| Zia Fatehabadi | |
| Birth Name: | Mehr Lal Soni |
| Birth Date: | 9 February 1913 |
| Birth Place: | Kapurthala, Punjab, British India |
| Death Date: | 19 August 1986 (aged 73) |
| Death Place: | Delhi, India |
| Genre: | Qat'aa, Rubai, Ghazal, Nazm, Geet and Sonnets |
| Occupation: | Reserve Bank of India (1936–1971) |
Mehr Lal Soni (9 February 1913 – 19 August 1986), better known as Zia Fatehabadi, was an Indian Urdu ghazal and nazm writer. He was a disciple (shaagird) of Syed Aashiq Hussain Siddiqui Seemab Akbarabadi (1882–1951), who was a disciple of Nawab Mirza Khan Daagh Dehlvi (1831–1905). He used the takhallus (nom de plume) of Zia meaning "Light" on the suggestion of his teacher, Ghulaam Qadir Farkh Amritsari.
Zia Fatehabadi[1] was born on 9 February 1913 at Kapurthala, Punjab. He was the eldest son of Munshi Ram Soni (1884–1968), a Civil Engineer by profession, who belonged to the Soni (Khatri) family of Kapila Gotra[2] that at some time during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, had migrated from Rajasthan to Punjab and settled at Fatehabad, Punjab near Tarn Taran[3]
Zia Fatehabadi's father was an exponent of Indian Classical vocal and instrumental music, who often invited musicians and singers to his residence, was himself fond of singing and playing musical instruments, and a good player of chess.[4] It was one such evening in Jaipur when the young school-going Zia Fatehabadi was not given by the invited singer a copy of Iqbal's ghazal that had been liked and wanted by him; this particular incident probably exasperated Zia's urge to write and made him a poet.[5]
Even when Zia Fatehabadi was a college student his was a respected name in the Urdu world.[6] After the publication of his first book,Tullu, which had received some disheartening criticism, he had thought of giving up writing but he was dissuaded from doing so by friends and elders.[7] Zia Fatehabadi had started composing Urdu sh'ers and ghazals at an early age when he was still attending school in Jaipur.
His education began at Khalsa Middle School, Peshawar (1920 to 1922). However, he completed his schooling from Maharaja High School, Jaipur, Rajasthan (1923 to 1929), after which he obtained his B.A.(Hons) degree in Persian in 1933 and M.A. (English) degree in 1935 as a student of Forman Christian College, Lahore.[8] [9] He was consistently an above average student.
As the then editor of the Urdu section of the college house magazine The Folio,[10] Zia Fatehabadi was instrumental in getting the first-ever Urdu short story "Sadhu" by Krishan Chander published in 1932. At that time, Krishan Chander was interested primarily in his English writings and edited the English section.[11]
It is also in evidence that Zia Fatehabadi was infatuated with a Bengali girl named Meera, who was also studying in the same college at the time, and addressed almost all his love-poetry to her. Her name figures unreservedly in several of his writings. In an interview, he had once disclosed that she was that very Meera Sen who had actually inspired Meeraji[12] to write superb poems and adopt her name as his takhallus.[13] Zia Fatehabadi had met Meeraji for the first time when the latter accompanied by Upendranath Ashk, a friend of Zia Fatehabadi, visited the office of Moulana Salahudeen, Editor and proprietor of 'Adabi Duniya', Lahore, where Meeraji was employed at that time.[14] Krishan Chander, Meeraji and Zia Fatehabadi were good friends.
