SOMETHING ABOUT ME THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW AS A FRIEND

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Paigham Afaqui Writer: Novelist, Short Story Writer, Poet, Film Maker Date of birth: 10.1.1056 Serving as : Dy. Commissioner of Police, Delhi Police. Education : BA Hons [English Lit.], M A History, Aligarh University. Address: Flat No. 1, P S Rajouri Garden, New delhi – 110027 Ph: 011-25116686, 9810792624 I, Paigham Afaqui @ Akhtar Ali Farooquee was born in village Chanp, Distt. Siwan, Bihar in a zamindar’s family. I started my schooling from a local Maktab in my native village Chanp. In middle class I came in Islamia School, Siwan. I did my Higher Secondary from DAV School, Siwan in science subjects. Initially I wanted to be a doctor but later I changed my mind for the sake of studying humanities and human rights issues in which I developed deep interest towards the end of my schooling. Due to my interest in the world of thoughts I got admission in BA Hon’s (English) in AMU. Then for one year I remained in the university without taking admission. Then I realized that the world was not as soft as imagination but it had a hard frame of realities. So I decided to study history and got admission in MA (History). History of world civilization and Islamic history were my special interest. In this period I liberated myself from the dogma of blind faith and totally freed my creative spirit. For a job I appeared in the Union Public Service Commission and qualified for all the services but being underage I was offered police service. I was posted in Andaman & Nicobar Islands where I remained at various places for four years. Since 1984 I am in Delhi Police where I have served in the fields of district police administration, airport security, public safety, police training, anti-corruption and crime investigation and as Principal, Police Training College. I started writing poetry in school. I also wrote some small small novels while in the university which remained unpublished. During my university days I also wrote short stories which were published in literary magazines like Aahang, Aajkal, Tehrik etc. In the university I was Secretary of University Literary Club, AMU, Aligarh. In 1989 I published my first major novel Makan. In 1990 I founded Indian Academy of Fiction. In 1994 I was involved in the making of a TV serial in which I familiarized myself in film making and made many other TV programs. I gave talks on film making to the students of Mass Media in Jawaharlal Nehru University and Aligarh Muslim University. In 1996 I developed software for writing scripts and founded Screenplay House. In 1994-95 I was Secretary, Crescent Education Society that runs a number of schools in Delhi. In 1997 I was Vice-President of AMU Old Boy’s Association, Delhi. During this entire period I have also written a variety of philosophical books and articles of literary and social nature. I have been reading short stories on All Indian Radio and participating in its discussion. I have been usually appearing in literary programs of Bazm and Kahkashan on National Tele-vision and other TV channels. Besides Makan, my major achievement is a literary movement for revival of con temporariness and nativity in Urdu novel and fiction. I have read many papers in national and international seminars. I am frequently invited for literary and intellectual discussions on various TV channels and have been interviewed. My literary articles have been published in leading literary magazines. I am on the panel of directors of IGNOU for making programs for Mass Education. My gigantic spirit has been visiting various genres of expression and action one after another in search of fulfillment: novels to poetry to short story to video films to literary and social organizations. Some restless spirit keeps me anxious and awake. I have been prominently profiled and interviewed by English national dailies and journals like Hindustan Times, Times of India, Indian Express, Pioneer, National Herald, Patriot, Tribune, Mid-Day and Link and numerous Hindi and Urdu dailies and journals. A revolutionary to in my approach to art, literature and life I have also suffered on many fronts for my indomitable attitude. Contributions: 1. Secretary, Literary Society, Aligarh University, Aligarh: 1975 2. Vice-President: AMU Old Boys Association:1994-96 3. General secretary: Crescent Educational Society & Secondary Schools: Daryaganj & Maujpur, Delhi 4. Principal, Police Training School, Delhi Police: involved in educational activities ,teaching and communication skills 5. Chairman; Fiction Academy of India [Regd] involved in the study of quality and utility of film,TV and written fiction and it’s impact on society. 6. Published Books: Makan [Novel] English, Urdu & Hindi, Darinda [Poetry] Urdu & Hindi, Mafia [Short Stories] Urdu & Hindi, The Hanging Man [English] 7. Directed & scripted 13 episodes DD commissioned serial Tootne Ke Baad which was telecast at Super Prime Time [8.30 pm on Saturdays] on DD Metro and retelecast 8 times during 3 years on DD-2, DD-1 and DD-Bharti. 8. Directed and scripted 30 Minutes documentary titled: Idul-Azha telecast 5 times on the day of the festival. Directed and scripted 13 episode sponsored serial Dunk telecast on DD-1 9. Directed and scripted documentary series Farms Houses of Delhi telecast on Delhi Doordarshan. 10. Delivered talks in JNU on Film making as regular panelist. 11. Regular appearance on TV channels: DD-1, DD-2, E-TV, Jain TV, City-TV etc. 12. Awards: Firoz Gandhi Memorial Award 13. Urdu Academy, UP First Award for Book 14. Urdu Academy, Govt. of Delhi : Award For Contribution to Fiction 15. Millenium Award for Fiction : Jamia Urdu, Aligarh * *