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Remembering CM Naim (1936-2025): The conscience keeper of Urdu, who wrote fearlessly of its politics
Chaudhary Mohammad Naim, aka CM Naim, who passed away on July 9, 2025, at the age of 89, was a peerless scholar of Urdu literature who wrote prolifically in English. In that sense, Naim was also a conscience keeper since he regularly assessed the works of Urdu legends and Urdu studies in the more exacting standard that writing in English could provide him. He was born in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh and after studying at Lucknow University, Deccan College and the University of California, Berkeley, he remained associated with the University of Chicago for over four decades at the Department of South Asian Languages and Civilisations. Besides contributing enormously to South Asian studies, he also introduced some prominent and not-so-prominent Urdu literary works to a wider audience. It won't be out of place to call him a one-man industry. Apart from his vast scholarly output, he frequently wrote in the media. Letters to Hindustan Times, EPW and his columns in Outlook stand out for the fresh and sharp perspectives they offered. He never shied away from taking difficult positions. Obituaries published following his passing away rightly mention his books – the most recent one being Urdu Crime Fiction, 1890-1950: An Informal History. However, equally celebrated and forthright were some of his journal articles and writings in the media. A decade and a half ago, he wrote about the alleged plagiarism by the high priest of Urdu, Gopi Chand Narang. The plagiarism, highlighted by several people, including Fuzail Jaffrey and Imran Bhinder, acquired more weight as Naim expounded on it in his popular Outlook column. In his quest for objectivity and honest scholarship, even the greatest would come under the scanner. A journal article written in the wake of the 1965 India–Pakistan war examined the attitude and literary output of the prominent Urdu writers in both countries. Naim described Ali Sardar Jafri's piece in Dharmayug as having 'blatantly confused motives' and parts of eminent Hindi writer Kamaleshwar's rejoinder to it as 'unfair'. Khwaja Ahmed Abbas had accused Faiz Ahmed Faiz of tacitly supporting Pakistan's war mongering against India. According to Naim, the 'hypocrisy underlying Abbas' remarks needs no comment.' One has to read this article to appreciate the nuanced analysis from Naim of an important event that gave him the opportunity to point out certain plain truths. He highlighted that '…the elders of the Progressive Movement who over the years had come to form a kind of literary establishment, controlling magazines, radio and film industry jobs, and cultural embassies.' What stood out for me was his perceptive observation that two separate literary-cultural identities will emerge that will complement the existing separate national-political identities. Naim did not want Urdu writers to apologise for their politics, which was only stopping them from writing more freely. This was crucial, according to Naim, to generate an atmosphere of greater trust and respect akin to English language writers in England and America. While Naim had donned the hat of a critic when several of the Progressive Movement legends were alive and he never minced words, some of his critics would seek to reduce his stature by saying that he was teaching elementary Urdu to students in the US! Such invectives didn't bother him. A whole generation of scholars benefited from his stewardship of The Annual of Urdu Studies and his large-heartedness to help those who reached out to him. Although I never met him, I enjoyed and benefited much from our conversations over email, which began over a decade ago. For someone steeped deep in the Urdu ethos and who grew up in the environs around Lucknow of the 1940s and 1950s, he was uncharacteristically unbeholden to nostalgia. I think that stemmed from his catholicity of views and the ability to look at things from a long-term perspective. Five years ago, in an email he recounted his experience of attending a Progressive Writers Association meeting in Lucknow. 'In 1966, I happened to be in Barabanki when I read that a major meeting of the Association would be held in Lucknow to celebrate the 30th anniversary. I eagerly went and was horrified to see thatthe crowd consisted of fewer than 20 people. In Lucknow – the city where the Association began. In a city full of colleges and one university. Only the old, big names who had survived the years had come.' Naim held the view that the average Marathi and Bengali scholars knew more about literary theories than Urdu academics. He was also critical of scholars who had notions that a non-native academic could not do justice to Urdu studies. In response to one such tirade, he gave a sharp rejoinder, titling his piece 'Our ungenerous little world of Urdu Studies.' I have mentioned these nuggets to make the point that CM Naim, the person, was not different from C M Naim the scholar. His life was marked by humility, solid scholarship and measured words. Although it must be pointed out that if the occasion arose, he never shied away from using his meticulous observation and wisdom to great effect. He moved to the US in the late 1950s but continued his annual visits to India. Lucknow, the city of culture, was a regular visit for Naim, known for its two iconic bookstores: Ram Advani Booksellers in Hazratganj (which closed down in 2016) and Danish Mahal in Aminabad. Naim could easily be one of the most learned and treasured customers of both these stores and his passing away signifies the death of an icon who straddled multiple genres and cultures.
