Patras Bokhari

Pir Syed Ahmed Shah Bokhari (Urdu: ), commonly known as Patras Bokhari (25 October 1898 – 5 December 1958), was a Pakistani writer, humorist, broadcaster and diplomat who served as a Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations. His Syed ancestors had migrated to Kashmir from Bukhara, Uzbekistan. In 1927, he returned to Government College, Lahore, and, as a professor remained there until 1939.

Before the independence of Pakistan in 1947, he was the Director general of All India Radio. Being a professor of English Literature, he also served as the Principal of Government College, Lahore, from 1947 to 1950. The Urdu poets Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Noon Meem Rashid and Kanhaiyalal Kapoor were among his students.

He was a member of Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan's delegation during his visit to the United States in 1950. He drafted the prime minister's speeches and public pronouncements. These have been published in a volume entitled Heart of Asia. It was his close association with Liaquat Ali Khan, that culminated in his posting as Pakistan's permanent representative at the United Nations (1951-1954). From 1954 to 1958, he served as the Undersecretary of the UN, Head of Information.

Background to Pen Name Patras Ahmed Shah Bokhari first started using a pen name Peter, in respect of his teacher, Peter Watkins, when he wrote in English. In his Urdu writings, he used the pen name Patras. published in 1927, is said to be an asset in Urdu humor, writing. It is undoubtedly one of the finest works in Urdu humor, and despite the fact that it was written in the first half of twentieth century, it seems to be truly applicable even today. He lived in a times of personalities like Allama Iqbal and interacted with him on several occasions, and engaged him in philosophical debates. One of his debates with Iqbal led to the creation of one of his poems in his book Zarb-e-Kaleem.

Death and legacy In 1923, he married Zubaida Wanchoo, a Punjabi-speaking Kashmiri lady and the daughter of a superintendent of police. They had three children: two sons Mansoor and Haroon, and a daughter, Roshan Ara. Roshan Ara died as a child. Patras Bokhari died on December 5, 1958, after a heart attack, still serving as a diplomat, and is buried in Valhalla Cemetery, New York. In October 1998, to mark his birth centenary, the Pakistan Post Office issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honor under the series, "Pioneers of Pakistan". On 14 August 2003 President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, announced the conferment of Hilal-e-Imtiaz, the country's second highest civilian award, posthumously on Bokhari. This award was formally conferred on 23 March 2004. Dr. Anwar Dil, a well known Pakistan writer based in the US published a book on Patras Bokhari in 1998 called "On This Earth Together" in 1998, after 20 years of painstaking research in the US and Pakistan.

The Government of Tunisia, named a road after him in Tunis, in recognition for his contribution towards the freedom of Tunisia from French Colonial Rule in 1956. There is also a road named after him in Islamabad, Pakistan. Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan named their auditorium "Bokhari Auditorium" to honour him.

Government College University, Lahore , named its 4th Edition Of Model United Nations as “Patras Bukhari Government College Model United Nations” in honour to the contributions in Diplomacy and Representing Pakistan at United Nations.