Prof. Syed Mohammad Aqeel Rizvi, ex-head Urdu Department, Allahabad University.

Dr. Syed Mohammad Aqeel. He was prof. in Urdu Department at the time I was pursuing studies of MA Arbabic. I first met him when I read my afsana "Nangi Sadak Par", earlier awarded by AMU, at Allahabad University Urdu Department. Later at interaction session, some person vehemently criticised te short story. I vividly remember even after 32 years that Prof. Aqeel sb. got up and defended my short story. He went up to the extent of saying that Nangi Sadak Par was akin to short stories of those of French writer Guy de Maupassant. I wrote some more short stories after that some of them were aired by All India Radio's international service. This is reason I hold Prof. Aqeen in high steam. He is upright, candid and true to his views and words.