KARACHI, Jan 25: The bureau of compilation, composition and translation of the University of Karachi has published 113 books over the past 47 years. Established in 1957, the bureau was tasked to coin Urdu expressions for English terms, publish lectures of teachers on various subjects in Urdu and publish books, including textbooks, and translations.

The bureau published at least 250 lectures till 1974. It also brought out a quarterly, titled Jareeda, on an irregular basis. The publication of the magazine, which commenced in 1963, was interrupted in 1984, when Dr Jamil Jalibi was vice-chancellor of Karachi University. Dr Moinuddin Aqeel, currently chairman of the Karachi University's Urdu department, restarted the publication of the magazine in 2003 while he headed the bureau.

"All over the world leading universities bring out books. Cambridge University, Oxford University, Princeton University and Harvard University are also known for their publications. In the subcontinent, Jamia Usmania (Hyderabad Deccan), Muslim University (Aligarh), Punjab University (Lahore), Calcutta University, Madras University and Allahabad University have earned distinction by bringing out scholarly books. The bureau of compilation, composition and translation seeks to put the University of Karachi on the map of the world," Dr Aqeel explained.

He recalled that Major Aftab Hasan had been instrumental in making the bureau a very dynamic institution in Karachi University. "Engaged by former Karachi University vice-chancellor I.H. Qureishi, Major Aftab did a lot of work for the bureau. He formed various committees which coined Urdu expressions for English terms. Those committees used to hold weekly meetings which were attended by leading scholars of different fields."

Major Aftab Hasan, who was born in the Indian state of Bihar in 1909, wrote quite a few science textbooks in Urdu. He rendered English terms of physics, mathematics, astronomy and chemistry into Urdu.

The director of the bureau of compilation, composition and translation, Syed Khalid Jamai, said the bureau procured one rare book every week for its reference library. "The bureau has obtained a magazine called Parda Nashin. It came out in 1906 and was put together by women journalists only. Another rare book is a bibliography of all the translations of the Quran published between 1515 and 1980. The bureau recently procured a travelogue called Saaer-i-Farangistan. The book was written by Muzaffaruddin Haider Khan in 1873," he said.

He said the bureau held a discussion on new arrivals on a weekly basis. "Scholars from within the University of Karachi and from other reputable seats of learning come to these discussions. The bureau remains open from 8.30am to 9.30pm and students and scholars come to the reference library of the bureau, which contains about 2,500 books, any time," he said.

He explained that while the bureau had been mandated to operate on a commercial basis, it, being a government organization, had not been able to market its publishing skills the way it should. "A large number of book lovers learnt about the bureau when we set up a stall at a Mushaira organized by the Sakinan-i-Shaher-i-Quaid Karachi. In any case, the bureau works on a self-finance basis and receives no grant from the University of Karachi or from the government," he said.