Penn in Hand: Selected Manuscripts

Asif al-Zaman, 1885-1961

Family history and genealogy of al-Zaman and Ali, circa 1935-1955.

1 item (334 leaves) : paper ; 38 x 27 cm.

The family history and genealogy of the literary al-Zaman and Ali family written over a period of 20 years in a bound volume in the hand of Asif al-Zaman. The family history begins with the sixteenth century personality of Makhdum Baha-ul-Haq from Pakpattan, who migrated to Amethi near Lucknow. His great-grandson was Mullah Jivan, tutor to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Several historical and popular figures such Amir Ali Shahid (who had troubles with the king Wajid Ali Shah) are described in some detail; however, the singer Talat Mahmood's entry is exceptional for its brevity, because the family thought that singing in films was a disreputable profession. The Ali family (a branch of which is the al-Zaman) was an eminent literary family in Lucknow, and one of the most prolific was Mumtaz Ali (pen name Ah) born in Amethi near Lucknow 1863), the foremost student of Amir Minai. Umrao Ali (pen name Baqa and Azad) was his younger brother. The dates of 1935 and 1955 are found in the work. Mistakes crossed out in blue; some corrections and additions in margins in blue and in pencil; some significant phrases and sections highlighted with red lined box.

UPenn Ms. Indic 17.

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts University of Pennsylvania Ms. Indic 17