A Correction Regarding Deputy Nazir Ahmad’s Date of Birth

Abstract

As the founder of the Urdu novel, Deputy Nazir Ahmad holds a distinctive place in the archives of Urdu literature. He provided perceptive representations of Muslim society and genuine pictures of daily life. However, a number of deception about the date of his birth have persisted over time, mostly as a result of researchers' blind acceptance and reiteration of unconfirmed information. Syed Iftikhar Alam Bilgrami, the author of “Hayat-ul-Nazir”, initially mistakenly identified Deputy Nazir Ahmad's birth year as December 6, 1836. Jameel Akhtar later confirmed this date, and Hamid Hasan Qadri even accepted it with a modification, proposing 1833. Ijaz Ali Arshad and Muhammad Suleman later supported Iftikhar Ahmad Siddiqui's thorough research, which proved that 1831 was the right year. An analysis of historical records, firsthand recollections, and contemporary narratives substantiates 1831 as Nazir Ahmad's true birth year.By using reliable and varied sources to determine his actual birthdate, this article seeks to correct such mistakes and advance a more accurate and academic understanding of his life and works.