Citizenship Pakistan Name Hameed Nizami Movement Pakistan Movement | Years active 1935–62 Education Islamia College Occupation Journalist Role Journalist Siblings Majid Nizami | |
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Born 3 October 1915 ( 1915-10-03 ) Sangla Hill, Lyallpur, Punjab, British Indian Empire
(Present-day Pakistan) Nationality United Kingdom (1915–47)
Pakistan (1947–62) Alma mater Islamia College
Punjab University Died February 22, 1962, Lahore, Pakistan | ||
Resting place Taxali Gate Cemetery Political party Pakistan Muslim League | ||
City42 special journalist hameed nizami 50th death anniversary ceremony aiwan e iqbal part 02
Hameed Nizami (Punjabi, Urdu: حمید نظامی; b. 3 October 1915 – 22 February 1962), was an eminent journalist, literary figure, Pakistan Movement activist, and the founder as well as the editor-in-chief of the Urdu-language newspaper, the Nawa-i-Waqt (lit. 'The Voice of the Time').
Contents
- City42 special journalist hameed nizami 50th death anniversary ceremony aiwan e iqbal part 02
- Biography
- Nawa i Waqt newspaper
- Death and legacy
- References
He earned national prominence for penning several political articles and opinionated columns in support of successful Pakistan Movement while he played a crucial role in the growing influence of the print journalism in Pakistan.
Biography
Hameed Nizami was born in the remote railway junction town of Sangla Hill, a few miles from the vintage city Lyallpur (now Faisalabad), Punjab, British Indian Empire, on 3 October 1915. He hailed from a Punjabi family and initially studied at the local school in Faisalabad at his own expense. He attended the Islamia College where he gained a BA degree in Journalism. Later, he attended the Punjab University where he attained the MA degree in English Literature.
During his years in college, he was politically active. He founded and served as president of the 'Punjab Muslim Students Federation' wing of the Muslim League. His role as student leader and journalist led him to become closer to Muhammad Ali Jinnah. After attaining master's degree in journalism, he joined the press directorate of the Punjab government for a short time before joining the literary staff of the Orient Press.
Nawa-i-Waqt newspaper
In 1940, Nizami left the Orient Press to establish the Nawa-i-Waqt newspaper. He became the newspaper's first editor-in-chief from Lahore on 23 March 1940. The Nawa-i-Waqt was a monthly newspaper but he quickly converted the newspaper into weekly on 15 December 1942. After hiring more staff and gaining more credibility, the Nawa-i-Waqt began publishing its articles and news headlines on daily purposes on 19 July 1944. The first edition of the Nawa-i-Waqt came out on 22 July 1944 with a Muslim prayer and a message of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in it.
Nizami's efforts made Nawa-i-Waqt, with all its resources limitations, a powerful voice of the people for the cause of Muslim League and he penned several articles for the support of Pakistan Movement. He was noted as a strong spokesman for democracy in the country, and wrote a harsh column against the first martial law imposed by President Iskander Mirza. Through his newspaper, he took hard stance on communism and supported capitalism during the 1950s.
He began to raise his voice against the martial law despite hardship imposed by the government. He once described the martial law as a "dark night".
Death and legacy
Hameed Nizami died on 25 February 1962 in Lahore. His death was mourned throughout the country. After his death, the newspaper founded the "Hameed Nizami Memorial Society" (HNMS) dedicated to his style of journalism, and held memorial sessions in remembrance of his name every year. His journalism style was influenced by the renowned philosopher, Iqbal, and he had conveyed Iqbal's words in articles he wrote. To many conservative politicians, Nizami is noted as a crucial figure in shaping the print media in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan issued a postage stamp in the honor of Hameed Nizami Hameed Nizami's son, Arif Nizami, and grandson, Babar Nizami, run the daily newspaper Pakistan Today.