture, Qadafi Stadium, Lahore on Dec. 2015. Professor Ali Arshad Mir Award was given to renowned Poet Raja Sadiq Ullah, researcher Iqbal Qaisar and popular Punjabi poet Baba Najmi to acknowledge their work in Punjabi language. Other Punjabi literary organizations including Punjab Lok Lahar, Baba Farid Book Foundation, Ali Ashraf Forum, Asian Tribune and Majlis Baba Nanak also participated in the Punjabi Mela.[25] [26]

8th Mir Punjabi Mela was organized by Prof. Ali Arshad Mir Foundation in collaboration with Punjabi Literary coteries on Dec. 2016 at Pilac Pakistan,Lahore. The event held the sessions of Treatise on Mir sahab's art and life,Mystic (sufi) singing, Theatrical Drama based on Mir sahab's poetry, Poetic session and Group Discussion on title of "linkage between classic and Modern Punjabi Poetry". The celebrated scholars like Hussain Naqi ,Zahid Musood, Snavar Chadhad ,Neelum Ahmed Bashir,Rana Javid,Rao Inam,Baba Najami,Farooq Haider and Musuood Tanvir Arshad joined this cultural event. Prof. Ali Arshad Prof.Ali Arshad MIR Awards were awarded to Poet Rafaqat Husssain Mumtaz,Travelogue writer Aashiq Raheel, Researcher Akram Sheikh ,Fiction writer Ali Ahmed Anwar and Ibaad nabeel shad for serving the Punjabi language. [27]

Prof. Ali Arshad Mir Foundation celebrated the 9th Prof.Ali Arshad Mir Punjabi Mela on dec. 2017 at Pilac,Lahore, Pakistan. The Musical and Theatrical performances of Nadeem Abbas, Nooran Lal official, Samina Ahmed, Nirmal Shah Singer and Ghulam Abbas Ghagga were some of highlights of the event. Dr. Sarmad Frogh Arshad depicted the drama through the "POETIC COLLAGE of Prof. Ali Arshad Mir Sahab's Verses". Moreover, sessions like "Punjabi literature and Philosophy,Folk History of Punjab, Yoga, Joggis and Sufis ,Diversity in Punjab (facilitation or hurdle)" shed light on hidden gems within Pubjabi language and Culture.In the end PROF. ALI ARSHAD MIR Foundation awarded the Punjabi Laureates and servants (lovers) in order to commemorate their efforts for their Mother Tongue. [28] [29]

10th Mir punjabi mela was celebrated on 17 dec. 2018, Punjab’s prominent faces attached with the field of Literature, Journalism, Social sciences and Art and Culture like Mudassar Iqbal Butt, Ustad Hamid Ali Khan, Raja Sadiqullah, Anjum Saleemi, Prof. Dr. Saeed Bhutta, Baba Najmi, Amad Azhar, Rizwan Jarral, Sabir Ali Sabir, Tahira Sra, Farooq Haider and Farooq Nadeem attended it. The Musical performances of Nooran Lal, Qadir shagan (Descendent of Baba Mardana Ji) and Ustad Hamid Ali Khan of Patiala Gharana were some of highlights. First ever Dalit Mela was organized which depicted hardship, life and culture of lower caste Hindus residing in Pakistan, it had several events and dramatized plays based on works of prominent writers like Munshi Premchand.[30] [31]

11th Mir Punjabi Mela organised by Professor Ali Arshad Mir Foundation, kicked off at the Open Air Theatre, Bagh-i-Jinnah on 14 dec. 2019,The festival had a lot to offer including literary sessions, performances, stalls and food-for-thought conversations by various speakers. The festival also had books and handicrafts stalls. In the session moderated by Dr Sarmad Mir, titled, Ali Arshad Mir Di Shaeri Di Samaaj Naal Jurrrat, the speakers threw light on different aspects of Mir’s life and works.[32]

The 12th Mir Punjabi Mela was organized in collaboration with Prof. Ali Arshad Mir Foundation and Punjab Arts Council, Lahore. In which books of different genres of Punjabi literature were awarded “Ali Arshad Mir Award”. [33] During the two-day Mir Punjabi Mela, various sessions on culture and literature were held in which Ammar Kazmi, Ilyas Ghuman, Saeed Bhutta, Iffat Ashiq, Ijaz, Akhtar Khan, Asim Aslam and Riaz Danshwar shared their thoughts. [34] [35]

• Zee news November 22, 2008
• Ali Arshad Mir

• Protest song
• Festivals in Lahore
• Punjabi language
• Punjabi literature
• List of people from Punjab, Pakistan
• List of Punjabi-language poets
• List of people from Lahore