Qazi Fazl-i-Haque

Khan Sahib Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque (1887 – 1939) was a distinguished professor, author, researcher, critic, historian, educationalist and scholar of oriental languages. Serving as a member of Indian Education Service (P.E.S.), he contributed significantly for the promotion of the education of oriental languages, in Indian subcontinent. He was a professor of Persian, Urdu, and Arabic languages and literature, and the first regular head of Persian department , in Government College University, Lahore|Government College, Lahore, from 1914 to 1939. In this period, he also, simultaneously, served as a fellow and member of Oriental and Arts Faculties in University of the Punjab|Punjab University, Lahore . In addition to University of the Punjab|Punjab University Oriental College, Lahore, he also served several other universities of Indian subcontinent|India-Pakistan subcontinent, in different educational capacities . He made significant contributions to the history of oriental literature. He introduced obscured poets and their works contributing to the research and criticism of the literature of Persian, Urdu and Punjabi language|Punjabi languages . He wrote several scholarly and research books on the literature of Persian, Urdu and Punjabi language|Punjabi languages .
==The Early Life and Background==
Khan Sahib Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque was born in August 1887 , in village Hajiwala, district Gujrat District|Gujrat (Punjab) in the family of scholars. His father’s name was Qazi Mohammad Deen. He received preliminary education from his elders in Hajiwala and neighboring villages . His father’s name was Qazi Mohammad Deen. He received preliminary education from his elders in Hajiwala, and neighboring villages and completed his high school from district Gujrat District|Gujrat. Afterwards, he came to Lahore and was enrolled in Islamia College, Railway Road, Lahore|Islamia College, Lahore and obtained his Bachelor’s degree, Bachelor of Arts|B.A., from University of the Punjab|Punjab University, Lahore in December, 1909. Then, he received his Master’s degree, Master of Arts|M.A., in Arabic language from University of the Punjab|Punjab University, Lahore, in 1912. He also obtained Munshi Fazil degree in Persian from University of the Punjab|Punjab University, Lahore. He received Macleod Arabic Research Scholarship and went to Aligarh Muslim University|Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, Aligarh and conducted research about Arabic language and literature under the supervision of a German professor, Josef Horovitz|Dr. Juseph Horovitz. In this connection he also mastered Hebrew language|Hebrew and Assyrian language|Assyrian languages, and, learnt German language|German and French language|French languages. In July, 1913, he was selected in government’s Indian Education Service|Provincial Educational Service, P.E.S., and was appointed as a lecturer of Arabic, Persian, and Urdu languages, in Rajshahi College (Bengal). In this period, he was also admitted as a member of Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|Royal Asiatic Society, London and of Asiatic Society of Bengal .
==Services for Government College University, Lahore|Government College, Lahore==
Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque was appointed the very first regular full-time lecturer of Persian, in Government College University, Lahore|Government College, Lahore, in December 1914 . He also had the honor of being the first head of Persian department in Government College University, Lahore|Government College, Lahore, and, he served for twenty-five years in this capacity, from 1914 to July 30, 1939, until his demise. During this time, he taught Persian and other oriental languages at Government College University, Lahore|Government College, Lahore, conducted research on the obscured Persian, Urdu and Punjabi language|Punjabi poets and their works, wrote several scholarly and academic books, and was simultaneously involved in several other institutions for the promotion of oriental languages education and literature. Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque in addition to teaching responsibilities also served, in different administrative capacities for Government College University, Lahore|Government College, Lahore. He was the President of both Persian Society and Bazm-e Sukhan. He also supervised the college magazine Ravi. The March-April 1932 issue of the Ravi, was dedicated to him. The Punjabi portion of the Ravi in Persian script, was started due to his efforts. Prior to this, the Punjabi language|Punjabi section used to be only in Gurmukhi script. He also supervised Punjabi language|Punjabi Majlis in . He was also President of Ambulance Club. The Muslim Majlis was started due to his efforts . 
==Services for the University of the Punjab==
Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque, was a fellow of University of the Punjab, Lahore, and the members of its different boards of studies and faculties. In addition to Government College University, Lahore imultaneously taught in University of the Punjab, from at least 1919, until his demise. He also used to teach the M.A. Persian classes in University of the Punjab|Punjab University, Lahore. He also served as an examiner of matriculation, intermediate, bachelors, and masters level examinations in University of the Punjab, Lahore. Some of his written books were the official text books at University of the Punjab, Lahore . The annual calendars of the University of the Punjab|University of Punjab, Lahore, that had been published in book format, during that time, show that he was associated with University of the Punjab|Punjab University, Lahore in the following capacities: (i) Member, Oriental Faculty, University of the Punjab, Lahore , (ii) Member, Board of Studies (Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Pashto) , (iii) Fellow, University of the Punjab Oriental and Arts Faculties , (iv) Member and Convener, Board of Study (Punjabi language) , (v) Member, Board of Control for Honors Exam (Persian) , (vi) Member, Committee of Control for M.A. (Persian) Exam . In addition, his name is also included in the list of University Professors, Readers, and Lecturers , in the annual calendars.
