Khalid Jawed: An Urdu Literary Maestro
Khalid Jawed, born in 1963 in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, is a distinguished Indian novelist, short story writer, critic, and philosopher, known for his profound contributions to Urdu literature. His literary journey is deeply rooted in a rich heritage, with his father, Mohd Wali Khan, being a brilliant but unpublished poet, and his maternal uncle, Abul Fazal Siddique, a renowned Urdu fiction writer. Khalid Jawed, married to Masooda Parveen, stands as the only son of his father. A unique facet unfolds in the next generation with Khalid Jawed becoming the father to a single daughter, Ramsha Aveen.

Educational Pursuits:
Khalid Jawed's academic pursuits reflect a unique fusion of scientific and philosophical exploration. After receiving primary education in Bareilly, he pursued a degree in physics before delving into the realms of philosophy, earning both a master's and a doctorate. His commitment to education extended to teaching philosophy at Bareilly College before his eventual move to Delhi.

Academic Journey at Jamia Millia Islamia:
In 2000, Khalid Jawed joined Jamia Millia Islamia as an assistant professor in the Department of Urdu. His expertise in literary criticism and modern fiction found a platform where he could inspire and shape the minds of aspiring scholars.

Literary Achievements:
Khalid Jawed's literary prowess extends beyond the confines of the written word. His novels, including "Maut Ki Kitab" and "Nematkhana," have garnered acclaim from critics in the subcontinent. The short story "Aakhri Dawat" and others have found a place in prestigious academic curricula, from Princeton University in the United States to Banaras Hindu University in India. His novel "Nematkhana," translated into English as "The Paradise of Food," received the prestigious JCB Prize for Literature in 2022.

Global Recognition:
Khalid Jawed's literary influence has transcended borders, with his works being translated into English, Hindi, and various regional languages. His visits to international conferences, such as the World Writer’s Conference at Virginia University in 2008 and the Karachi Literature Festival in 2012, underscore his global presence in the literary arena.

Academic Contributions:
Currently a professor in the Department of Urdu at Jamia Millia Islamia, Khalid Jawed has authored nearly 100 research articles and 15 books on literary criticism and creative writing. His writings delve into the intricate relationship between philosophy and literature, offering profound insights into the human experience.

Awards and Accolades:
Khalid Jawed's contributions have not gone unnoticed, with awards from the Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy, Delhi Urdu Academy, and the Katha Award recognizing his significant impact on Urdu literature.

Legacy and Influence:
Khalid Jawed's legacy extends beyond accolades and awards; it is a testament to his commitment to exploring the depths of human experience through literature. His unique narrative style and the metaphysical dimensions of his work have positioned him as a beacon in the world of Urdu fiction, earning him respect and admiration globally.

Novels and short stories of Khalid Jawed
1. Arsalan aur Behzaad – Novel, published in 2022 by Arshia Publications
2. Ek Khanjar Pani Mein – Novel, published in 2020 by Arshia Publications
3. Teen Kahaniyan - Collection of short stories, published in 2019 by Arshia Publications
4. Nematkhana – Novel, published in 2014 by Arshia Publications
5. Maut Ki Kitab – Novel, published in 2012 by Arshia Publications
6. Tafreeh Ki ek doper – Collection of short stories, published in 2008 by Sheherzade Publications, Karachi (Pakistan)
7. Aakhri dawat – Collection of short stories, published in 2007 by Penguin Books, India Limited
8. Burey Mausam Mein – Collection of short stories, published in 2000 from Adshot publication

Non-fiction
1. Kahani, maut aur aakhri bidesi zubaan, Educational Publishing House, 2008
2. Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Karnataka Urdu Academy Banglore, 2010
3. Milan Kundera, Arshia Publications, 2011
4. Kar-e-jahan daraz hai ke kirdaron ka tauzeehi ishariya, Arshia Publications, 2012
5. Satyajit Ray, Arshia Publications, 2012

Most of his creative work has been translated by reputed national and international publishers into English and Hindi. He has written poems of high literary quality and is also a film critic. He has a deep interest in and mastery of the world of literature and cinema.

Awards and Distinctions
1. Upendra Nath Ashk Award by Hindustani Academy, Allahabad, 1996 for the short story Hizyan
2. Prestigious Katha Award for the Story Burey Mausam Mein, 1997
3. Distinguish award of Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy, Lucknow for the novel Maut Ki Kitab.
4. The short story Koobar is included in the syllabus of M.A. Urdu at Banaras Hindu University, BHU
5. Koobar is also included in Jadavpur University in its curriculum of M.A. in comparative literature.
6. Burey Mausam Mein is included in the curriculum of Comparative Literature at Cairo University, Egypt.
7. Short Story Aakhri Dawat is included in the syllabus at Center for South Asian Literature, Princeton University, New Jersey, USA
8. The Novel Nematkhana is included in the syllabus of the Urdu Course at the dept of Urdu in INALCO, Paris, France
9. The novel ‘Nematkhana’ (The Paradise of Food) is the winner of the JCB Prize for Literature, 2022

Research Work done on Khalid Jawed
1. Ph. D. is pursuing on the art and literature of Khalid Jawed in the dept of English, Jamia Millia Islamia.
2. M. Phil on novel, Maut Ki Kitab in the dept of English, Jamia Millia Islamia.
3. M. Phil on novel, Maut Ki Kitab from MANUU, Hyderabad in 2013.
4. M. Phil on the collection of short stories, Burey Mausam Mein from Central University, Hyderabad.
5. M. Phil on the collection of short stories, Aakhri Dawat from MANUU, Hyderabad.

Books/Special Corners in Literary Journals on Khalid Jawed
1. Khalid Jawed: Fan aur Shakhsiyat by Nihal Afroz published by Educational Publishing House, New Delhi.
2. Maut Ki Kitab: A special corner in literary journal Isbaat, Mumbai, 2011
3. Khalid Jawed: A special corner in prestigious literary journal Sher-o-Hikmat, Hyderabad.

Beauty of Language and Narrative

Khalid Jawed has founded a new narrative in fiction. His unique narrative and the extraordinary power of his creative language place him among the great storytellers of world literature too. Khalid Jawed’s concerns are not merely literary but with the metaphysics of literature. His fiction (Novels and short stories) is full of contemporariness and reflects, the moral, social, and political ethos and dilemma of his time, and the narrative is very rich and multi-dimensional. Comic and serious, impossible and the familiar, baseness and nobility, childless and grandeur the binary oppositions which knit the dense and powerful web of his narrative.
A reader may know his work may know it well and admire it more every time he reads it. After being amused by it, after having enjoyed it, we may return again to study his short stories and novels and to enter more fully into their meaning. Khalid Jawed's work is the best and richest mine in which we are to search the details of the common man and his life with socio-political and existential dimensions. His writings are not free from political tone and are always against injustice, exploitation, cruelty, and dysfunction of human values. They always knock at our guilt and disturb us bitterly. But Khalid Jawed has masterly done all this with deep philosophical insights and has never taken the side of loud simplifications. The realism of this fiction is not a mono realism and one dimension only. The realism depicted in its creative work is an extended realism and greater truth that encompasses all the contradictions, conflicts, and relativeness in itself.