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Go gently into the night, CM Naim sahab
For the present generation of Urdu wallahs and translators, Chaudhry Mohammad Naim (popularly known as C M Naim) was an ustaadon ke ustaad. He showed the way to many with his immaculate scholarship, bilingual ease, vast and varied reading of the ocean that is Urdu literature and yes, prodigious publications. Always eclectic, consistently unorthodox and relentlessly prolific, Naim sahab continued to delight and astonish both the serious Urdu researcher and the literary dilettante with his steady stream of articles, essays and books covering a gamut of concerns and topics in the course of a long and illustrious literary career. Essentially a teacher of Urdu language and literature to several generations of American students, he had, over the years, emerged as a passionate crusader for Urdu zubaan and tehzeeb. Born in Barabanki in 1936, educated at Lucknow University and the University of California, Berkeley, with Master's degrees in Urdu and Linguistics respectively, he joined the University of Chicago's Department of South Asian Languages and Civilisations in 1961, and chaired it from 1985 to 1991. On retiring from active teaching in 2001, he was a national fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla and a visiting professor at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. He was also professor emeritus at the University of Chicago, where he edited two of Urdu's most influential and widely read journals, Mahfil, and later the iconic Annual of Urdu Studies — both fortunately available online in their entirety. Naim sahab's list of publications is as long as it is varied, showing the range of his interests: From Urdu pedagogy to translations (from both Hindi and Urdu), polemical essays, Urdu readers and compilations for graduate students at American universities as well as several sharp takes on the state of Urdu, the challenge of being a Muslim in India, and timely interventions in newspapers and magazines, not to mention his seminal work on Mir and Ghalib. A meticulous keeper of his own archive, much of his writing can be found at One of his later offerings, Urdu Crime Fiction, 1890-1950, bore the following by way of sub-heading: 'An Informal History'. He confessed to an early and abiding love for mysteries and thrillers, in English and in Urdu, making his book 'both a labour of love and an exercise in nostalgia'. Explaining the sub-title, he elaborated: 'It is a 'history' because it offers an account of the past in a loose, chronological order, and it is an 'informal' history because I wrote it chiefly for those who read crime fiction in any language only for pleasure.' This, to my mind, sums up Naim sahab, the man and the writer. He was a man blessed with boundless curiosity that remained undimmed by age, coupled with his wide-ranging reading across genres and his steadfast refusal to be hemmed in by academic pretentiousness. As a translator, I am constantly amazed by Naim sahab's extraordinary ability to extend the scope of what might otherwise have been luminous but brief magazine-style mazmun (essays), often by forgotten or obscure writers. Take A Most Noble Life: The Biography of Ashrafunnisa Begum (1840-1903) by Muhammadi Begum (1877-1908), translated from the Urdu with additional material plucked from different sources that add layers of context, profuse footnotes that make delightful reading and supplement the translation in myriad ways along with a rigorously researched introduction and afterword. Through such feats of literary ingenuity, Naim sahab extends the 'brief' translators have traditionally given themselves. Having known him for several decades and corresponded sporadically over email and the occasional meeting during his visits to India, our correspondence had quickened in recent times. Upon hearing of my interest in Maulana Hasrat Mohani and the biography I have been fitfully working on over the years, he shared generously from his own rich collection of material on Hasrat, most notably photographs, newspaper clippings and recently his as-yet unpublished translations of Hasrat's Mushahidaat-e-Zindaan, an account of his first jail term. His brief, often telegraphic emails contained a wealth of information and ideas. Go gently into the night, Naim sahab, for you have been a beacon, an unwavering chiraagh-e-raah for so many of us struggling to make Urdu accessible to newer readers and trying to rise above the picket fence of languages. Rakhshanda Jalil is a writer, translator and literary historian. She writes on literature, culture and society
