From Print Edition
ISLAMABAD: The Waris Mir Foundation has launched www.warismir.com on the 27th death anniversary of renowned journalist, intellectual and academician Prof Waris Mir, which provides his writings, including books, online for the convenience of the readers.
The newly-launched website not only carries Prof Waris Mir’s own writings, but it also carries write ups by distinguished personalities, highlighting Waris Mir’s contribution for the cause of democracy and press freedom through his bold writings during the darks days of General Ziaul Haq’s rule.
The website will be officially launched on July 9, the day Waris Mir breathed his last (in 1987) following his sudden death at the young age of 48. At the time of his death Mir was at the peak of his professional career as a writer. His writing on contemporary politics, the army’s meddling in politics, feminist issues, religious beliefs, philosophical questions punctuated with literary references and historical backgrounds continue to remain relevant long after his death.
The website also carries online “Waris Mir Ka Fikri Asasa” (The intellectual assets of Waris Mir), a compilation of his selected writings spread across three volumes, which was published by the Jang Publishers.
Born on November 22, 1938, Prof Waris Mir is largely recognised for speaking out at the behest of the people of Pakistan with a mission, “to write for the posterity, to speak as the people’s voice”. He was thrice appointed the 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 many 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. It was the firmness of his columns, which used to appear in daily “Jang” that earned Waris Mir soaring popularity amongst the readers, especially during General ZiaulHaq’s martial law period when the latter tried to Islamise the Pakistani society by enforcing his own version of Shariah.
The books authored by Prof Waris Mir in Urdu language include “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).
He was laid to rest in the Punjab University graveyard close to New Campus Underpass, which has already been renamed as the Waris Mir Underpass. He was decorated with Pakistan’s highest civil award, “The Hilal-e-Imtiaz” or the Crescent of Excellence (posthumous) on March 23, 2013 by the state of Pakistan in recognition of his meritorious services in the field of journalism and for furthering the cause of democracy and press freedom through his thoughtful writings.
The Government of Bangladesh also decorated him with the country’s most prestigious civil award, “The Friends of Liberation War Honour” in 2013 for writing meticulously and criticising the Pakistani military action against the civilian population of the then West Pakistan.