Collection

Osmania University was established in 1918 and had given a new turn to intellectual life in Hyderabad Deccan. It was a unique experiment at developing an indigenous university, modelled on the best universities in the world. Its uniqueness lay in developing Urdu as a language of science. The Hyderabad state envisioned Urdu to become an indigenous response to English. Towards this end, the state invested large amounts of resources towards language development. Important works in sciences, and social sciences from European languages were being translated into Urdu. This enthusiasm towards Urdu was also shared by the subjects. There was a lot of literary synthesis happening in the Urdu language in the region.

While the university was producing scholars the publishing industry in Hyderabad was not very active. It is in this context that the magazine Sabras, took its birth under the leadership of Dr. Syed Mohiuddin Quadri Zor in 1938. Dr. Zor hoped to provide a platform to the burgeoning scholars of Osmania University. Literally meaning “all tastes” Sabras was the space which hosted literary, historical, cultural, and social discussions of the time. Dr. Zor was active in the magazine’s production until his death in 1962. The magazine managed its expenses through donations, sales, patronage and later-on through income from conducting Urdu exams of the Idara-e-adabiyat-e- Urdu.

Issues of Sabras carried poetry, fiction, non-fiction, history, literary criticism from both established and new scholars of Urdu. The magazine had a special emphasis on presenting the essays with pictures. In the introductory editorial of Sabras Dr. Zor wrote about the attempt to reach everyone (Sab), the larger public through the magazine. The magazine production and the writings it carried give us a glimpse into the modernist ideal of the time.

The magazine is particularly significant for curating cultural and literary production on the region of the Deccan. Dr. Zor encouraged women writers in Sabras and we see many new women graduates from Osmania University writing in Sabras. There was a separate magazine called Baccho ka Sabras, addressed to the children.

Digital collection

Editorial work: Work edited by Dr. Zor or produced under his guidance. Sabras magazine was started by him in 1938, produced under his guidance until 1962. While the editorial responsibility was often taken up by various scholars, Dr. Zor guided the process and curated the issues. A special magazine oriented towards children, Baccho ka Sabras was also produced.

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