Ather Shah Khan Jaidi

Ather Shah Khan Jaidi was a Pakistani comedian, poet and writer. He performed in many of his plays, dramas, and films scripted for Radio Pakistan, Pakistan Television, and Lollywood. He is more popularly known by his own-created character Jaidi (جیدی). He is the recipient of the Pride of Performance Award by the Government of Pakistan (2001). He was born in a Pashtun family of the Mohmand tribe in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, British India, in 1943. He migrated to Pakistan and settled in Lahore, Punjab, in 1947. He received his early education from his father and then from various teachers in Sindh. He learned Arabic, Persian, Urdu and English languages. He also studied Islamic sciences and literature. He was a moderate Islamic scholar and a follower of the Chishti Sufi order. He wrote poetry in Sindhi and Urdu languages, and also translated some Persian and Arabic works into Sindhi. His most famous and remarkable work is his poetic translation of the Quran in Sindhi language, which he completed in 1958. He named it Noor-ul-Quran (The Light of the Quran). It is considered to be the first and the best poetic translation of the Quran in Sindhi language. It is also a masterpiece of Sindhi poetry and literature. He also wrote a commentary on his translation, explaining the meanings and interpretations of the Quranic verses. He died in 2020 and was buried in Sakhi Hasan Graveyard, Karachi. ¹