37th death anniversary of Qudrat Ullah Shahab being observed today
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Shahab Nama is one of the best-selling autobiographies in Pakistan
LAHORE (Web Desk) - The 37th death anniversary of eminent Urdu writer and civil servant Qudrat Ullah Shahab is being observed today.
Shahab was born in Gilgit on February 26, 1917. At the age of 16, he won an international essay competition organized by the Readers Digest, London.
Even in his early days, he had command in both Urdu and English languages.
He graduated from Prince of Wales College, Jammu, and later from Government College Lahore.
He was selected for Indian Civil Service in 1940 and later volunteered to serve in Bengal during the famine of 1943.
After coming to Pakistan, he was first posted in the Ministry of Commerce as a Deputy Secretary and then as Chief Secretary of the new state of Azad Kashmir at Muzaffarabad. Thereafter, he became Deputy Commissioner of Jhang, Punjab.
He also served as Director of Industries of Punjab and dealt mostly with settlement issues concerning migration.
He went on to serve as the Ambassador of Pakistan to the Netherlands in 1962 and later as Information Secretary of Pakistan and Education Secretary of Pakistan.
Shahab also holds the distinction of having served as the Principal Secretary to three heads of state; Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad, President Iskander Mirza and President Ayub Khan.
He also contributed in English and Urdu languages for contemporary newspapers and magazines of Pakistan Writers Guild.
He is best known for his autobiography Shahab Nama, which is one of the best-selling autobiographies in Pakistan even today.
He also wrote Maan Ji (Collection of Short Stories) Nafsaanay, Surakh Feeta and Ya Khuda.
He died on July 24, 1986 in Islamabad.
