Louise, Subh-e Sadiq (1928 - 2011)

 

The Christian champion of  literary clan*  Subh-e Sadiq Louise ( قلم قبیلے کا مسیحی سورما - صبح صادق لوئیس )   was born in the home of Allah Ditta Francis and Jane Zainab Bibi on 15th September 1928 in the historic city of Lahore (now in Pakistan).  He was the eldest among the six siblings. He was baptized into the Catholic Church at the tender age of nine by the Rev. Father Ruffen. It was as this ceremony which took place at the Catholic Church Anarkali (Lahore) that he was given the name Louise.  Even though as a literary figure he tried to stick to his rather poetic name, Subh-e Sadiq, the radio announcers  and TV anchors always referred to him by his complete name Subh-e Sadiq Louise. He was educated in Lahore where for three years he was privileged to study under the guidance of Master Habib Ullah Quraishi.  On 03 March 1957 he married  Rashida Elizabeth, and was blessed with three sons and three daughters. 

He served as an editor of the Nirali Kitabain ( نرالی کتابیں  ) from 01 February 1987 onward and then as an editor to Ibadat  (عبادت  ) from 1995 to 2010.  

By nature Louise was attracted to literary pursuits and was a man of vast study and observation. Though he tried his pen in almost all types of literary endeavors, his main field of achievement was playwriting  His first short story ever published was entitled Muhabat (محبت).  He organized a literary society with the name Bazm-e Tamseel (بزم تمثیل ) in 1952, and from its platform his first stage drama Awaz ( آواز ) was played on 25 April 1952 on the stage of Bert Institute (Nach Ghar), Lahore. Thus started the series of his plays which popularized him as a playwright. His other plays that followed were, FatehToomaRoshniMunnajiTees sikay, Noor ka zahoor, Bethaleham ka shahzada, Sera'ay kay bahir, Jab jab dukh kay badel chha'ay and several others. 

His literary output and editorial services were recognized by other as is evidenced by the following awards that he received.

1.International Contest for Creation Communications Award, 1973 (Netherlands)

2. Radio Veritas Asia Award (date needed)  (Philippines)

3. Nirali Kitabein Award, 1994 (Pakistan)

4. Adbi Virsa Award, 1994 (Caritas, Pakistan)

5. Tadeeb Writers Award, 2007 (Tadeeb Publications, Pakistan)

On 25th September 2011, after contracting dengue fever he died in Shalimar Hospital, Lahore, and was buried in Masishi qabrastan on 03 October 2011.

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* Title given by Professor Vincent Pace Aseem Salibee (q.v.) (Ref. Tadeeb (Sept./Oct. 2011), Vol.10. Issue no. 05.