About Me:

Mohammad Ashraf Gill
Literary (Qalmi) Name: Ashraf Gill
Year & Place of Birth: April, 1940. Dist: Gujranwala. Pakistan.
Education: (1) Diploma in Fazil-Farsi. (2) B. A., Punjab University, Lahore. Pakistan.
(3) Accounting Degree, from California, U.S.A.

Born in 1940, in a small village of District Gujranwala, in Pakistan. Completed 5th grade in local school, and got a high school diploma from Islamia High School, Mitranwali, District, Sialkot, Pakistan. I watched the 1947 partition process, when India was liberated from British Rule, and Pakistan was created as an independent Country as well. During that upheaval, which happened during my early childhood, I remember the people running to & fro looting the houses. My father also died soon after the partition, in 1948 and my mother raised 2 of my older sisters and one younger brother and myself. After my high schooling, I moved Lahore, a 2nd largest city of Pakistan and started living with my 1st cousin and later with some other relatives. I started working in different places to make ends meet, and lastly I worked in one of the International banks of the country: United Bank Limited, from 1963 and worked as the position of an officer/manager in different branches of Lahore, the time I migrated to the United States of America, in 1982.

In my early childhood, I had an interest and was fond of listening music particularly the songs of (late) Mohammad Rafi, Mannaday, and Lata Mangeshkar with enthusiasm through the only radio, which one of my rich neighbors had in my village. While in Lahore, I got a chance to watch Indian movies, which affected my internal artistic capabilities and helped in restoring the poetry forms in my brain through the film songs mostly written by famous poets like: Sahir Ludhianvi, Shakeel Badayuni, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Kaifi Azmi, Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, Shailendara, Anjan and others as well. Almost in 1968, I started writing ‘ghazals’ (a rhythmic form of poetry) on my own and showed my work to one of my friends, who knew about the techniques of ‘ghazal’ poetry. With his appreciation, encouragement, correction, and criticism, the process of my poetry writing started. I also think that poetry was in my blood, as I can say, it is inherited to me from my maternal uncle, who was a good 'punjabi' language poet, as well as from my mother, who used to recite good lyrics with relative tunes of her own created punjabi lyrics. My job, almost kept me from attending the 'musha'iras' (the literary gatherings) and my creative activities remained unseen and noticed by the literary dignitaries. I happened to go to some of the 'mushairas', where I listened to some of the famous shairs, (poets) and participated myself as well, and got appreciation. In the light of expert shuaras, (poets) I criticized my writings by myself, and figured out that I need a lot of work to become a good literate and tolerable writer, for which and am still endeavoring to accomplish the target and reach that goal being one of the students of 'urdu' and 'punjabi' poetry literature.

In 1975, I got married in Lahore, with a wonderful woman, who is still helping in raising my children, and taking care of the domestic affairs. With the grace of God, Who blessed me with 5 children (4 sons & a daughter). 1st: son, Ayaz Gill, born in 1976; 2nd: son, Sheraz Gill, born in 1977; 3rd: daughter, Ruqayya Gill, born in 1978; 4th: son, Faraz Gill born in 1980; and 5th: son, Anas Gill born in 1982, all born in Lahore, Pakistan. In 1982, I migrated to the United States of America, and lived in New York till 1989. In New York, I got a job in Doha Bank, (Qatar Country’s Bank ), in Wall Street area. My other 2 sons, Moaaz Gill, born in 1983, and Idrees GillI born in 1988 in New York.

In New York, there were some urdu associations, but I could not attend any of their meetings arranged on different occasions, due to busy schedule like making my ends meet, to take care of a large family. Here, I would like to give a high ranking credit to my wife Batool Gill, who not only helped me to raise 7 children in the best way she could, giving them the religious know-how, but also provided them the wealth of mother language, (Punjabi), which they can still speak very fluently while living in the U.S.A. In 1988, God gave me another biggest opportunity of my life, of performing hajj, and I happened to visit the Saudi Arabian land, where I saw ‘ka’aba’ in Mecca (the holy city Muslims), and prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) grave in the city of Madina (an other holy city) of Saudi Arabia.

I moved with my family from Brooklyn, New York to Fresno city in California State, where I’m still residing. In Fresno, I met some of the literary friends who belonged to Eastern part of Punjab (India). After some meetings, we established an adabi majlis, ( a literary association) and started getting together, periodically. In the meanwhile, I studied and worked on ‘ilm-e-arooz’( pingal ) (a knowledge of rhyme poetry in different meters), very seriously and put more strength into my ‘ghazals’ (a rhyme verse consisting of 2 lines, explaining one subject matter fully), both in ‘punjabi’ language and in ‘urdu’ language. (My each ‘ghazal’ in both languages has its own entity, differs in ‘radeef-qaafia’, (certain requirements in ‘ghazal’ and thoughts etc, and do not copy each other.) Using my own efforts, I have learned 'gurmukhi' script being used by East Punjabi (Indian) writers. I have also got published my 2 books in 'gurmukhi' script from India: one is consisted of my punjabi ghazals and the other is on my selected ghazals of 'urdu' to facilitate the Punjabi Indian community to get advantage of 'urdu' literature as well as to refresh with a taste of 'urdu' language.

In March-August 2000, I visited Pakistan, and the last 10 days of July 2000, visited India in Punjab States' cities of Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and some rural areas. In East Punjab I met with prominent writers including famous poets, story writers, and critics, who not only appreciated my work but also many famous literary associations of India, granted me lots of awards. I again visited Pakistan in Dec. 2003 till April 2004, and made an other visit to India, from March 29, 2004 to April 19, 2004. This time, I extended my journey visiting Amritsar, Barnala, Patiala, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Lucknow, Bhopal, and Jallandhar. I showed my ‘punjabi’ as well as ‘urdu’ work to the famous poets of those regions and got the appreciations. In this respect, I have written my ‘safarnama’ (journey) under ‘Maira Duuja Bharti Phera’ in gurmukhi script, which will be out soon and will enhance the readers’ interest of my impartial writings.

As I said earlier I had an interest of music listening, but later found it out that God has granted me other capabilities like making compositions of my own ghazals and song as well as I have a good voice to record in my own work. So I got recorded an other CD of mine which contain (6) urdu ghazals and (3) punjabi songs in my own compositions and voice. I may add that somethings we inherit but some don't. Like I am granted the gift of poetry, vocal, and lot of know-how of music. But to get more extended knowledge of music, I got more detailed information from some professionals to accomplish the musical work more precisely and effectively. I have done a lot so far and still working to make a difference.

3rd time I went to Pakistan in Oct. 2007, and from Feb. 1st to March 15th 2008, again visited India. This time I went to Bombay and got released my CD 'aap ki kashish' from one of the famous releasing companies 'T' series. This CD is consisted on my (11) urdu ghazals and geets, sung by Ghulam Ali, Hamid Ali Khan, Riaz Ali Khan, myself, and a female singer Rifat Moghul. This CD's music has been composed by a famous music director of Radio Pakistan Lahore station. I also plan to record some other famous singers with my writings both in ‘punjabi’ and ‘urdu’ in near future.

Thank God, Who gave me such an honor, respect, and dignity, through my writings and with the personal meetings of literary people in India as well as in Pakistan, and other people at large. Now I am working not only creating new 'ghazals' and songs as well, but also working on music, creating new tunes (dhuns) of my own, and trying to create good work for the readers and listeners as well. I always seek help from the Almighty and the readers and listeners as well, who have the only power to give me an encouragement for my work and pinpoint on my shortcomings, with their positive criticism.

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