Abid Raza Bedar

Abid Raza Bedar
Abid Raza Bedar

Abid Raza Bedar (4 February 1936 - 28 march 2025) was an Indian writer, librarian and scholar. He served as the Founding Director ^[1] of Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library, Patna from 1972 to 1996. ^[2]

Early life and education

Abid Raza Bedar was born as Abid Raza Khan on 4 February 1936 in Rampur district, in Uttar Pradesh, into a rich family of Hamid Raza Khan, and Ahmadi Begum as their eldest son.

He graduated from Aligarh Muslim University and had knowledge of Arabic, Urdu and Persian languages.

Career

Abid Raza Khan adopted Bedar as his takhallus and became known as Abid Raza Bedar. He started serving Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library, Patna as Director in 1972 and became popular as the one who gave Urdu research a new dimension. ^{[3] [4]} He had been in controversies due to the collection of books and manuscripts. ^[5] He had earlier worked in Raza Library, Rampur and Indian Institute of International Studies, New Delhi. ^[6]

Scholarly works

• Kashmeer Darpan: Ek Tarruf, 2021
• Abdul Hamid tabib nahi hakeem, 2011
• Jamal al-din al-Afghani: a bibliography study, 1961
• Adeeb, 1988
• Aligarh Ki Muslim University Ka Masala, 1970
• Ghalibiyat-e-Nau, 1970
• Arabi Islami Madaris Ka Nisab-o-Nizam-e-Taleem Aur Asari Taqaze, 1969
• Ghalib Ki Azmat, 1969
• Abid Raza Bedar Intikhab-e-Kalam, 1969
• Azeem Aur La Zawal, 1968
• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, 1968
• Nasr Ka Husn, 1968
• Raza Library, 1966
• Qaim Chandpuri, 1963
• Adab Ki Raftar, 1959

Controversies

Amarat-e-Shariat, Idarah Shariah and Imarat Ahadis, ^[6] all Islamic fatwa issuing body working in Bihar had issued a Fatwa of Apostasy against Bedar due to his book Seema Ki Talash ^[7] and his ideas for not calling Hindus as Kafir and opposition of Cow-slaughter. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11]}

Personal life

Bedar married Moazziz begum in 1963 they have two children together including Shaista Bedar.

Death

Bedar died on 28 March 2025 in Aligarh at the age of 92. ^[12]

References

1. "'Heritage Not Seen Holistically': Khuda Bakhsh Library Director Urges Bihar Govt to Stop Razing". News18. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
2. "KBOPL: a paradise for litterateurs". The Times of India. 2023-05-28. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2025-01-20.
3. "Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library, Patna's founder, Khan Bahadur, Maulvi Khuda Bakhsh Khan خدا بخش اورینٹل لائبریری پٹنہ کے بانی خان بہادر مولوی خدا بخش خان | Hamara Samaj Urdu Daily". www.newageislam.com. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
4. Wajihuddin, Mohammed. "Hold back your bulldozers, Mr Nitish Kumar". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2025-01-23.
5. "Khuda Buksh Khan's collection, Dr Abid Reza Bedar get embroiled in controversy". India Today. 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
6. Kumar 1997, p. 275.
7. Kumar 1997, p. 274-275.
8. Fatwe, Ulema aur Unki Duniya (in Hindi). Vani Prakashan. p. 41. ISBN   978-81-7055-778-4.
9. Gopal, Ram (1994). Hindu Culture During and After Muslim Rule: Survival and Subsequent Challenges. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 17. ISBN   978-81-85880-26-6.
10. Yādava, Rājendra (1992). Kāṇṭe kī bāta: Āge rāstā banda hai (in Hindi). Akshara Prakāśana. p. 98.
11. cjpadmin (1994-06-01). "Freedom To Dissent". CJP. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
12. Wajihuddin, Mohammed. "Death of a liberal scholar". The Times of India . ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2025-07-20.

Bibliography

• Kumar, Girja (1997). The Book on Trial: Fundamentalism and Censorship in India. Har-Anand Publications. pp. 273–285. ISBN   978-81-241-0525-2.

External links

• Abid Raza Bedar at Rekhta