Time of India
10-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Urdu doyen Prof CM Naim passes away, leaves a lasting legacy
Lucknow: Renowned scholar Prof Choudhri Mohammed Naim, a leading authority on Urdu language and South Asian studies, passed away in Chicago on Wednesday. He was 89. Born in Barabanki on June 3, 1936, Naim was acclaimed for his profound expertise in Urdu literature, language politics, and culture, leaving an indelible mark on the field. He did his graduation and post graduation in Urdu literature from Lucknow University, later earning another master's degree in linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley. He then held positions at various US universities before joining the University of Chicago in 1961, where he taught for four decades until 2001. He was still the professor emeritus at the University of Chigaco . During his tenure, he served as the chair of the South Asian Languages and Civilizations department from 1985 to 1991. Naim's distinguished career also included stints as a national fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study in Shimla (2009) and as a visiting professor at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi (2003). Naim also translated the famous autobiography of Mir Taqi Mir, Zikr e Mir into English. In 2023, Naim published "Urdu Crime Fiction, 1890–1950: An Informal History", a book that showcased his enduring passion for Urdu literature and marked another milestone in his illustrious career. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giá vàng đang tăng mạnh trong năm 2025 — Các nhà giao dịch thông minh đã tham gia IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo He founded and edited two influential publications: the Annual of Urdu Studies and Mehfil (now Journal of South Asian Literature). He also authored a seminal textbook on Urdu pedagogy in English, a foundational resource in the field. According to the University of California website, "Choudhri M Naim, professor emeritus of South Asian Languages and Civilizations, was born in Barabanki; educated at the University of Lucknow and the University of California, Berkeley." One of Naim's notable works is his 2013 article "The Maulana who Loved Krishna" about Hasrat Mohani, published in the Economic & Political Weekly. He also penned notable biographies of literary giants Mir Taqi Mir and Mirza Ghalib, showcasing his deep understanding of Urdu literature's luminaries. Naim's passing sparked an outpouring of tributes on social media, with many expressing admiration for his unwavering dedication to the Urdu a heartfelt tribute to Prof. Naim, Rekhta, the world's largest archive of Urdu poetry and literature, posted on X: "With the passing of Prof. CM Naim, the Urdu literary world has lost a distinguished voice. This loss marks the departure of a mentor and an early supporter whose intellectual generosity significantly shaped Rekhta's vision. Prof Naim was a scholar who bridged languages, generations and culture. His clarity, integrity and lifelong contribution to Urdu remain enduring." Mourning the demise, author Syed Ubaidur Rahman said: "Prof CM Naim is no more. He was a professor at the University of Chicago. His translations and pedagogy shaped Urdu studies. I was lucky to spend many memorable evenings with him." Musharraf Ali Farooqi, author, storyteller and founder of a library of Urdu classics, said: "Renowned Urdu scholar, Professor CM Naim, has passed away. May he rest in peace. Was honoured to call him a friend." Hoping students will absorb the quiet wisdom that shines through Naim's words, historian Neeti Nair posted: "I met Prof Naim only once, decades ago, and we corresponded once or twice. I will continue to assign his essays in the hope that students will learn from his quiet wisdom - on the partition, on memory, on Urdu, on belonging. RIP." Akhlaq Ahan, Professor & chairperson, Centre of Persian & Central Asian studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, said: "Prof. Choudhri Mohammed Naim (b. 1936), a formidable scholar of Urdu language and literature, doyen of South Asian Studies in the USA and professor emeritus at the University of Chicago passed away today. He translated the famous autobiography of Mir Taqi Mir, Zikr e Mir into English, besides many Urdu and Hindi books. He was also briefly associated with JMI, New Delhi and AMU, Aligarh as visiting professor and IIAS, Shimla as fellow. He taught, trained and inspired many generations of students and scholars within and outside the USA, during the last over six decades."
