his book, on the subject of History of Punjabi Literature, is written as a memorial to the services rendered by Khan Sahib Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque (1305 A.H. / 1887 A.D. – 1358 A.H. / 1939 A.D.), M.A., P.E.S., for Punjabi literature. Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque was a distinguished professor, author, researcher, critic, historian, educationalist and scholar of Persian, Arabic, Urdu and Punjabi languages. He contributed significantly to the promotion of oriental languages education in India-Pakistan subcontinent, serving as a member of British India government’s Provincial Education Service (P.E.S.). Professor Qazi Fazl-i-Haque served as a professor and head of Persian Department in Government College, Lahore from 1332 A.H. / 1914 A.D. to his death in 1359 A.H. / 1939 A.D. During the same period, he was also a fellow of the University of the Punjab and a permanent regular member of its oriental and arts faculties and taught there as a professor. In addition to Punjab University Oriental College Lahore, he simultaneously served, on different regular and permanent educational and teaching positions, in several other universities of India-Pakistan subcontinent. He made significant contributions to the history of oriental literature. He introduced obscured poets of Persian, Urdu and Punjabi languages and their works, and, wrote several scholarly books on the literature of these languages. He was a pioneer local researcher and critic of Punjabi literature. His important research work on Punjabi literature was published through his Punjabi essays, that, are the oldest research and critical essays of Punjabi literature. He is the first local, who formally introduced several unknown early poets of Punjabi literature and their books, with his own original research using modern research and criticism principles. A detailed article, on his life and services, is presented as an appendix to this book.
The history, research and criticism are not absolutely new topics in Punjabi literature. The early Punjabi poets have often provided brief poetic description of themselves at the end of their books. This description normally indicated some facts about their life, place of birth and year of composition. Sometimes they have also briefly mentioned about their predecessors presenting poetic critical opinions about their creations. For example, Haafiz Barkhudaar has mentioned about an earlier poet Peelu in his book Qissa Mirza Sahibaan. Habeeb has mentioned about his predecessor poet Abdullah Baabu in his book Fiqa-e Asghar. In addition, Haafiz Ranjha Barkhudaar has mentioned about poets Siddiq Laali, Peera and Maani in his book Qissa Yousuf Zulaikha. Haamid Shah Abbaasi has mentioned about poets Ahmad Shah, Haafiz Shah Jahaan Muqbal and Sayyed Waaris Shah in his book Qissa-e Heer Ranjha. Ahmad Yaar has mentioned about Siddiq Laali and Waaris Shah in his book Ahsan-ul Qissas. Miyaan Mohammad Bakhash has mentioned about Siddiq Laali, Shah Charaagh, Jaan Mohammad, Moulana Abdullah Abdi, Abdullah Tarnoutti, and several other poets, in his book Saif-ul Maluk. Similarly, Moulvi Mohammad Dilpazeer has mentioned poets Siddiq Laali, Abd-ul Hakeem Awwachi, Haafiz Burkhudaar, Haafiz Ranjha Burkhudaar, and Ahmad Yaar. And, many more such examples can be presented. In this manner, the names of those old Punjabi poets have reached us, whose books are no more present.