It was during his college days that Zia Fatehabadi came into contact with Shabbir Hussain Josh Malihabadi and Samad Yar Khan Saghar Nizami. He developed a very close lifelong relationship with them, which both influenced as also helped shape his literary life.[15]
In 1936, Zia Fatehabadi joined the Reserve Bank of India, from which he retired in 1971 as Deputy Chief Officer, a senior position in the bank. In 1942, he married Raj Kumari (1919–2003), daughter of Murli Ram Berera of Lahore. Before joining the Reserve Bank of India, while seeking suitable employment, Zia Fatehabadi was interviewed for an editor's post with All India Radio, which went to Majaz.[16] However, Majaz and Zia Fatehabadi remained close friends.[17]
Zia Fatehabadi began to write poetry in 1925 under the supervision of his mother, Shankari Devi, with the help of Maulvi Asghar Ali Haya Jaipuri, who used to teach him Urdu at home and who also imparted his own knowledge of Urdu poetry composition to him.[15] By 1929, Zia Fatehabadi had become a familiar name in Urdu literary circles.[18] In 1930, he became Seemab Akbarabadi's disciple and remained true to his ustad until his own death, working to spread Seemab's methods and instructions at all times. He never ever gave a moment's thought to his own name or fame and sought neither favours or honours nor public or state recognition. He categorically rejected such exercises.[19] He believed that the real worth of a poet's creativity can, ultimately, be gauged impartially only by those who look deeper into his works, in their desire or eagerness to get to know the poet better.
In 1933, at the age of 20 and while still a college student, Zia Fatehabadi succeeded in having his very first collection of Urdu poems, Tullu (Dawn), published in Meerut by Saghar Nizami. He wrote from the heart and, efficaciously, dressed his feelings, emotions, thoughts and experiences with simple, delicate, sweet-sounding, lyrical, meaningful, easily understood words and phrases – the key features in his poetry. His inimitable style set him apart from his peers and gave him a distinct identity.[20]
His writings were meant to touch one's heart and mind simultaneously and make one feel all that he himself had felt. He was totally at ease in the use of a variety of prose and poetical formats. However, he did not succumb to the practice of uninhibited expression of ideas in open forms, which had been adopted by some of his noted contemporaries, who had introduced symbolism in Urdu Poetry.[21] In his article titled Zia Saheb, Gopichand Narang had said that he (Zia) belonged to the Seemab Akbarabadi's circle of devoted writers; deep knowledge of the etiquette and effective use of language and expression, the immense richness of feelings and emotions meant to be conveyed, and the fine eloquence and methodology adorned his writings and he makes use of Hindi intonation in ghazal quite effectively and also quite meaningfully highlights the contemporary human pain and suffering; to appraise Zia Fatehabadi is to appraise the inherited tradition and refinement of our poetry.[22] In his compositions, that demonstrate undefiled immaculate thought and brevity[23] Zia Fatehabadi has revealed new and factual aspects of thought and insight.[24]
While remaining true to the classical style, Zia Fatehabadi did not ignore changing trends, as is reflected in his rubaiaat, qat'aas, geets, ghazals, nazms and sonnets.[25] These compositions evince his mastery of and command over the Urdu language.[26] [27] [28] [29] Zia Fatehabadi's contribution to Urdu language and literature spans over six decades and is voluminous.
Titled Noor-E-Mashriq,[30] his first major collection was published in Delhi in 1937 from which the following couplet became widely known:[31]
"Woh dekh mashriq se noor ubharaa liey huey jalwaa-e-haqiqat"
"Majaz ki tark kar ghulami ke tu to hey bandaa-e-haqiqat"
((Come hither and have a) look at the yonder light shining in the East emerging as the glowing Truth
(Now it is time that you too) cast aside your fetters temperamental for you are that very Truth.)
Though he did not identify himself with any particular group, trend or movement, Zia Fatehabadi apparently belonged, in equal measure, to all known groups and his noteworthy works reflect this. As an integral part of his literary activities, he would gladly attend poetic symposia and conferences, whenever invited to do so, and presided over many of these events.[32] A selection of his presidential addresses titled Masanad e sadarat se was published in 1985.