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Eminent Urdu scholar CM Naim dies at 89
Eminent Urdu scholar, author, and translator CM Naim passed away at 89 on Wednesday in Chicago. Naim's nearly six-decade-long career was dedicated to restoring Urdu, a language he rued was losing its sheen in the sub-continent, to its original glory. Born in UP's Barabanki, he studied Urdu at Lucknow University, followed by another Master's in Linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley. For the next several years, he moved across universities in the US, before embarking on his long association with the University of Chicago where he taught from 1961 to 2001. There he chaired the South Asian Languages and Civilisations department there from 1985 to 1991. As unparallelled as his academic contribution to the proliferation of Urdu literature was, it was his unique approach towards making the language accessible that left a mark on the global literary scene. For Hindustani classical singer Vidya Rao, who was also the commissioning editor for 'Urdu Crime Fiction, 1890-1950: An Informal History' (2023) at Orient Black Swan, Naim's death is a personal loss. 'Today is Guru Purnima, and I feel like I have lost my guru,' she said. 'I had read him even before I had the privilege of publishing his work. There was so much knowledge, understanding and research, but also it was so accessible. He was not writing for just a small group of people… He was reaching out to people who may not be scholars,' said Rao. Orient Black Swan worked with Naim on two other books — distributing 'Urdu Texts and Contexts: The Selected Essays of CM Naim' (2004, published by Permanent Black) and 'A Most Noble Life: The Biography of Ashrafunnisa Begum (1840–1903) by Muhammadi Begum (1877–1908)' (2022), which he translated and wrote the introduction for. Naim's unique quality as a writer was his eye for the innocuous. Close friend and former professor at Zakir Husain Delhi College Khalid Alvi said, 'He was someone who would write about people and things that one would otherwise overlook. He was the person who brought people like Munshi Tirath Ram Ferozpuri and Mirza Fida Ali Khanjar lakhnawi — who had written early detective fiction in Urdu — to the forefront. He also wrote about Zafar Umar, an IPS officer who took to writing after tragically losing a limb. Naim saab wrote about how one of Umar's stories, 'Neeli Chhatri', was named after his home in Aligarh.' Renowned Urdu scholar, Professor C.M. Naim, has passed away. May he rest in peace. Was honoured to call him a friend. Choudhri Mohammed Naim (3 June 1936 – 9 July 2025) — Musharraf Ali Farooqi (@microMAF) July 10, 2025 Among his most memorable pieces, both Rao and Alvi agreed, is his article on Hasrat Mohani. Published in the 'Economic & Political Weekly' in 2013, it was titled, 'The Maulana who Loved Krishna'. Equally noteworthy are his biographies of Mir Taqi Mir and Mirza Ghalib. Historian, translator, and archivist Ravikant remembered Naim as a writer who was 'forthright and erudite'. 'He had done a comparison of the 1971 war reporting both in Indian and Pakistani media, and he was non-sparing. He was not one to mince his words,' said the professor at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) . 'He had visited CSDS quite a few times and we did a workshop with him at IIAS, Shimla. Naim saab gave us many joyous moments. We learnt a lot from him. He was a great guru, friend and companion,' Ravikant said. Naim was a custodian of the Urdu language in all its essence. He reiterated — with every article he wrote, every lecture he delivered and every book he authored — the Indianness of the language; one that was 'created in India and is a mixture of different dialects and existing languages and languages that have come and become a part of this culture'. 'His work was not just on literary studies, but actually on the Urdu language, its history and the cultural world, which is very important because otherwise we tend to see a language as separate from the lived life of the people,' said Rao. Admirer and fellow Urdu scholar Khalid Jawed said his two visits to the US — at the University of Virginia and Princeton University – made him realise the impact Naim had in the West. 