Agha Muhammad Yaqoob
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Agha Muhammad Yaqoob (1 July 1904 – 1987) was a renowned civil servant from Sindh, Pakistan, and a notable scholar of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. He is best known for his English translations of the Shah Jo Risalo and the Holy Quran.[1]
Early life and education
Agha Muhammad Yaqoob was born on 1 July 1904 in the historic city of Shikarpur, specifically in the Qari Ata Muhammad neighborhood. He completed his graduation from D. J. Sindh College, Karachi.
Professional career
He officially entered government service in July 1926, embarking on a distinguished bureaucratic career across Sindh:
- Administrative Posts: Served as the Deputy Commissioner of Dadu in 1952, Hyderabad in 1955, and Thatta in 1956.
- Provincial Secretary: Held key portfolios as the Provincial Secretary for Health, Education, and S&GAD.
- Revenue & Barrage Roles: Served as the Revenue Officer for Kotri Barrage in 1946 and as the Chief Officer (CO) of Sukkur Barrage in 1956, during which he actively allocated lands to impoverished peasant farmers.
He was widely regarded as an honest, upright, patriotic Sindhi intellectual, a devoted lover of Shah Abdul Latif, a legal expert, and a courageous officer. Following his retirement, he steadfastly refused any contract-based official positions, choosing instead to dedicate all his time to literary pursuits.
Literary contributions
Translation of Shah Jo Risalo
Agha Muhammad Yaqoob began translating Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai's poetry into English in 1970–1971 and completed the task in 1975.[2]
- Publication History: In 1985, the Culture Department of Sindh published his translation in three volumes. It was reprinted in 2004, and subsequently published consecutively in 2006, 2007, and 2008. In 2014, the Culture Department compiled all three volumes into a single comprehensive edition.[3]
- Title: Published under the title Shah Jo Risalo alias Ganj-e-Latif.
- Glossary: He compiled a specialized dictionary/glossary containing more than 6,000 difficult words from the Risalo along with colloquial Sindhi and English equivalents, tracing the origins of non-Sindhi words used by the poet.[4]
Translation of the Holy Quran
He completed an English translation of the Holy Quran in 1982, which was published in five volumes.[5][6]
- Title: The Holy Quran Text, Translation (Dhalik al-Kitab la Rayba Fi).
Personal life and demise
In his later years, Agha Muhammad Yaqoob resided in Latifabad, Hyderabad, where he passed away in 1987. He was survived by only one daughter, who has also since passed away.
References
- ↑ "آغا محمد يعقوب". Encyclopedia Sindhiana. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ Agha, Muhammad Yakoob (1985). "Preface". Shah Jo Risalo. Culture Department, Government of Sindh. p. 9. Search this book on
- ↑ "Translated by Muhammad Yakoob Agha". BhittaiPedia. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ Agha, Muhammad Yakoob (1985). "Preface". Shah Jo Risalo. Culture Department, Government of Sindh. p. 9. Search this book on
- ↑ "The Holy Quran Vol. 2". Internet Archive.
- ↑ "The Holy Quran Text, Translation". State Bank of Pakistan Library Catalog.
External links
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