He did not subscribe to the theory that poetry is spontaneous. He belongs to the school of thought which maintains that poetry is an amalgam of words and thoughts and that thoughts are seldom spontaneous.[33] Zia Fatehabadi's short-stories were prominently published by leading Urdu journals of his time; he was influenced by Premchand. His stories deal with the contemporary social issues in a simple straightforward manner.[34] The characters of Zia Fatehabadi's stories are not new but give the impression that they have been known for a long time. He has dealt with the issues relating to Indian women in the manner that those characters are made to narrate their experiences at first-hand and the engrossed readers continue to read his stories without a break, which is the mark of a successful story-teller[35]
Zia Fatehabadi died on 19 August 1986 after a prolonged and painful bout with illness. But then, he had once said:
" Kyaa gham agar qraar–o–sukun kii kamii rahii "
" Khush hoon ke kaamyaab merii zindagii rahii "
(I grieve not for the lack of unrest or for the lack of peace (in my life).
I am (gratefully) happy to have led (a contented and) a successful life.)
In a way, this one couplet (verse), taken from his book Gard-e-Raah (Urdu) published in 1963, succinctly sums up the personality and life of Zia Fatehabadi. He himself had led a life filled with hope and contentment, something he fervently wished others, too, would experience and enjoy. These sentiments won for him many admirers.[36] [37] Amongst those who appreciated as well as influenced his poetry were Firaq Gorakhpuri[38] and Josh Malihabadi.[39] Zia Fatehabadi was survived by his wife and six sons.[40] His eldest son, Ravinder Kumar Soni[41] and his youngest son, Sushil Soni,[42] are English language poets, the former is also an Urdu language poet.
The following Qat'aa e taareekh composed by Sahir Hoshiarpuri in August 1986 to commemorate the demise of his old friend, Mehr Lal Soni Zia Fatehabadi, was published by Khushtar Girami in the October 1986 (Vol.50.No.10.) issue of the monthly "Biswin Sadi", New Delhi:
Jo kar sako na bayaan tum baasurat e alfaaz
Fasaanaa e gham e hasti baachasham e nam keh lo
Zubaan o fikr o takhyul jo saath de na saken
To "dil" ko saath mila kar "gham e Zia sah lo"
(If you are unable to find words to express your grief then do so by shedding tears.)
(If your speech, thoughts and intellect are unable to bear that grief then bear the loss of Zia with your saddened heart.)
Zia Fatehabadi embarked on his literary career with Tullu first published in 1933. In all, he produced nineteen works, consisting of eleven collections of poetry, one of short-stories, two of essays, one of presidential addresses, three collections of letters and one biography. Three of these books – Noor e Mashriq, Gard e Raah and Meri Tasveer – also contain Urdu sonnets that he had composed.
Much of his work, including Naats,[43] [44] scattered in various magazines and papers remains unpublished.
In his book, Zia Fatehabadi - Hayat Aur Karnaame, Dr. Shabbir Iqbal has listed Shānti Saroop "Kaif", Abdul Khāliq "Khāliq" Bhatti, Tālib Hussain "Tāyaq" Hamdāni, Abdul Khaliq "Khaliq" Yeolavi, Rādhakrishan "Sehgal", Om Parkash "Bajāj", Jagdish Bhatnāgar "Hayāt", Satyapal "Jānbāz", "Shāhid" Sāgari, Abdul Rehman "Tābān" Ziai, Abdul Rashid "Arshi", Muhammad Musā "Nazar" Ziai Gonganavi, Abdul Sattār "Sahar" Chishti, "Rāhi" Gonganavi, Bhod Rāj "Shād" Kamālvi and Mohamad Saddiq "Sāhir" as the disciples of Zia Fatehabadi.[45]
Zia Fatehabadi was not a professional poet. For over thirty-five years he worked at the Reserve Bank of India. He was a keen observer of economic trends, development and change. Zia Fatehabadi was very good at Mathematics and proficient in Persian, English and Sanskrit language and grammar. He was a keen student of Hindu astrology i.e. Jyotisa, and was deeply interested in the study of the Upanishads and the Rig Veda.[49] [50] [51] He subscribed to the Advaita School promoted by Adi Sankara.
