Mawlana Khair Mohammad Nadwi was born in 1909 in the eastern part of Iranian Balochistan in Sarbaz county. His father, Mir Sayyid Mohammad, migrated to Pakistan for business and settled in Karachi, Lyari town.
Shaikh Khair Mohammad began his primary education in Ahrar-ul-Islam, Karachi and completed education in Mazharululoom, Karachi\Khadda. For further education, he traveled to India and enrolled in Darululoom Nadwat-ul-Ulama in Lucknow. He is called “Nadwi” as he was an alumnus of Darululoom Nadwat-ul-Ulama, India. After spending a few years in Lucknow, he graduated from that famous Islamic university.
Mawlana Khair Mohammad also enrolled in a public school in Mumbai and obtained a diploma.
Serving the nation
Shaikh Khair Mohammad Nadwi loved his nation. If someone loves his\her nation, this is not prejudice. Once a companion asked the holy Prophet, peace be upon him: Is it bigotry if someone loves his nation? The Prophet said: No, but helping the nation/tribe unjustly against oppression is prejudice.
When Shaikh Khair Mohammad saw that his people were suffering from negligence and lack of knowledge and weak educational status, he could not bear such a situation.
Nadwi sacrificed greatly to serve his nation in various fields, in science and education and in all social arenas. He began his career with teaching in public schools.
The legend Baloch writer realized how to deal with challenges and how to strive for excellence. He could revive the Baluchi language through press and media. First, Nadwi published articles about the Baluchi language in the paper of Nidaye Balochistan.
In addition to social activities, Shaikh Khair Muhammad used to teach in Madrassas and religious schools.
In 1946, after Pakistan’s independence from India, the Baloch elites felt that their identity and language were in danger. They made continuous efforts to protect the Baluchi language. Shaikh Nadwi was among those elites and civil organizers whose efforts are not hidden from anyone.
In 1949, he succeeded to launch an educational office registered in the official offices of the government called the Baluchi Academy. Three branches split from this institute; a secondary school in 1950, an elementary school in 1962 and a college-preparatory school in 1966. These schools that carried out extensive activities were built in Karachi, Lyari town. In 1970, the government of Pakistan took the control of all these educational centers, pretended to annex them in national lands.
Media activities
Shaikh Khair Mohammad had significant broadcast programs on Radio Pakistan in the Balochi language. The Radio started its programs in 1949; he supervised the radio until 1956.
In 1951, it published a monthly magazine called Awman; it was the first Baluchi literary magazine. This journal was banned due to publishing a story on Dadshah, a Baloch iconic rebel lived in Iranian Balochistan. In 1978, this institute published a newspaper called Soghat. He also launched a journal namely “Young Balochistan”.
Mawlana Khair Mohammad made tremendous efforts in defense of the Baloch nation, in defense of the religion, culture, and language.
Authors
Most of Nadwi’s books were written in Baluchi language.
Here is the list of some of his great works:
1. The Baluchi grammar book; the first book that explains Baluchi grammar.
2. Baluchi teacher “Baluchi Moallim”, a Baluchi Urdu conversation book.
3. Hanafi Namaz\prayers.
4. Translation and interpretation of the holy Qur’an in Baluchi language. It should be said that Mawlana Abdus-Samad Sarbazi translated this book and reached the nineteenth volume, and then Mawlana Khair Mohammad Nadwi completed it.
5. Balochi translation of Faza’il-e-A’maal authored by Mawlana Mohammad Zakariya Kandhilvi.
Death
Mawlana Khair Mohammad spent the last days of his life in illness. He died in Karachi at the age of 90 in Nov. 26, 2000 and was buried there. May Allah have mercy on him and grant him paradise.
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