Abdullah Jan Jamaldini (1922 - 2016) was a Pakistani socialist thinker, researcher, and literal figure. He was associated with the
Progressive Writers' Movement
The Progressive Writers' Association or the Progressive Writers' Movement of India or ''Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind'' (( ur, ) or ''Akhil Bhartiya Pragatishil Lekhak Sangh'' (Hindi: अखिल भारतीय प्रगति� ...
, Pakistan. Jamaldini received the
Pride of Performance Award
The Pride of Performance ( ur, ), officially known as Presidential Pride of Performance, is an award bestowed by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to recognize people with "notable achievements in the field of art, science, literature, sports, an ...
in 1990.
Biography
''Jamaldini'' was born on 8 May 1922 in
Nushki
Nushki (Urdu , ) is a town and district in Balochistan, Pakistan. It lies in a plain south-west of Quetta, at an elevation of above sea level. From Nushki, the flat Balochistan desert stretches away northward and westward to the Helmand River.
...
,
Baluchistan
Balochistan ( ; bal, بلۏچستان; also romanised as Baluchistan and Baluchestan) is a historical region in Western and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. ...
, British India. He was home-schooled by his father. Later, in 1932, he completed his early education from ''Nushki Primary School''. He then enrolled in ''Sandeman High School'' in Pishin. Later, he took admission in
Islamia College Peshawar
Islamia College Peshawar (ICP) ( ur, اسلامیہ کالج پشاور) is a public university located in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
After graduation, ''Jamaldini'' entered into government service as ''Naib Tehsildar'' (Assistant to tax officer) but soon resigned from the service. Following his socialist inclinations, he, along with his other friends, rented a house at ''Balochi street'', which quickly became known as "''Lat Khana''". The house served as the first unofficial institution for progressive and enlightened individuals. The comrades also rented a store in ''Suraj Ganj Bazaar'', Quetta, where they sold books on Karl Marx, Engels, Lenin, and other socialist intellectuals in addition to stationery. However, the government authorities traced the store and seized the Marxist literature.
The ''Lat Khana'' persisted in sharing socialist ideas with friends and doing so, which influenced Jamaldini's perspective on progressive and socialist values. He also became general secretary of the organization ''Balochi Zuban o- Adab - i Diwan'', which was founded in 1951 and whose president was Mir Gul Khan Naseer. The organization sponsored the publications of Mir Gul Khan Naseer's
Balochi Balochi, sometimes spelt in various other ways, may refer to:
* Balochi language, a language of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan
* an adjective for something related to the Baloch people, an ethnic group of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan
* an adjecti ...
poetry. Later, financial issues forced Jamaldini to move to Karachi, where he worked as a proof reader in the information department and later as a joint editor of the magazine ''Tulu'' till 1970. Then, he returned to Quetta and started working as a research scholar at the
Balochi Academy
The Balochi Academy promotes the Balochi culture through the development and promotion of the language and literature; support for literary circles; conducting seminars and conferences; and inviting academics from other parts of Pakistan and abroa ...
. After establishment of the University of Balochistan, he became lecturer for Balochi language there in 1971.
''Jamaldini'' wrote several books on Balochi literature, feudal system in Balochistan, poverty, and politics.
He died on 20 September 2016.
Literary works
* ''Dehat ke Gharib''
* Sardari system in Balochistan
* ''Marg o mena''
* ''Lat Khana''
* ''Shama Frozan''
Awards and recognition
Jamaldini was honored with the
Pride of Performance Award
The Pride of Performance ( ur, ), officially known as Presidential Pride of Performance, is an award bestowed by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to recognize people with "notable achievements in the field of art, science, literature, sports, an ...
in 1990. He also received the
Kamal-e-Fun Award
Kamal-e-Fun Award ( Urdu: ) is a lifetime achievement literary award presented annually by Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL). The award was set up in 1997 and is given to Pakistani scholars for their entire literary career. The winner receives Rs ...