List of books by Zia Fatehabadi:
Urdu Poetry:
Urdu Prose:
Select Reading:
List of books in Urdu on the life and works of Zia Fatehabadi:
"zia fatehabadi, soni (khatri) khaandaan se ta-aluq rakhte hain… haridwaar ke panditon ke paas jo record mahfooz hai us se pata chaltaa hai ki lala badal das soni ka pota lala tansukh rai 1773 mein fatehabad se haridwaar teerathyatraa kii gharaz se aayaa". :(Zia Fatehabadi belongs to Soni (Khatri) family.. it becomes known from the records with pundits of Haridwar that Lala Tansukh Rai Soni, grandson of Lala Badal Das Soni had come from Fatehabad to Haridwar in 1773 on a pilgrimage trip".)
. 24596004M."It is believed that my ancestors had migrated to Punjab from a place in Rajasthan sometime during the reign of Shahjahan, the then Mughal ruler of India, and settled down in Fatehabad."
. 6886704A."is waqt teen shair hain. ek ahsan danish, doosra saghar nizami, teesra zia fatehabadi.saghar, danish aur zia jadeed daur ke darakhshan sitare hain.in mein zia ko kaii baaton mein tawafuq aur maqbooliyat haasil hai." :(Presently there are three poets.One- Ahsan Danish, second- Saghar Nizami and third- Zia Fatehabadi. Saghar, Danish and Zia are the three bright stars of the modern era; amongst them for many reasons Zia commands more attention and renown.- Yusuf Hussain, Editor, Nairang-e-Khayal, Lahore, August 1937 issue. – Acknowledgement of early acceptance of Zia Fatehabadi as a poet of note
. 24596004M ." gharaz unhon ne mere zauq-e-shayari ko majrooh karne ki paiham koshishen kiin. us maahol kaa mere naukhez zahan par bahut asar hua aur mujhe apnii shayari par shak hone lagaa.chunanche maine seemab saheb ke bade saahebzaade manzar siddiqui ko khat likhaa ki main shergoyi tark karnaa chaahataa hoon. unhone shiddat se meri mukhaalafat kii aur mujhe shergoyi jaarii rakhne kii talqqeen kii."- :(They (the critics) tried hard to undermine my poetic urge and talent. This had an adverse effect on my young mind and I began to doubt my abilities. Therefore, in a letter to Manzar Siddiqui, the eldest son of Seemab saheb, I expressed my intention to give up writing which intention was strongly opposed and I was asked to continue writing as before.)- A part of an interview. – Zia Fatehabadi's reaction to criticism and the result of dissuation)
. Malik Ram."unhon ne ibtadaaii taaleem Rajasthan mein paii. F.A. Hindu Sabha College, Amritsar, se kiyaa, B.A. aur M.A. Forman Christian College, Lahore, se kiyaa. 1936 mein apni taaleem ki takmeel ke baad woh Reserve Bank mein bataur clerk mulaazim hue". :(He obtained his initial education in Rajasthan. Did his F.A. from Hindu Sabha College, Amritsar, B.A. and M.A. from Forman Christian College, Lahore. In 1936 after completing his education he found employment in Reserve Bank of India as a clerk.) – from an article by Om Prakash Bajaj
.“…Dr. Anwar Naseem, scholar Iqbal Ahmed, Sisal Choudhary, Krishan Chander aur Mehr Lal Soni Zia Fatehabadi jaisii qadaawar ilamii o adabii shakhsiyaat kaa shumaar F.C.College ke honhaar students mein hotaa hai jo apne aap ek taareekh kaa darjaa rakhte hain".:(…Dr. Anwar Naseem, scholar Iqbal Ahmed, Sisal Choudhary, Krishan Chander and Mehr Lal Soni Zia Fatehabadi, these great educationists and literary figures were amongst the students of F.C.College is by itself a historic fact.)(Archived at https://archive.today/20120612081302/http://www.urdutimes.com/content/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%81-%D8%B3%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC)
. 12 June 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120612081302/http://urdutimes.com/content/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%81-%D8%B3%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC . dead ."hamaare mushhoor afsaanaa nigaar krishan chander marhoom bhii isii college mein padhte the. mujh se senior the aur ghaaliban college magazine ke angrezi hisse ke editor the.un kaa ek afsaanaa maine apne urdu hisse mein chaapaa. ye ghaaliban 1932 kii baat hai. us afsaane kaa unwaan sadhu thaa. merii daanist mein yahii unkaa awaleen afsaanaa thaa."- :(Our famous short-story writer Late Krishan Chander was also studying in the same college, he was probably my senior and edited the English section. In those days he wrote mainly in English. In 1932 I got his Urdu short-story titled "Sadhu" published in the Urdu section. So far as I recollect this was his first Urdu short-story.) A part of an interview.)
