شمیم حیدر ترمذی بحیثیت خاکہ نگار Shamim Haider Tirmizi As A Sketch Writer

Abstract

A review of the history of sketch writing (khaka nigari) in Urdu literature reveals that, like the novel, short story, and essay, this genre was also influenced by English literature and is not very ancient in its tradition. The formal beginning of sketch writing in Urdu can be traced to the 20th century. Just as the novel evolved into the short story, similarly, biography took the form of sketch writing. This genre holds significant literary value in terms of its depth and quality. The early traces of sketch writing in Urdu can be found in Muhammad Hussain Azad’s renowned work Aab-e-Hayat. Later, Shamim Haider Termizi contributed substantially to this art form by writing remarkable sketches while consciously adhering to the fundamental principles of sketch writing. Shamim Haider Termizi's style of presenting events in his character sketches is highly captivating and effective. He does not limit his portrayal to the external and internal traits of individuals but also delves deeply into their psychological aspects. Rather than adopting a reformist tone, his writing reflects critical insight and impartiality, which enables him to present living, breathing portraits of personalities before the reader.