'He had a multi-national personality. He didn't teach literature but language. Because he knew that language was the foundation. Once that is strong, students naturally gravitate towards literature. It was truly a one-man show there,' Jawed said, adding, 'He had of course written, translated and edited several classical Urdu texts, but his contribution can be felt deeply in the way he shaped three generations of Urdu speaking people in the US. That is why he was given the title of Professor Emeritus of South Asian Languages and Civilisations at the University of Chicago.' The accessibility of Naim's work that Rao talks about was in fact an extension of his personality. His approachability made him human. 'Who is anybody compared to this great scholar? But he would always listen. If you had a question he would always give it the space it needed, even if it was not about his book. And that is such an extraordinarily gracious quality,' Rao reminisced. Jawed remembered him as a man of principles with a great sense of humour. 'He loved to eat and was extremely affectionate. I had interviewed him twice for Rekhta,' he said. 'He came from a feudal family in Barabanki, but he had completely de-classed himself. While he adapted the positive learnings that came by virtue of his birth, he shunned the exploitation and dogmas associated with the family he was born in.'
The Wire
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Wire
One of Urdu's Greatest Scholars, C.M. Naim, Passes Away
Books The UP-born professor was said to be among the finest and authoritative voices on Urdu. Naim was Professor Emeritus of South Asian Languages and Civilisations at the University of Chicago – a position which capped his decade-long association with the university where he taught from 1961 to 2001. He chaired the South Asian Languages and Civilisations department from 1985 to 1991. A founding editor of many journals and prolific commentator, his voice resonated on all matters to do with Urdu language, culture and its politics as things got dire for Urdu in the sub-continent, the place of its birth. He has been Consultant to the Asian Literature Program of the Asia Society, New York City, Princeton University Press, University of Chicago Press, University of California Press, Feminist Press, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He had also served as Member, South Asia Regional Council, Association for Asian Studies, 1976-79, of the Committee on Scholars of Asian Descent, Association for Asian Studies, 1981-84, then South Asia Regional Council, Association for Asian Studies, 1990-93. He has been on the Advisory Committee, Berkeley Urdu Language Program in Pakistan, University of California, Berkeley, as well as Member, Board of Trustees, America-Pakistan Research Organization, 1989-93 and also Member, Board of Trustees, American Institute of Pakistan Studies, 1993-95. Naim unhesitatingly tackled political issues along with his serious work on pure literary debates. In 1989, after a visit to Palestine, he wrote powerful words on what he saw, words that are especially relevant today. One of his more recent works, an example of his enduring connection to all that was Urdu, was Urdu Crime Fiction, 1890–1950: An Informal History which came out in 2023. How did Naim feel on his first day in the United States? His observations were recalled as friends and colleagues remembered his contributions and tributes poured in. CM Naim, titan of Urdu studies, has passed. Here's his account of his first day in the US : — Holden Cauliflower (@CFLHolden) July 10, 2025 Renowned Urdu scholar, Professor C.M. Naim, has passed away. May he rest in peace. Was honoured to call him a friend. Choudhri Mohammed Naim (3 June 1936 - 9 July 2025) — Musharraf Ali Farooqi (@microMAF) July 10, 2025 For The Wire, Naim wrote sadly on how there is now no major Urdu newspaper or magazine that is edited by a non-Muslim and how in the past 75 years, the culture of Urdu magazines read by families of all faiths has disappeared. In another piece full of characteristic edge, Naim gently chastised brands for never using the letter 'j' while transliterating Urdu words. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
