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About The Author
Identity: A distinguished scholar, librarian, bibliophile, and eminent Urdu writer
Abid Raza Bedar was born on 4 February 1934 in the princely state of Rampur into an intellectual and literary family. He belonged to the renowned Yusufzai Pashtun tribe. He received his early education in Rampur and later earned Master’s degrees in Urdu and Islamic Studies from Aligarh Muslim University. In 1963, he completed his PhD on “The Development of the National Movement in Egypt.” He also obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Library Science (B.Lib), which became a key aspect of his professional identity.
He began his professional career as a cataloguer at the Raza Library in Rampur, where he developed a deep engagement with manuscripts and scholarly collections. Later, he joined Jawaharlal Nehru University in the Department of West Asian and North African Studies as a lecturer. However, the most significant phase of his life began in 1972 when he was appointed Director of the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library in Patna.
At Khuda Bakhsh Library, his contributions marked the beginning of a new era. Through cataloguing Arabic, Persian, and Urdu manuscripts, editing rare texts, and promoting scholarly publications, he elevated the institution to international recognition. Under his leadership, the library evolved into a modern and dynamic research center. He also launched the Khuda Bakhsh Journal, which remains a respected academic publication.
Bedar’s scholarly contributions were extensive and multifaceted. He authored around forty books and edited nearly two hundred works. His notable writings include Curriculum of Arabic-Islamic Madrasas, Important Urdu Journals and Newspapers, The Aesthetics of Prose, and Prose Stylists of My Era. He also made significant contributions to Islamic history, Sufism, interfaith harmony, and Indian culture.
He had a deep passion for journalism as well. During his student years, he launched journals such as “Alig” and “Middle East,” later edited “Naya Khwab,” and contributed to the growth of intellectual journalism. In later years, he continued this engagement through the online magazine Aligarh Diaspora.
A key aspect of his intellectual vision was interfaith harmony and national integration. He believed that dialogue and mutual respect among different religions and cultures are essential for building a better society.
His personality reflected a harmonious blend of scholarship, research, service, and sincerity. He devoted his entire life to the service of knowledge and literature.
Death: He passed away on 28 March 2025.
For any query/comment related to this ebook, please contact us at haidar.ali@rekhta.org
