Eminent linguist and Emeritus Professor of Aligarh Muslim University, Dr. Masood Husain Khan died at Aligarh, a statement said on October 16. Dr. Khan, 92-year old scholar of Urdu, served as Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and Jamia Urdu, Aligarh. His magnum opus, A History of Urdu Language, originally his PhD dissertation which was published in 1948, advanced a new theory of Urdu’s birth, contradicting all theories hitherto popular among scholars. Prof. Khan was felicitated by Ghalib Institute, New Delhi for his yeomen contribution to Urdu language and literature. This year he was conferred with Delhi Urdu Academy’s highest honour – Kul Hind Bahadur Shah Zafar Award – in recognition of his contribution to the study of Urdu language and literature.
The Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis expressed his condolences to his grieved family and said that AMU has lost a great scholar of international repute. Prof. Masood Husain Khan is survived by his son Prof. Javed Husain of Applied Physics in Engineering College and four daughters.