ISLAMABAD:Celebrated poet, author and linguist Ehsan Danish was remembered in the literary circles for his contributions to literature and Urdu language on Wednesday.
Danish belonged to a poor family and had to leave his studies due to financial constraints. Despite that, he pursued a passion for literature and taught himself Arabic and Persian languages.
Later he settled in Lahore, where he worked as a labourer and with hard work Danish emerged as a distinguished poet and author of his time.
His autobiography, Jahan-e-Danish, is considered a classic and has inspired many aspiring writers. He authored more than 80 books and hundreds of articles on various topics, including poetry, prose, linguistics, philology, autobiographies, and a famous interpretation of ‘Diwan-e-Ghalib’.
Danish’s poetry was initially romantic in nature, but he later began to write poems that resonated with the working class, earning him the title of ‘Shayar-e-Mazduur’ (Poet of the Workmen) from his admirers.
He had a unique style of poetry, which was simple yet revolutionary and stirred the emotions of the common people.
He established his own publishing house, Maktaba-e-Danish, to promote literature and encourage new writers.
Danish’s noted literary works include Maqamat, Jada-e-Nau, Nava-e-Kargar, Zakhm-o-Marham, Dastoor-e-Urdu, Aatish-e-Khamosh, and Chiraaghaan.
In recognition of his services to Urdu literature and language, he was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award by the government of Pakistan in 1978.
Ehsan Danish passed away on this day, 22 March 1982, in Lahore, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to inspire and influence generations of writers and literature enthusiasts.