Imtiaz Ali Taj was one of the most influential Urdu playwrights and writers of the 20th century, best known for his iconic play Anarkali. Born in Lahore in 1900, he developed an early interest in theatre, literature and translation. He worked as a journalist, edited literary publications and translated English plays into Urdu. His 1922 play Anarkali, based on the legendary love story of Anarkali and Prince Salim, became a landmark in Urdu drama and was staged widely. He also created the much-loved comic character Chacha Chakkan, an enduring figure in Urdu humorous literature. Alongside drama, Taj wrote short stories, essays, biographies, radio features and film scripts and contributed significantly to the development of Urdu theatre and literary journalism.
Notable Works:
Anarkali
Chacha Chakkan
Bharat Sapoot
Qurtuba Ka Qazi
Sawan Rain Ka Sapna
Urdu Ka Classical Adab
Majlis-e-Taraqqi-e-Adab
