Urdu Mourns the Passing of Poet, Storyteller and Thinker Dr. Qasim Khurshid of Bihar

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 30 September 2025 Dr Qasim Khurshid, renowned Urdu writer, poet and cultural voice from Bihar, has passed away. His soulful stories and poems mirrored society’s truths, leaving a timeless legacy deeply mourned today. Main Points: 1. Born in Kako, Jehanabad, educated at Patna University, earning a PhD. 2. Began writing in 1977; first story Rok Do. 3. Wrote acclaimed works like Thakey Hue Log, Dil Ki Kitab, Tamasha. 4. Active in mushairas, mentored by Kaleem Aaziz. 5. Also contributed to education, television, and films. ----- Introduction The world of Urdu literature is in mourning. Dr Qasim Khurshid, the writer, poet, dramatist and cultural thinker whose pen carried both tenderness and rebellion, passed away on 30th September 2025. His death is not only the end of a life but the fading of a conscience that consistently spoke for truth, memory and human dignity. Roots and Early Years According to Muhammad Danish, Khurshid was born on 2 July 1963 in Kako, Jehanabad (Bihar), Qasim Khurshid grew up amidst the earthy rhythms of rural Bihar and the intellectual pulse of Patna. His schooling was followed by higher studies at Patna University, where his passion for Urdu became his lifelong calling. He went on to complete a doctorate, carving his place as both a critic and a creator, one who could analyse as deeply as he could imagine. He married Shahida Warsi in 1985. A Pen That Refused Silence Khurshid’s first published story, “Rok Do” (1977), carried the urgency of a young man restless with the world around him. From that moment, he never looked back. His short stories, poems and plays were not mere exercises in style; they were mirrors held up to society. He wrote about betrayal, hypocrisy, hidden violence and the unspoken griefs that haunt everyday life. His collection “Thakey Hue Log” won acclaim and awards, capturing the exhaustion of ordinary people crushed under invisible burdens. Over the years, his works, Ret Par Thahri Hui Shaam, Canvas Par Chehre, Poster, Dil Ki Kitab (2024, a Ghazal collection), and Tamasha (2019, a drama) — have reached readers across the globe, many of them translated into other languages. A full catalogue of his writings is available at Rekhta. The Voice on Stage For Khurshid, literature was not confined to the page. He was also a compelling presence in mushairas and literary gatherings, where his words came alive. From the Kaumudi Mahotsav to international platforms, he shared the stage with stalwarts such as Wasim Barelvi, Munawwar Rana, Kaleem Aajiz, Faraz, Bekal Utsahi and others. He often acknowledged Kaleem Aajiz as his mentor. Yet in time, Khurshid himself became a mentor, a guide to younger poets, a friend to peers, and a bridge between generations of Urdu lovers. Beyond Literature His contributions were not limited to writing. In the mid-1980s, he helped pioneer educational television in Bihar, bringing learning into homes. With colleagues, he also persuaded the state government to honour Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s birth anniversary as Teachers’ Day, a practice that continues. Khurshid’s passion for storytelling extended into cinema. He was associated with more than a thousand films and documentaries, including Ma Parvati, which won five National Awards. For him, culture was a living, breathing force, not something kept locked in books but something that touched classrooms, airwaves and screens. The Soul of His Words What made his writing unforgettable was the way he turned private anguish into universal experience. He once wrote: “You will find the joy of relief, if you wish, you will find it. In happiness, you will be happy, and in sorrow, you will find a restless person. When the foolishness of the heart returns from its home, when the dry-eyed Rite brings tears to the eyes — this is my story.” Such lines show his ability to weave beauty and pain together, creating literature that both heals and unsettles. His words built bridges between strangers, and his stories reminded people that literature is not decoration, it is resistance, memory and compassion. One of his Ghazals Aisi Bhi Hoshiyari Kya, Matlab Hai To Yaari Kya. (What kind of cleverness is this? If it’s only about gain, then what kind of friendship is that?) Rishtaa Hai Bas Ek Ibaadat, Majboori, Laachaari Kya. (A true bond is nothing but worship, Why should it ever be about helplessness or compulsion?) Acche Din Mein Saath Nibhaaya, Ab Dukh Se Bezaari Kya. (You stood with me in good days, Why now show weariness in times of sorrow?) Dar Kar Haath Milaane Waale, Rishtaa Hai Bimaari Kya. (Those who shake hands out of fear, Is such a relationship not a sickness?) Tera Ghar Bhi Sheeshe Ka Hai, Ab Aisi Sang-Saari Kya. (Your house too is made of glass, So why this obsession with throwing stones?) Toot Na Jaaye Dil Qasim Ka, Bojh Bahut Hai Bhaari Kya. (May Qasim’s heart not shatter, Is the burden of grief not already heavy enough?) A Farewell That Hurts Dr Qasim Khurshid’s passing is a cruel blow to the Urdu world. He was not simply a writer; he was a chronicler of human truths. His words gave voice to fatigue and hope, his poems carried music for both the joyous and the broken, and his presence enriched every literary gathering he attended. Though his voice has fallen silent, his works will continue to speak. They will remain in classrooms, in mushairas, in private corners of memory, wherever Urdu is read and felt. May Allah forgive him and grant him Jannat al-Firdaus. For those who loved his writing, he is not gone; he is only resting between the lines, waiting to be read again. ---- Syed Amjad Hussain is an author and Independent research scholar on Sufism and Islam. He is the author of 'Bihar Aur Sufivad', a bestselling research book based on the history of Sufism in Bihar. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/current-affairs/urdu-mourns-poet-thinker-dr-qasim-khurshid/d/137041 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism