Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi

The greatest humorist of Urdu prose

UrduHumorist

Life

Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi was born in Tonk and studied philosophy and law at Agra and Aligarh. He migrated to Pakistan in 1950 and had a long career as a banker, rising to head major banks.

Alongside banking he wrote a small number of books of humorous prose, each years in the making, which made him the most admired comic writer in Urdu.

Major works

Chiragh Talay (1961): His first collection of humorous essays.
Khakam Badahan and Zarguzasht: Humorous essays and a comic memoir of his banking career.
Aab-e-Gum (1990): Often considered his masterpiece, a nostalgic, funny and moving portrait of life before and after Partition.
Shaam-e-Shair-e-Yaaraan (2014): His final book.

Themes and style

Gentle, intelligent humour about everyday life, people and society, with deep sadness and wisdom beneath the jokes.

Legacy

Yusufi is often called the greatest humour writer in the history of Urdu; it was said that 'we are living in the age of Yusufi'. He received the Hilal-e-Imtiaz.