Muhammad Asim Butt

Muhammad Asim Butt
Residence	Islamabad
Nationality	Pakistani
Fields	Urdu novelist, Short Story Writer, translator, Researcher, editor, Critic and journalist
Institutions	Pakistan Academy of Letters
Alma mater	Government College University, Lahore

Muhammad Asim Butt (Urdu: محمد عاصم بٹ) is an Urdu novelist, short story writer, translator, researcher, editor, critic and journalist.^[1][2] He has published two novels and two collections of short stories along with a number of books translated from English into Urdu and vice versa. Butt also writes in English. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Biography

Muhammad Asim Butt obtained a master's degree in philosophy from Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan in 1989. He started his career as a journalist but soon shifted to the development sector as human rights activist in 1997. Most recently, he has been working with the Pakistan Academy of Letters, Govt. of Pakistan as Editor of the quarterly Adabiyaat, a literary magazine since 2006.^[6] He lives in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Publications

Fiction

• Ishtihaar Aadami (Ad man) (short stories), Fiction House, Lahore, Pakistan, 1998^[7]
• Daira (Circle) (novel), Sanjh Publishers, Lahore, Pakistan, 2001 ^[8]
• Dastak (Knock)(short stories), Dunyazaad, Karachi, Pakistan, 2010^[9][10]

• Naatamaam (ناتمام), (An Unending Story) (novel), Sang e Meel Publications, Lahore, Pakistan,2014^[11]

Translations

English to Urdu

• So Azeem Aadami (The 100 by Michael H. Hart), Takhleeqat Publishers, Lahore, Pakistan, 1992^[12][13]
• Muhabbat Key Khatoot (Love Letters by Khalil Gibran), Takhleeqat Publishers, Lahore, Pakistan, 1993^[14]
• Kafka Kahanian (translation of stories by Franz Kafka), Jang Publishers, Lahore, Pakistan,1994.^[15][16][17]
• Mukhtasar Tareekh-e-Alam (A Short History of the World by H G Wells), Takhleeqat Publishers, Lahore, Pakistan, 1995.^[18]
• Marco Polo Ka Safarnama (Travelogue by Marco Polo), Takhleeqat Publishers, Lahore, Pakistan, 1999.
• Muhammad (A biography of Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet by Karen Armstrong), Takhleeqat Publishers, Lahore, Pakistan, 2002.
• Toahamat ki Dunya (by Carl Sagan), Mashal, Lahore, Pakistan,2003.
• Bai Moasam Key Phool (A selection of Japanese stories), Mashal, Lahore, Pakistan, 2003.
• Sarif Nama (introduction to consumer rights), The Network for Consumer Protection, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2004.
• Fidelio (by Ludwig van Beethoven), Friedrich Naumann Stiftung Fur Die Freiheit, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2011.
• Taaleem Ka Liberal Nuqta-e-Nazar (Liberal Readings on Education' (by Stefan Melnik and Sascha Tamm [Eds.]^[19]), Friedrich Naumann Stiftung Fur Die Freiheit, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2012.

Urdu to English

• Tale of Four Saints (Retelling of Persian classic tale 'Qissah Chahaar Darvaish' into English)(In printing process)

Research and criticism

• Doosra Aadami (The Other Person) (interviews), Jang Publishers, Lahore, Pakistan, 1993^[20]
• Pakistan Sal Ba Sal (Pakistan Year by Year, National Language Authority, Islamabad, Pakistan,1999^[21]
• Insaani Haqooq aur Urdu Sahaafat (Human Rights and Urdu Journalism), The Network for Consumer Protection, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2005
• Abdullah Hussein: Shakhsiat Aur Fun (Abdullah Hussein: Person & Work), Pakistan Academy of Letters, Islamabad, Pakistan,2009.^[22]
• Kia Jamhooriat Pakistan Kay Liay Zaroori Hai? (Is Democracy Essential for Pakistan?), Liberal Forum Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2010.^[23]
• Bahtareen Afsaanaon Ka Intikhab (a selection of best Urdu short stories in 2011), Takhleeqat Publishers, Lahore, Pakistan 2011^[24]

Recognition

Asim's novel Natamaam ناتمام has won UBL Literary Excellence Award for 2015. ^[25]

A selection of best short stories of Urdu 'Despairing Voices: Selected Urdu Short Stories' compiled and translated by Syed Sarwar Hussein, published by Satyam Publishing House, India, 2011 includes two short stories of Butt.^[26]

A detailed research thesis based on the critical analysis of three modern Urdu novelists including Butt, by Robina Sultan, published with the title 'Teen Nai Novel Nigar' by Dastaaveez Matbuaat, Lahore, Pakistan in 2012.^[27]

Participated as a speaker in the Islamabad Literary Festival, arranged by Oxford, Pakistan and British Council, Pakistan at Islamabad, Pakistan from 30 April to 1 May 2013.^{[28] [29]}

References

1. "Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature Delegates Book" (PDF).
2. http://jang.com.pk/thenews/may2011-weekly/nos-01-05-2011/lit.htm
3. Butt, Muhammad Asim (16 June 2002). "Reviews: Empowering Women". Dawn.
4. http://www.thenetwork.org.pk/Resources/Magazines/PDF/18-7-2011-1-19-39-346-Consumer%20Wise%20Behind%20the%20glitter.pdf
5. http://splus.nation.com.pk/E-Paper/Lahore/2013-09-08/page-58
6. http://www.foundationsaarcwriters.com/Delegate%20Book/Page-36-43.pdf
7. http://www.urdustudies.com/pdf/14/21bookreviews.pdf
8. "Urdu Book On-Line – Daira by Asim Butt". Apnaorg.com. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
9. Asad, Altaf Hussain (December 2010). "Soul of an Era: Review of Dastak". Literati. The News on Sunday.
10. Javed, Kazy (March 2010). "A Word About Letters". Literati.
11. https://twitter.com/sangemeel/status/459968495132762112/photo/1
12. Butt, M Asim. ""100" The Hundred Most Influential Persons in History".
13. http://urdunovelspk.com/?p=6059
14. Javed, Kazy. "English history of Punjabi literature".
15. Saeed, Saadat. "Kafka: the Pioneer of New Story".
16. http://m.dawn.com/news/1046058/review-kafka-metamorphoses-into-urdu
17. http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-202486-Kafka-Kahanian-A-new-dimension-of-creativity-in-Urdu-translation
18. Butt, Muhammad Asim. "Mukhtasar Tareekh-e-Alam".
19. Melnik, Stefan; Tamm, Sascha. "Liberal Readings on Education" (PDF).
20. http://jang.com.pk/jangpublishers/urdubooks4_2010.html
21. http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books-uk&field-author=Muhammad%20Asim%20Butt
22. Butt, Muhammad Asim. "Abdullah Hussein: Shakhsiat Aur Fun". Pakistan Academy of Letters.
23. Butt, Muhammad Asim. "Kia Jamhooriat Pakistan Kay Liay Zaroori Hai?" (PDF).
24. http://www.emarkaz.com/shop/store/emarkazBooks.php
25. http://nation.com.pk/E-Paper/lahore/2016-02-11/page-14
26. http://www.vedamsbooks.com/no103621/cart.php
27. http://writers.pal.gov.pk/english/writers/?page=1984
28. http://tribune.com.pk/story/542247/islamabad-literature-festival-caravan-of-literati-and-artists-arrives-in-the-capital/
29. http://tribune.com.pk/story/543341/urdu-short-stories-being-written-sans-critical-review/