Hanif Fauq (1926–2009) was a distinguished Urdu critic, researcher, scholar, and teacher whose contributions left a lasting impact on modern Urdu literary studies. Born on 26 December 1926 in Bhopal, British India, his real name was Muhammad Hanif Quraishi, but he became widely known in the literary world as Hanif Fauq. After completing his early education in Bhopal, Kanpur, and Lucknow, he pursued higher studies in Dhaka, where he earned his PhD from the University of Dhaka. He later served as Professor and Chairman of the Urdu Department at the University of Karachi. In 1981, he was invited as a Visiting Professor to Ankara University, Turkey, where he developed a deep interest in Turkish language and literature. His notable translation of Turkish poet Fuad Bayramoğlu’s quatrains into Urdu, titled Chiragh-e-Shanasaai, reflects his interlingual literary insight. From 1995 to 1998, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Urdu Lughat Board and also edited the literary journal Afkar (Karachi). Known for his balanced and insightful critical approach, his book Musbat Qadrein is regarded as an important work in Urdu criticism. His other notable works include Mutawazi Nuqoosh, Ghalib: Nazar aur Nazara, and Taraqqi Pasand Afsanay. Hanif Fauq passed away on 1 May 2009 in Bhopal, leaving behind a rich legacy of scholarship and literary criticism.

Notable Books:

Musbat Qadrein
Chiragh-e-Shanasaai
Mutawazi Nuqoosh
Ghalib: Nazar aur Nazara
Taraqqi Pasand Afsanay
Turkish Language and Atatürk (Urdu writings)