Altaf Husain

Altaf Husain was an eminent journalist from Pakistan. He was born on January 26 1900 in Sylhet, East Pakistan (today Bangladesh). He received his early education in Calcutta and then attended Dhaka University where he graduated with an M.A. (English).

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah appointed Altaf Husain the Editor of Dawn and in this capacity he played a critically important part in the Pakistan movement which lead to the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent.

In 1942, his services were lent to the Government of India as Press Advisor. He was the member of a three-man panel along with C.P. Johnson of The Statesman and S.A. Govindarajan of The Hindu.

In 1959, Altaf Husain was awarded the "Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam" by the Government of Pakistan. From 1965 to 1968, Altaf Husain served as the Minister for Industries and Natural Resources in the Federal Government of Pakistan.

Altaf Husain died on May 25 1968 in Karachi, Pakistan.

Mr.Altaf Husain was not only the editor of DAWN in Delhi and a very close confidant of the founder of Pakistan Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah the president of all Pakistan Muslim League and the owner of DAWN, he expressed through his powerful pen the hopes and dreams of all the Muslims of India through inspiring and passionate editorials.Mr.Jinnah gave him total freedom to run Dawn and its editorial policy. At one time he told Mr.Altaf Husain, " I do not want you to spare any one who stands on our way to achieve Pakistan. Even me. If you feel that I am failing somewhere" Mr. Jinnah's trust in his editor was unshakable.

Following post independence Mr. Jinnah wanted to publish DAWN from Karachi in 1947.He had the idea to publish two editions of his newspaper. Both from Delhi and Karachi. He instructed Mr.Altaf Husain to proceed to Karachi in early August of 1947 with some senior staffs from his Delhi office to set up DAWN in Karachi. Mr.Yusuf Abdulla Haroon a young and energetic member of the Central Committee of Muslim League was given the task to provide facilities to the DAWN team led by Mr.Altaf Husain to publish DAWN by August fourteen 1947, the day Pakistan was born. Mr.Altaf Husain with his usual zeal successfully completed his task. First Pakistani edition of DAWN was published on the 15th. of August 1947. In the meantime Delhi DAWN office and its presses were burnt down by the Hindu extremist on the 12th. of August 1947. Mr.Altaf Husain's third floor flat in New Delhi located at Sujan Singh Park was also set on fire by the Sikhs destroying every thing including many collection of valuable Books. Mr.Altaf Husain landed in Karachi with his family with a hand full of suitcases on the 7th. of August 1947. His dedication and call to his duties never wavered. DAWN was a single voice of the Muslims of India. Through the power of his pen he battled against influential newspapers of Hindu India and came up triumphs!Mr.Altaf Husain is even today remains an Icon as a leading symbol of intellectual integrity and dedication to the cause of his country, his beloved Pakistan.

ee also

*Pakistan movement
*Dawn newspaper

External links

;Book links
* [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/catalog/data/071030/0710305486.HTM From Mutiny to Mountbatten] , from Columbia University presshttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,838455-1,00.html