. Malik Ram."chalte chalte ek dilchasp baat suniye – hamaare college mein meera naam kii ek bangali ladkii padhtii thii. uske husn aur ghamzon kaa bahut shuhraa thaa.hamaare mushhoor taraqii-pasand shair meeraji ne usii ke naam par apnaa sherii naam rakhaa."- :(By the by, pay heed to this one fact. There was a Bengali girl named Meera studying in our college who was very beautiful and attractive. Our famous progressive poet Meeraji had adopted her name as his nom de plume. -A part of an interview.) – First-hand confirmation of the fact much discussed in Urdu literary circles
. Malik Ram.“…us waqt meeraji daftar mein nahiin the chunanche main salahudeen sahib se baat cheet karane lagaa thodi der mein ek dublaa patlaa shakhs jiske sar aur daadi ke baal badhe hue the mere dost upendranath ashk ke saath vahaan aayaa main abhi ashk se ahwaal pursi kar rahaa thaa ke moulaanaa salahudeen ne – "Meeraji – Zia Fatehabadi" keh kar hamaaraa tuaaruf karaa diyaa main bahut duur se chal kar sirf meeraji se milne gayaa thaa" (…at that time meeraji was not in his office I was in conversation with salahudeen sahib when a very slim person sporting long hairlocks and beard entered accompanied by my friend, upendranath ashk as I was greeting ashk moulaanaa salahudeen said – "Meeraji – Zia Fatehabadi" and introduced meeraji I had travelled a long distance to meet meeraji)
."unhiin dinon Fielden London se Hindustan aaye the aur All India Radio Broadcasting ke liye munaasib aur naujawan imle kii talaash men the-ek ishtihaar jis men mukhtalif aasaamiyon ke liye jaga khaalii thii unhon ne radio program ke urdu parche ke editor kii aasaami ke liye darkhwaast dii – zia kii tabeeyat ke lihaz se yahii kaam munaasib o mauzoon bhii thaa lekin jab woh interview ke liye Delhi pahunche to maaloom huaa ki "Awara" kaa mashhoor o muaroof shair Asrar ul Haq Majaz bhi us post kaa ummeedwaar hai- Zia ke paas sifaarishaat nadaarad – nateeja zaahir thaa – interview men un ko editor kii jaga programme assistant kii peshkash kii gaii-jise Zia ne thukraa diyaa aur editor kii post Majaz ke haath lagi – afsos ki woh der tak us post par na rah paae." :(In those days Fielden had come to India to recruit young educated persons for All India Radio Broadcasting and had advertised inviting applications for filling up the vacant posts. Zia applied for the post of editor and appeared in the interview for the said post and for which he qualified and came to Delhi where he learnt that the renowned author of "Awara" Majaz too had applied for the same post. Zia did not carry any recommendations, the outcome was obvious, Majaz was selected and Zia was offered the post of Programme Assistant which he declined.)
