In the journalistic
history of the Indo-Pak subcontinent, Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman
is regarded as one of the greatest contributors of journalism
of the 20th century. Professor Dr Nisar Ahmad Zuberi,
a prominent educationist paid rich tributes to Mir saheb
while tracing the historical background of Urdu journalism
in Pakistan. Nisar Zuberi before taking up the task of
training students at the University of Karachi served
the Jang Group as the Incharge of the students' page as
well as the Editor of Akhbar-e-Jahan for several years.
Modern Urdu journalism as we know it today, owes a lot
to a few personalities like Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad,
Maulvi Mehboob Alam and Maulana Zafar Ali Khan. Post-partition
Pakistan's Urdu journalism, however, is a different story.
This period belongs to Mir Khalil-ur-Rehman and his small
newspaper, the Jang that over a period of time developed
into an empire of lasting strength.
Mir saheb was a complete newspaper man. He was an able
editor as well as an enlightened entrepreneur and it is
undoubtedly due to his efforts that if today the history
of our country is written then it wouldn't be complete
until information from the pages of the daily Jang is
included.
Mir saheb is praised by the people belonging to all sections
of the society. He had a natural knack for handling people
and with time he developed contacts with a lot of prominent
people ranging from heads of states to ordinary citizens.
Former officer of the National Investment Trust (NIT),
Shamshad Ahmed says that Mir saheb was polite with everybody
irrespective of their financial status or political power.
Despite being the owner and Editor-in-Chief of the biggest
newspaper, Mir saheb never conversed with anyone in rude
language or strict tone.
When it came to politics, here too Mir saheb rose above
everyone else. In Pakistan's troubled political history,
Mir saheb refused to be pressurised by the high and mighty
including the political despots and military dictators.
Former parliamentarian and sportsman, Byram D Avari, who
brought many laurels to Pakistan while paying rich tributes
to him said, "Mir saheb was easily accessible even
to those with whom he did not have any business or transaction
to make."
Byram and his wife Gospi Avari won a gold medal in yachting
in the Bangkok Asian games in 1978. Mir saheb not only
gave full coverage to their achievement but also personally
congratulated them for bringing laurels to Pakistan.
Appreciating Mir saheb Byram Avari who is a Parsi, said
that about 20 million Pakistanis belong to minority communities.
"There are approximately 10 million Hindus and Christians
in the country while the Parsis, Buddhists, Sikhs and
Bahais are much less in number. Irrespective of this fact
it was because of Mir saheb's personal attention that
the problems of all minor communities were covered and
presented in the newspapers and journals of the Jang Group,"
he said. Editor of commercial Urdu daily Beopar, Yunus
Riaz who has served the Jang Group in various capacities
for more than quarter of a century said that Mir saheb
was a teacher for his staff and it was his strict routine
to listen to all important broadcasts, particularly on
Radio Pakistan, BBC, Voice of America, all India Radio
etc.
The current High Commissioner of Pakistan in Britain,
Wajid Shams-ul-Hasan has served the Jang Group for more
than 26 years. He was the Editor of Daily News from 1968
to 1988. During his tenure Wajid was given full powers
to pursue the policy of an independent newspaper. When
president of the Bangladesh, Shaikh Mujibur Rehman was
assassinated on August 15, 1975, Mir saheb called up Wajid
early in the morning to inform him about the assassination
and instructed him to publish the relevant facts about
Shaikh Mujibur Rehman's political career and his association
with the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Hussain Shaheed
Suhrawardy who was also the founding father of the Awami
League.
Mir saheb was a man of many qualities and his legacy will
always continue in the form of the chain of newspapers
that he started years ago.
Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman received a number of awards for
his outstanding services in the field of journalism
1978 - Gold Mercury International Award, Mexico
1983 - Merchant Navy Officer Award
1985 - Writers Forum Award
1985 - Iqra Award
1985 - Baladi Award, the UAE
1987 - Nishan-e-Behbood
1987 - Pakistan Movement Award
1987 - Quaid-i-Azam National Award
1988 - Honourary degree of Ph D, Sri Lanka
1989 - Performance Award
1989 - Quli Qutub Shah Aalami Award (given at International
Urdu Conference), New Delhi
1990 - Art International Award (Best editor-in-chief
award), Dubai
2000 - Human Rights Award
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