2nd Yudhvir Memorial Award
Late Abid Ali Khan
For services to Secularism & National Integration by Late H.E. Krishan Kant, Governor of Andhra Pradesh
Keynote address by Late Shri Khushwant Singh, Eminent Writer & Journalist on “Secularism & National Integration"
Late Shri Abid Ali Khan always had a special interest in the development and promotion of the Urdu language. He was admired by politicians and socialists alike for his passion for resolving issues pertaining to minorities. Born in 1920 into a noble family of Hyderabad, he studied in the Madras-e-Aliya and graduated from the Osmania University in 1942. He started the Siasat Daily newspaper on 15th August 1949.
He was the Founder-Secretary of the Progressive Writers Association in Hyderabad from 1943 to 1947. He was also the Executive Chairman of Urdu Academy of Andhra Pradesh from 1976-78 and simultaneously was a member of AP Sahitya Academy (1975-79). Late Shri Abid Ali Khan was the Executive Member of Anwar Uloom College from 1979 until he passed away; as well as an Honorary Professor at his alma mater, Osmania University.
An ardent writer, he translated Karl Marx’s “Wage Labour & Capital” into Urdu and also wrote two books on China, in Urdu, titled “Democratic China” and “Great Men of China”.
In 1962 he visited Finland & the then Soviet Union as a member of the Indian Delegation to the World Youth Festival. He accompanied Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on several tours including to Cairo, Paris, Algeria, US, Geneva, Jordan and Yugoslavia in the years 1985 and 1988. During NTR’s rule in Andhra Pradesh in 1986, he was invited to lay the foundation of the Iqbal Minar in Siddipet.
Late Shri Abid Ali Khan was honoured with the Padmashree in 1981 for his work in literature and education. He is also the recipient of the Ghalib Award in 1984 and the National Integration Award in 1985.
Shri Abid Ali Khan passed away 22nd November 1992.
