Bazm-i Ṣabūhī

Wali Ashraf Dehlavi (1905-1990) known in the world of Urdu literature as **Ashraf Sabuhi** was one of the best prose writers. He was also a fine translator & an extraordinary conversationalist. His style of Urdu - both written & spoken - was refined like Delhi's elite yet attractive and down-to-earth since by his keen observation, interest and study, he had mastered all the styles & dialects of spoken Urdu language prevalent among the various classes of Delhi society. Continuing the tradition of Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, Maulana Abul-Kalaam Azad & Khwaja Hasan Nizami, Sabuhi - like his own cousin Shahid Ahmad Dehlvi - made an important contribution to Urdu literature. The character of this expert pen-sketch writer & story teller come to life before the reader's eyes. Though he was not a playwright, he used dialogues effectively in his stories & essays to make them lively. His writings present in the most effective, memorable and interesting way the culture & history of the civilization of the city called **Delhi** that was not only the seat of Mughal empire, the great historical city, the capital of India under British occupation & a grand metropolis but also the great centre of education, knowledge, culture, literature & Muslim civilization in the entire Indian subcontinent. This book is a compilation of Ashraf Sabuhi's selected writings edited by ace Urdu scholar & critic, Aslam Farrukhi (Ph.D.), and his versatile son, Dr. Asif Farrukhi (a public health expert by profession, a translator & writer).