==Other Services and Recognitions==
Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque was appointed by the Governor-General of India to read and interpreted some documents, written in old Persian language, that was to decide the successor of the Maharaja of the Bikaner state. He went to Bikaner, and perform this task gracefully . Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque was a member of Punjab Historical Society, Lahore, and presented his research on Punjabi language|Punjabi literature in its sessions . Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque was a member of Indian Oriental Conference and took part in its activities . Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque was founding member of Idara-e Maaerf-e Islamia, Lahore, and was actively involved in its activities . Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque was also associated with Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam|Anjuman-e Hamayat-e Islam and actively took part in its activities . He also remained associated with Punjab Educational Conference, Punjab Muslim Educational Conference, and All India Muhammadan Educational Conference|All India Muslim Educational Conference, and worked for the promotion of education. Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque served as an editor of Urdu Journal Roushni, Lahore. In addition, he served St John Ambulance Society in Punjab. 
The central government of British India announced the title of Khan Sahib for Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque on January 1, 1933, based on his scholarly, literary, and educational services. The Lahore Municipal Committee named the street, behind Government College University, Lahore, Lahore, where his house was located, on his name, as Haque Street.
==Services for Punjabi language==
Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque was a pioneer local researcher, historian, critic, and scholar of [Punjabi language and literature. He, for the first time, introduced the Punjabi tale Chatthiyan Di Vaar, in a session of Punjab Historical Society, Lahore, in 1916 , and published it, in 1925 . He introduced several obscured poets of Punjabi literature and their works for the first time, through his essays in Punjabi language|Punjabi language, published in the journal Punjabi Darbar, during 1928 to 1933 . These essays are the first specimens of original research and criticism in prose in Punjabi Literature . He highlighted that Punjabi language|Punjabi language contained Islamic literature, and, Muslims have served this language from the beginning . He also wrote a book on the history of Punjabi literature . He also edited Punjabi novel Jatt Di Kartoot, in 1929 . Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque was a major contributor to the Punjabi language|Punjabi language movement . He worked as a permanent member and convener of Punjabi Board of Studies in the University of the Punjab, Lahore, at least from 1922, until his death in 1939, and led efforts in the startup of Punjabi language education in the Persian script in the university, prepared syllabus and arranged for the Punjabi language in the University of the Punjab, Lahore . Prior to that, Punjabi language education used to be given only in Gurmukhi script in the University of the Punjab University, Lahore.
==Services for Persian Literature==
Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque worked for the promotion of Persian language and Persian literature throughout his life. He started teaching Persian in Rajshahi College, Bengal, in 1913 . He was the very first regular full-time lecturer of Persian , and in this capacity the first head of Persian department in Government College University, Lahore|Government College, Lahore, where he taught Persian language and literature from 1916 to 1939 until his death. He also taught the B.A., and M.A., Persian classes, in University of the Punjab|Punjab University, Lahore as a professor during this time. He also served as the head examiner and external examiner of Persian language and literature in Patna University, University of Calcutta, Delhi University, University of Allahabad, Aligarh Muslim University, Nagpur University, Osmania University, and University of Mysore in the same period . His written books were taught as official text books of Persian for school, college, and university levels education. He also wrote several highly scholarly books about Persian language, literature and its history. His scholarly, literary and research articles used to publish in the best literary journals of his time, and, he was well respected in the national scholarly, literary and cultural circles . 
==Services for Urdu Literature==
Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque introduced several old obscured Urdu poets of Punjab and their poetry and contributed to the history of Urdu literature in Punjab . He wrote several scholarly books on the history of literature in Urdu language, that itself is a contribution to Urdu.
 
==Demise==
Khan Sahib Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque, died on July 31, 1939, at the age of 51, in Lahore. He was laid to rest in his ancestral village, Hajiwala, tehsil and district District Gujrat. He had two daughters Aziza Fatima, and Zubaida Fatima, and two sons Aziz-ul-Haque Masud and Bazl-i-Haque Mahmud.
==Publications==
Literary and Scholarly Books: The literary, scholarly and research books written by Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque, about Persian, Urdu and Punjabi language|Punjabi languages and literature, include: (i) Maqalaat-e Professor Khan Sahib Qazi Fazl-i-Haque , (ii) Sukhanvaran-e Bar-e Sagheer , (iii) Punjabi language|Punjabi Ilm-o Adab Mein Musalmanun Ka Hissa , (iv) Sukhanvaran-e Iran , (v) Sukhanvaran-e Iran-e Nou , (vi) Shoera-e Masnavi Sara , (vii) Ruh-e Naveen , (viii) Beest Rumaan-e Kuchak, (ix) Nou Farhang, (x) Mazameen-e Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque (Punjabi language|Punjabi Zabaan-o Adab Ton Mutaeliq Tanqeedi Tay Tehqeeqi Mazmun) .
Educational and Text Books: The text books written by Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque include: (i) Sarguzasht-e Mard-e Khasees , (ii) Sarguzasht-e Hakeem Nibataat , (iii) Chatthiyaan Di Vaar , (iv) Jatt Di Kartut , (v) Farsi Ki Pehli Kitaab , (vi) Farsi Ki Dursari Kitaab , (vii) Farsi Ki Teesari Kitaab , (viii) Persian Matriculation Grammar , (ix) Safeena-e Adab , (x) Sirf-o Nahv Kay Qaiday Per Mabni Farsi Ki Pehli Kitaab .
Category:1887 births
Category:1939 deaths
Category:Pakistani academics
Category:Pakistani writers
Category:Pakistani scientists
Category:Pakistani historians