Muhammad Nawaz Khan (author)

For the Pakistani politician, see Muhammad Nawaz Khan (politician).
Major
Muhammad Nawaz Khan
محمد نواز خان

Official Portrait of Muhammad Nawaz Khan
Personal details
Born (1943-11-23)23 November 1943
Shahbaz Garhi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Died 3 October 2015(2015-10-03) (aged 71) [1]
Risalpur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Nationality Pakistani
Children 3 daughters, 2 sons
Residence Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Alma mater University of Agriculture, Peshawar
Pakistan Military Academy Command and Staff College, Quetta
College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
Occupation Writer, historian, poet
Religion Islam
Military service
Allegiance  Pakistan
Service/branch  Pakistan Army
Years of service 1966–1991
Rank Major
Unit 5th FF Regiment

Major (Retd.) Muhammad Nawaz Khan (Urdu: محمد نواز خان‎, pronounced /moʊˈhɑːməd ˈnɑːwɑːz ˈkɑːn, ˈnæ-/; 23 November 1943 – 3 October 2015), was a famous Pakistani writer, historian, columnist, and poet of the English, Pashto and Urdu languages. His work had mostly been focused on history of the Pashtuns, the Gandhara civilization and the British legacy in Pakistan (specifically, the North Western Region).

Early life

Major Nawaz was born in Shahbaz Garhi, Mardan to Malik Abdul Baqi Khan on 23 November 1943.[2] After graduating (BSc Hons) from the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, he joined Pakistan Army, soon after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and remained in service till 1991. He is also a graduate of Command and Staff College , Quetta (Staff Course – PSC) and the Army College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Rawalpindi (Technical Staff Course – PTSC) and diploma holder of the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore. His literary career started in 1957 at the age of 14 when he wrote his first Pashto booklet while he was still in middle school.

Military career

Nawaz, as a young Cadet at PMA circa 1966
Nawaz, during a military exercise in 1966

Muhammad Nawaz joined the Pakistan Military Academy as a cadet in the 2nd War Course, right after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He graduated from the academy after a year and joined the 5th FF Regiment as a Second Lieutenant. Nawaz served in the Pakistan Army for twenty five years, from 1966 till 1991. He retired as a Major. During his service with Pakistan Army, he served as 2IC (Second in Command) of his unit. Nawaz also joined the prestigious Command and Staff College, Quetta, graduating in 1977. He served as the Wing Commander at Balahisar Fort in Peshawar, Pakistan, the Headquarters of Frontier Corps. During this time, he was also the official historian of Frontier Corps, writing his famous books, Guadrians of the Frontier and The Valiant Scouts. Nawaz also wrote little bits of history about the Balahisar Fort, which have been placed on twelve plaques at different locations in the Fort. The plaques give visitors a brief history as well as provide interesting trivia about early life in and around the Fort.

Writing career

One of the plaques inside Balahisar Fort

Major Nawaz had always taken keen interest in history and heritage and his articles have appeared regularly in national journals and newspapers. More than 189 research oriented articles and 35 of his books/booklets and brochures of poetry/prose, history/tourism/archaeology and cultural heritage, etc., in Urdu, Pashto and English have been published. Over 113 books/booklets and over 139 articles are ready for publication. The articles have been published in 34 newspapers and journals. He has also written the scripts of 15 Urdu and Pashto programmes on cultural heritage for Pakistan Television Corporation, which have been telecast and widely appreciated. His interview on cultural heritage and tourism was also telecast by Pakistan Television. He was also interviewed by BBC on History of Balahisar Fort and Peshawar. He keeps on delivering lectures on History and Culture of the region to various international and domestic delegation/groups from time to time.[3]

Muhammad Nawaz Khan at Wazir Bagh Native Christian Cemetery, Peshawar, Pakistan in 2006

Nawaz was also a student editor of Pashto section of Khirman, the journal of the College of Agriculture, Peshawar University. He was also a member of National Heritage Foundation and member executive committees of the Kalash Environment Protection Society, Pakistan Heritage Society and Irfan Society. He is also a member of the NWFP government's Roundtable on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Development and member of NWFP government's Experts Committee for assisting and advising Departments of Archaeology and Culture regarding protection, preservation and development of cultural, archaeological and architectural heritage of the province. He was also a member of the Task Force on Tourism of the NWFP government.

He participated in many seminars, workshops, conventions, conferences and meetings about cultural heritage and tourism. He also managed Gandhara Markaz, which publishes books/brochures. He started work on the Major Nawaz Research Trust from 20 December 2003, for the help of researchers and scholars.

