Progressive writings in Urdu

1.    The first Progressive Writers’ Conference was held in 1937. Who read the presidential address on the occasion? a. Niaz Fatehpuri b. Josh Maleehabadi c. Munshi Premchand

2.    An early milestone in the Progressive Writers’ Movement was the publication of a collection of short stories – Angaarey – by Professor Ahmad Ali, Sajjad Zaheer, Rasheed Jahan and Mahmooduz Zafar. How were the last two related? a. Brother and sister b. Husband and wife c. Just friends

3.    When the first All Pakistan Progressive Writers’ Movement conference was held in November 1949, religious extremists in the country labelled Progressive writers and poets ‘anti-Islam’ and ‘anti-Pakistan’. Where was the conference held? a. Karachi b. Peshawar c. Lahore

4.    When the Pakistan government banned the Progressive Writers’ Movement in 1954, Sindhi writers subscribing to the principles of the movement formed Sindhi Adabi Sangat the same year. Where was their first meeting held? a. Karachi b. Hyderabad c. Sukkur

5.    Dr Mulk Raj Anand outlived all the other five signatories of the manifesto of the Progressive Writers’ Movement in London in 1935. One of the following literary luminaries was not present on the occasion. Identify. a. Sajjad Zaheer b. Faiz Ahmed Faiz c. Mohammed Din Taseer

6.    Which eminent Urdu poet edited the English daily, Pakistan Times? a. Faiz Ahmed Faiz b. Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi c. Qateel Shifai

7.    Short story has been a more developed genre in Urdu fiction than novel. Who wrote the highly moving short story: Hindustan Chhor Do? a. Krishn Chander b. Ismat Chughtai c. Tasneem Saleem Chatari

8.    Among the greatest Urdu poets belonging to the group of Progressive Writers in the second half of the last century was Firaq Gorakhpuri. He also taught at the University of Allahabad in the 1950s. What subject did he teach? a. English Literature b. Urdu Literature c. Russian Literature

9.    Some of the Urdu poets from the Progressive group wrote songs for movies, and in the process introduced the language to non-Urdu speakers. One of the following was never a member of the Progressive Writers’ Movement. Identify. a. Sahir Ludhianvi b. Kaifi Azmi c. Shakeel Badayuni

10.    One of the finest movies to be made in Pakistan was Muthi Bhar Chawal. It was based on a novelette: Eik Chadar Maili Si. Who was the novelist? a. Balraj Komal b. Rajender Singh Bedi c. Mahenrdra Nath