. 24596004M."bank men mulaazim hone kii vajaa se Zia ko kaafii shairon aur adeebon se roshnaas hone kaa mauqaa milaa- Akhtar Sheerani aur Niaz Fatehpuri se yahin mile- Majaz se dosti yahiin badhii aur betakallufii ke zeene yahiin tey hue-…. Bank ke baazoo men thode faasile par ek baar thii- maye ke shedaaii yahaan zaroor aate- Majaz aur Meeraji aksar vahaan aate the aur usii bahaane bank men Zia se bhii mil lete the-" :(Service in the bank gave Zia ample opportunity to come into contact with many poets and writers. Here he met Akhtar Sheerani and Niaz Fatehpuri. His friendship and intimacy with Majaz developed here itself….adjoining the bank there was a bar frequented by those habituated to consumption of alcohol, Majaz and Meeraji were regular customers and whenever they came they used to call on Zia at the bank.)
. 24596004M."zia fatehabadi kaa naam 1929 mein hii ubharne lagaa thaa..."- :(... Zia Fatehabadi's name had come into prominence in the year 1929 itself...) – From an article by Aijaz Siddiqi, Editor, Monthly Shair, Mumbai.- An acknowledgment of Zia Fatehabadi's early renown.
. Malik Ram."khaamosh tabeh aur tanhaii pasand hone ke sabab main aksar alag thalag rahtaa thaa. khushaamad karne kii salaahiyat ya aadat mujh mein kabhii paidaa naa ho sakii...main naa to kisii giroh mein shaamil huaa naa kabhii coffee-house ke hangaamon mein shareek huaa...ek khuddaarii sar par sawaar rahii aur merii zindagii mein kabhii mulaaqaaton kaa sailaab bhii nahin aayaa."- :(By nature preferring quietude and solitude I often stayed aloof. I could not adopt sycophantic means nor ever form such a habit. I never joined any group nor did ever become a part of coffee-house gatherings...A strange kind of ego kept me captive and in my life there never was any overflow of visits and meetings. – A part of an interview.- Confirmation of Zia Fatehabadi's general attitude)
. Malik Ram."zia ne bhii zubaan kii saadgii ko apnii shayari kaa zevar banaayaa.apne jazbaat-o-ahsaasaat-o-tassavur aur tajurbaat ko purasar andaaz mein alfaaz kaa jaamaa bakshaa." :((like his ustad Seemab) Zia too has embellished his poetry with simplicity while expressing...he has dressed his feelings, emotions, thoughts, and experiences in an effective manner with very meaningful words.)- From an article by Dr. Shaarab Radolvi M.A.PhD- An observation regarding Zia Fatehabadi's writings
."woh seemab akbarabadi ke halqa e iradat mein shreek the. zabaan o bayaan ke aadaab o ramooz se gahari waaqfiyat, jazbaa o ahsaas ki tihaarat aur ghanaaiyat aur khush mazaaqi aur khush saleeqagii un ke kalaam ke johar ban gaye ghazal mein hindi lahaje ko bhi woh khoobii se baratate hain aur ahad e haazir ke dukh dard ki taraf bhi muaanikhez ishaare kar jaate hain. zia fatehabadi ki qadr afzaaii darasal apni sheri rivaayat aur tahzeebi warse ki qadr afzaaii hai". :(He (Zia) belonged to the Seemab Akbarabadi’s circle of devoted writers. Deep knowledge of the etiquette and effective use of language and expression, the immense richness of feelings and emotions meant to be conveyed, and the fine eloquence and methodology adorned his writings. He makes use of Hindi intonation in ghazal quite effectively and also quite meaningfully highlights the contemporary human pain and suffering. To appraise Zia Fatehabadi is to appraise the inherited tradition and refinement of our poetry.) – Gopichand Narang in his article titled "Zia Saheb"
."in ke kalaam mein pakizah khayaali aur shustaa bayaani kaa parto jaabajaa miltaa hai. Zia sahib nazm o ghazal donon ke shair hain".
(In his writings there is to be found undefiled immaculate thought and brevity; Zia sahib is the poet of both, nazm and ghazals) – Makhmoor Saedi in his article published in the June 1964 issue of Tahreek, Delhi.
