Waris Mir

'WARIS MIR'

BIOGRAPHY

Prof Mohammad Waris Mir, born on November 22, 1938, was an eminent Pakistani journalist, intellectual, writer and academician of his times who is well-known for his struggle to uphold the cause of democracy and press freedom through his writings during the dictatorial era of the country'sthird military ruler, President General Ziaul Haq.

EDUCATION AND CAREER

He completed his studies up to college from Murray College, Sialkot, a city known for its intellectuals in Punjab province of Pakistan. (Poet of the East, Allama Iqbal’s city. He completed Master’s in Journalism / Mass Communication in the year 1964 from the University of the Punjab, Lahore and joined the same department as a lecturer in 1965. He completed his M.Phil. in Journalism from City College University in London in the year 1976. He was thrice appointed Chairman of the Mass Communication Department in the University of Punjab where he taught for 25 years. Besides that, Prof Waris Mir used to write fiery articles and columns for almost all the leading Urdu newspapers of the country. He wrote extensively on all important national and international issues of his times, especially in the 1970s and 1980s when speaking one’s mind was a punishable offence. It was the firmness of his scholarly writings which used to appear in the country's largest circulated Urdu newspaper "Jang" that earned Waris Mir soaring popularity amongst the readers, especially during General Ziaul Haq’s martial law period when the latter tried to Islamise the Pakistani scoiety by enforcing Islamic Shariat.

STRUGGLE AGAINST DICTATORSHIP

Being a staunch believer of the basic human rights for freedom of thought and expression, Prof Waris Mir chose to take the road that most of his contemporary writers did not dare to take, especially during the Martial Law periods of President General Ayub Khan and General Ziaul Haq. Despite facing censorship snipping, threats, mental torture and vandalism, he stood his ground firm against all odds, upholding his principled stance of opposing dictatorship and backing democracy and freedom of expression. The books authored by Prof Waris Mir in Urdu language included “Hurriyat-e-Fikar kai Mujahid” (The warriors of the intellectual freedom), “Kaya Aurat Aadhi Hai” (Is woman half the human?), and Fauj ki Sayasat (The politics of the Army).

WRITING INFERENCES

At the time of his untimely demise at a young age, Prof Waris Mir was at the climax of his professional career as a writer. His writings about the contemporary politics, army’s meddling in politics, feministic issues, cultural reforms, religious beliefs, philosophical ponderings, literary references and even historical background remain relevant because they were not directed towards one individual -- they were rather directed towards educating the people about the ills of tyranny, the psychological problems that the military tyrants possess. His writings were not just aimed to stand apart from the rest of the literary and pseudo-intellectual crowd, but were rather aimed at awakening a sense of liberation amongst the despondent public.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Prof Waris Mir was awarded Pakistan’s highest civil award Hilal-e-Imtiaz (posthumous) on March 23, 2013 in recognition of his meritorious services in the field of journalism and for furthering the cause of democracy through his writings. The Government of Bangladesh also decorated him with the country’s most prestigious civil Award, the Friends of Bangladesh Award in 2013 for writing meticulously and fearlessly against the Pakistani military action against the civilian population of the then West Pakistan [that later became Bangladesh].

FAMILY

Waris Mir was a son of an Urdu/Persian/Punjabi poet and teacher Mir Abdul Aziz. His roots can be traced back to Jammu and Kashmir, administered presently by India. Prof. Waris Mir’s widow Mumtaz Mir passed away on 10 December 1993. Three of Waris Mir’s sons – Hamid Mir (GEO TV), Amir Mir (THE NEWS) and Imran Mir (PTV) - are journalists in Pakistan while the fourth – Faisal Mir - is a businessman. The daughter – Huma Mir is an educationist.

PUBLICATIONS

• Waris Mir ka Fikri Asasa – Intellectual asset of Waris Mir (Three volume book) • Fauj ki Syasat – Army in Politics • Kya Aurat Aadhi hai – Is woman half a human?7

DEATH

Waris Mir died of a sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 48 under mysterious circumstances. He was laid to rest in the Punjab University graveyard close to the New Campus Underpass which was renamed as the Waris Mir Underpass by the provincial government of Punjab in 2013.