Major Nawaz worked on a number of history and tourism projects for the Frontier Corps (KPK), Frontier Constabulary, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Frontier Corps Foundation, Pakistan Television Corporation, Pearl Continental Hotel, Peshawar and Sarhad Tourism Corporation.

The Gandhara Times

From 1992 to 1996, Major Nawaz, as the proprietor and editor, launched the Gandhara Times, a fortnightly newspaper focusing primarily on the preservation of cultural heritage and promotion of tourism in Pakistan. All copies of the newspaper have been preserved for reference purposes.

Literary Collections

Major Nawaz had a collection of over 7,000 books and journals, 3,000 historical newspapers, 4,000 copies of The Gandhara Times, over 10,000 newspaper cuttings and a large number of manuscript books and rare articles. He maintained a Historical and Literary (Tarikhi wa Adabi) Diary, which was used for future compilation of articles and books. So far, over 32 volumes have been compiled.[3]

Awards and Decorations

Notable Works

The Guardians of the Frontier
Khyber, the treasureland of history
The British and the Pathans

Book Covers (in chronological order)

Death

Nawaz had been suffering from Parkinson's Disease since the mid 1990s. His health deteriorated significantly though, after he fell down and suffered from a broken elbow, in May 2014. The long drawn fight with Parkinson's disease had made him weak and this injury proved to be a very serious challenge. Nawaz was bedridden for over a year due to weakness. Finally, after fighting Parkinson's Disease for almost 20 years, Nawaz died in Risalpur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan on 3 October 2015.

References

  1. ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/967374/historian-muhammad-nawaz-khan-passes-away/
  2. ↑ http://www.maverickpakistanis.com/wp-content/themes/iGreatBlack/book/books/khyber/16.asp
  3. 1 2 Khan, M. Nawaz. (2004). 48 Years of Literary Madness. Peshawar, Pakistan: Spinzer Printers.
  4. ↑ http://lccn.loc.gov/95930537 Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, 1943– The guardians of the frontier : the Frontier Corps, N.W.F.P. / by Mohammad Nawaz Khan. 1st ed. Peshawar, Pakistan : Frontier Corps, North West Frontier Province, 1994. xxxiv, 498 p. : col. ill. ; 23 cm. UA853.P3 K48 1994
  5. ↑ http://lccn.loc.gov/97930592 Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, 1943– Malakand : a journey through history / by Muhammad Nawaz Khan. Ist ed. Peshawar : Gandhara Markaz, 1995. 60 p. : col. ill., map ; 22 cm. DS392.M38 K47 1995
  6. ↑ http://lccn.loc.gov/97930593 Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, 1943– The glorious piffers, 1843–1995 / by Muhammad Nawaz Khan. Abbottabad : The Frontier Force Regimental Centre, 1996. iv, 395 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 23 cm. UA853.P3 K47 1996
  7. ↑ http://lccn.loc.gov/97930632 Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, 1943– The valiant scouts : the Frontier Corps (N.W.F.P.) / by Muhammad Nawaz Khan. Ist ed. Peshawar : The Frontier Corps (N.W.F.P.), 1997. 144 p. : ill., maps ; 22 cm. UA853.P3 K485 1997
  8. ↑ http://lccn.loc.gov/99921604 Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, 1943– Ali Mardan Khan's garden villa and the Flag Staff House in Peshawar Cantonment / by Muhammad Nawaz Khan. 1st ed. Peshawar : Headquarters 11 Corps, 1998. 28 p. : ill. (some col.), map ; 22 cm. DS392.2.P47 K47 1998
  9. ↑ http://lccn.loc.gov/2004468370 Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, 1943– The Khattaks a restless people Maradan : Gandhara Markaz Shahbaz Garhi, 2004. 35 p. : ill. ; 20 cm. DS432.K53 K43 2004
  10. ↑ http://www.maverickpakistanis.com/wp-content/themes/iGreatBlack/book/books/khyber/default.asp
  11. ↑ http://lccn.loc.gov/2004468366 Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, 1943– Khyber : the treasure land of history, Gandhara markaz Shahbaz Garhi, district Mardan & Peshawar / Muhammad Nawaz Khan. [Peshawar : s.n.], 2004. 82 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 2004. DS392.K49 K54 2004
  12. ↑ http://lccn.loc.gov/2004468380 Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, 1943– Peshawar : the unwritten history / Muhammad Nawaz Khan. Mardan : Gandhara Markaz Shahbaz Garhi, 2004. 82 p. ; 21 cm. DS392.2.P47 K48 2004

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