"zia fatehabadi ne fikr o khayaal ke naye aur haqiiqii zaaviye nikaale hain". (Zia Fatehabadi has revealed new and factual aspects of thought and insight.) – Ghazal: Pas Manzir o pesh e manzir https://books.google.com/books?id=ucuwYgEACAAJ
"Zia Saheb ki kuhnamashq aur qaadirulkalaamii kaa khulaa saboot ye hai unhen tamaam isnaaf e shairi par yaksaan qadurat haasil hai" :(Open proof of Zia Saheb’s high level of thought and expression is that he has equal mastery over all formats of poetry) – Gopichand Narang
."zia kii shayari mein woh tamaam ruhjaanaat aur mailaanaat jo mulk mein jaarii aur saarii rahe paae jaate hain. un kii nazmon mein jadeed leheren karvat badaltii hain magar rivaayat ke ahtraam ke saath. un ke kalaam mein baghaawat kii chingaarian hain magar takhriibii ravish se hat kar aur jiddat aur taazgii liye hue." :(The poetry of Zia reflects all trends and changes that the nation had then experienced. His poems depict the modern changes but in line with the traditional ways. His works do exhibit sparks of rebellion but without the display of usual open ferocity, instead, his works are tinged with a welcome freshness and sincerity.) – From an article by Zarina Sani- An observation regarding Zia Fatehabadi's writings
. Malik Ram." But he (Zia) does not believe in the theory that poetry is spontaneous, (he says) How can it be? Poetry is not words, it is also thought. And thoughts are seldom spontaneous."
"… phir aisa hua ke shaayari ke saath saath afsaanon ke maidaan mein bhi aa gaye. unke afsaane us waqt ki prasiddh patrikaaon ka ang bane. Zia fatehabadi ne premchand ko qareeb se dekha tha. hindi se urdu tak premchand ki saltanat qaayam thi, isiliye sudarshan se lekar zia fatehabadi tak ne wahi asloob apnaayaa jo premchand ka asloob tha. rivaayat ki unhiin lakiron par chale jin par premchand ke baad ki peediyaan aaj tak chalne ki koshish kar rahi hain. apne samay ki samsyaaon ko uthaakar seedhe saade andaaz mein bayaan karnaa premchand ki khoobi thi aur zia fatehabadi ki kahaaniyon ki bhi hai. ye log asl mein sacche daastaango the". (…then it so happened that in addition to poetry he entered the field of story-telling; his short-stories became an essential part of the renowned journals of those days. Zia Fatehabadi had seen Premchand from close quarters. From Hindi to Urdu Premchand ruled the literary world, therefore, from Sudarshan to Zia Fatehabadi the method used by Premchand was adopted which tradition is even now being followed. Dealing with and presenting the contemporary social issues in a simple straightforward manner was Premchand’s specialty which specialty is found in the stories of Zia Fatehabadi. They were the true story-tellers.) – Musharraf Aalam Zouki, critic, and writer
. Hindi."zia fatehabadi ki kahaaniyon ke paatr naye nahiin hain, lekin kahaaniyon ke addhayan se mahsoos hota hai jaise main inhen basrson se jaanta hoon. veh to mere padosi jaisa hi hai jinse hum apne jiwan mein milte to har roz hain parantu unse parichit nahiin hain. zia fatehabadi ne apni kahaniyon mein un samsyaaon ko prtham sthaan diya jo varshon se deemak ki tarah hamaare samaaj ko khokhalaa banaa rahi hain. hindustani sammaj ki mahilaaon aur unki samasyaaon ko in kahaaniyon mein aise darshaaya gaya hai jaise koii mahila khud apni daastaan sunaa rahi ho…saralta se binaa ruke paathak kahaaniyon ko padhataa hi chalaa jaataa hai, jo ek saphal kahaanikaar ki pehchaan hai". (The characters of Zia Fatehabadi’s stories are not new but give the impression that they are known for a long time, as though they were our neighbours whom we meet daily but are not acquainted. In his short-stories Zia Fatehabadi has prominently highlighted those issues that have gnawed away at our social set-ups; he has dealt with the issues relating Indian women in the manner that those characters are made to narrate their experiences at first-hand and the engrossed readers continue to read his stories without a break, which is the hallmark of a successful story-teller.) – Shamoil Ahmed, critic and writer
. Hindi."mujhe unkii shayari mein ek aisii gahraaii aur vusat mahsoos hotii hai jo sirf samundaron aur aasmaanon mein hii mil saktii hai." :(I have felt in his (Zia Fatehabadi's) poetry the depth and the flight which is to be found only in the oceans and in the (vast) sky.) – Ram Lal(1923–1996), renowned short-story writer and literary critic. (An admiration). :" aap kii adabii kaavishon kaa main sirf qaayal hii nahin rahaa, unkii roshanii mein apnaa adabii safar tey kartaa rahaa hoon." – :(I have not only admired his (Zia Fatehabadi's) literary works, I have been traversing my own literary journey in the very light of their brightness.)- Nida Fazli, renowned lyricist and Urdu poet. (Another admiration).
