Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi is a prominent progressive poet, short story writer, and journalist. He also published a major literary journal called Funoon, which he published with complete dedication till his death.

Qasmi was born on 20 November 1916 at Koranga in Khushab tehsil of Sargodha. He was named Ahmad Shah. He received his early education in his village. In 1935, he got his M.A. degree from Punjab University. He started working as a scribe in the Reform Commissioner’s office at Lahore in 1936. After working at different places, he met Manto in Delhi in 1941. Manto was then writing scripts for films. Qasmi wrote lyrics for these films, but unfortunately, none of the films were ever released. Following the Partition of India, he wrote dialogues for three films: Aghosh, Do Rastey, and Lori. In 1942, he returned from Delhi to Lahore and took to editing Imtiaz Ali Taj’s journals Phool and Taleem-e Niswaan, which were published from Darul Ishaat, Punja, Lahore. Following the Partition of India, he worked as a script writer for Radio Pakistan at Peshawar, but did not continue there for long. In 1947, he joined the editorial board of the reputed journal Savera and was elected Secretary General of the Progressive Writers Association, Pakistan. Because of his anti-establishment attitude, he was arrested and imprisoned for seven months. In 1963, he launched his own journal, Funoon, which made a name for itself soon. From 1974 to 2006, he worked as the Director of Majlis-e Tarraqi Adab, Lahore. Qasmi passed away on 10 July 2006 in Lahore.

Qasmi’s collections of short stories include Chaupal, Bagooley, Tulu-o-Ghuroob, Girdaab, Sailaab, Aanchal, Aabley, Aas Paas, Dar-o-Deewaar, Sannata, Bazaar-e Hayaat, Barg-e Henna, Ghar se Ghar Tak, Neela Paththar, Kapaas ka Phool, Koh Paima, and Patjadh. His poems are collected in Rim Jhim, Jalaal-o-Jamaal, Shola-i-Gul, Dasht-e Wafaa, Muheet, Dawaam, Tehzeeb-o-Fan, Dhadkanein, Lauh-e Khaak, Arz-o-Sama, and Noor-e Jamaal. His critical books are Adab aur Taleem ke Rishtey Pas-e Lafz and Maani ki Talaash.