Professor C. M. Naim (3 June 1936 – 9 July 2025). / Courtesy Photo

Professor Choudhri Mohammad Naim, a pioneering scholar of Urdu language and literature and a revered figure in South Asian studies, passed away in Chicago at the age of 89 on July 9. Widely hailed as the father of Urdu studies in North America, his passing marks the end of an era. Yet his legacy endures through his influential writings, insightful translations, devoted students, and the academic institutions he helped build and inspire.

Born in Barabanki, India, Naim Sahib studied at Lucknow University, Deccan College, and later the University of California, Berkeley. He began teaching in the U.S. in the early 1960s and soon joined the University of Chicago, where he chaired the Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations from 1985 to 1991. Although he officially retired in 2001, he remained intellectually active and engaged until his final days.

Professor Naim fundamentally reshaped the way Urdu is taught and studied in the West. His books Introductory Urdu (Volumes I & II) and Urdu Reader became standard texts around the world, offering not just grammar and vocabulary but an immersive experience that made classical Urdu literature accessible to modern learners.

A passionate institution-builder, he co-founded Mahfil (later The Journal of South Asian Literature) in 1963 and, in 1981, launched the Annual of Urdu Studies, which he edited until 2014. Both publications provided critical platforms for literary dialogue and academic exchange, connecting scholars across continents.

His translations introduced iconic Urdu writers—Qurratulain Hyder, Vibhuti Narayan Rai, and Harishankar Parsai—to a broader readership. His translation of Zikr-i-Mir, the autobiography of Mir Taqi Mir, and Remembrances (2019) opened rare windows into Urdu’s classical world. His final book, Urdu Crime Fiction, 1890–1950: An Informal History (2023), showcased his signature wit and his commitment to exploring overlooked literary terrains.

Beyond his academic brilliance, Naim Sahib was known for his quiet integrity, intellectual honesty, and generosity of spirit. He mentored generations of students, opposed sectarianism, challenged superficial scholarship, and championed serious literary engagement, especially in the digital age.

Tributes have poured in from around the world. Dr. Moazzam Siddiqi, former Chief of South and Central Asian Services at Voice of America, recalled their shared summers teaching at UC Berkeley, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Virginia, Duke, and other campuses—and a warm friendship that lasted decades. Renowned journalist Anwar Iqbal, Bureau Chief of Dawn, remembered him as a generous mentor whose insights were “rooted in deep understanding.”

Professor Naim also served in advisory roles with the Asia Society, Princeton University Press, and other prestigious institutions. He was a visiting professor at Jamia Millia Islamia and a National Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study in Shimla—testaments to the deep respect he commanded across borders.

I was fortunate to benefit from his support. In 1987, when we organized the First International Conference of the Ameer Khusro Society of America at the University of Chicago, he quietly helped us secure conference space and lent invaluable guidance. The event drew scholars from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Europe, Canada, and across the United States—his behind-the-scenes assistance made it all possible.

Whenever my wife and I visited Chicago, we made it a point to see him. His home, filled with books and quiet wisdom, reflected a lifetime devoted to learning. On his visits to the Washington area, we would host gatherings in his honor, often surrounded by his students and admirers. I recall one deeply moving moment when Dr. Brian Silver, then Chief of Urdu Services at VOA, touched his teacher’s feet—a gesture of reverence that left no eye dry.

To me, Naim Sahib was far more than a towering academic. He had been a classmate of my late uncle, Shafaat Ali, in Lucknow and America; he became like an elder brother, offering affection, wise counsel, and an unwavering commitment to Urdu. His passing feels like the closing of a personal chapter; the last of my guiding elders has left.

In an era when language and culture are increasingly marginalized, Professor Naim’s life reminds us of the enduring power of clarity, empathy, and scholarship rooted in purpose. He was not just a chronicler of Urdu—he was its gentle and steadfast guardian. His voice, intellect, and spirit will continue to inspire wherever Urdu is read, loved, and taught.

(From left to right) Prof. Nazir Ahmad, Prof. C. M. Naim, Prof. M. Tabassum, and Prof. Gopichand Narang at the First Ameer Khusro Society of America International Conference in Chicago, 1987. / Courtesy Photo