."keii muqaamaat par mufakkiraanaa aur shairaanaa andaaz ke imtizaaj ne bahut lutf diiyaa. aap kii shairii mein khaloos hai aur kahin rangeen saadgii hai.kahin saadaah aur dilkash rangeenii hai aur ek hasaas salaamat ravii is kii khaas sifaten hain."
(At many places, his (Zia's) poetic flight of imagination has given me immense pleasure. In his poetry there is affection and colourful simplicity, there is simple delightful brightness, music, and flow, and there is controlled expression of his feelings as its distinct qualities.)- Firaq Gorakhpuri in an undated article
"hazrat zia mere qadeem ahbaab mein se hain.un kii shairii mein sanjeedgii hai.un ke tarz – e – bayaan mein ras aur ghulaavat paii jaati hai. "
(Mr.Zia is one of my very old acquaintances. I have always been impressed by his personal qualities and poetry. There is to be found in his poetry a distinct earnestness and maturity as also a rhythmic flow and sweetness in the manner of his expression.) – Josh Malihabadi in an article dated 24 May 1965
“…naamwar shair o adeeb Dr. Iftikhaar Ahmed Fakhr…ke khalf e akbar Shabbir Iqbal…jo guzishta teen saal se Punjab ke mashhoor o muaaroof shair o adeeb "Anjahaani Mehr Lal Soni Zia Fatehabadi – hayaat aur kaarnaame" ke unwaan par Bombay University se….Dr. Adam Sheikh ..ki zernigraani apna muqaalaa e tahqeeq supurd e qalam kar rahe the…jis par haal hi mein Bombay University ne unhen PhD ki degree tazweez ki hai".
(…Shabbir Iqbal, the eldest son of Dr. Iftikhaar Ahmed Fakhr, who was for the past three years engaged preparing his doctoral dissertation on Punjab’s renowned poet and writer titled – "Late Mehr Lal Soni Zia Fatehabadi – hayaat aur kaarnaame (life and works)” under guidance of Dr. Adam Sheikh has been lately awarded the PhD degree by the Bombay University.)
"Zia ko palmistry aur ilam najoom kaa shauq bachpan se rahaa. Unhen maafauq ulfitrat anaasir ke vajood par bhii aitmaad hai aur un ke kalaam mein is kii jhalkiyaan bhii hain." :(Zia has been interested in Palmistry and Astrology since childhood. He also has faith in the supernatural factors and occurrences which fact is reflected in his compositions.)*Pages 68 &69 describe three astrological predictions made by Zia Fatehabadi
. 24596004M."My father taught to me astrology with a purpose. He wanted to enable my mind to penetrate the darkest recesses of the unknown, enable it to look far deep in time and space and go beyond the three states of time and consciousness." – Cited to tell about Zia Fatehabadi's expertise in Hindu Astrology
. 24596525M."The place about which Rishi Kashyapa speaks thus and prays to occupy, know that to be the place where we all actually always belong; we have only to recognise it by the marks we seem to have forgotten."-Zia Fatehabadi’s statement to his son in respect of Sukta 9.113 of the Rig Veda cited to tell about former's deep study of the Rig Veda
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