Mir Khalil-ur-Rehman

Mir Khalil ur Rehman
Mir Khalil ur Rehman
Born	19 July 1921; Gujranwala, Punjab, British India; (present-day Punjab, Pakistan)
Died	25 January 1992 (age 70 years); London, United Kingdom
Citizenship	Pakistani
Occupation(s)	Journalist, Business Executive
Known for	founder, chairman and editor of the Jang Group of Newspapers
Spouse	Mehmooda Khalil ur Rahman (m. 1943-1992)
Relatives	Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman (son)

Mir Khalil ur Rahman (19 July 1921 – 25 January 1992) was a Pakistani newspaper editor and founder of the Jang Group of Newspapers, which currently publishes many Urdu and English newspapers in Pakistan. A self-made newspaper magnate, he ranks among the most successful newspaper entrepreneurs of Pakistan.^[2]^[3]

Early life and education

Mir Khalil ur Rahman was born on 19 July 1921, the son of Mir Aziz ur Rahman and his wife, both immigrants from a Kashmiri business family which migrated from Kashmir Valley to Gujranwala, Punjab due to the economic situation, where he was born. ^[4] He received his basic schooling from here as well, though matriculating from Fatehpuri Muslim High School in Delhi and eventually went on to receive a degree from the Daryaganj Commercial College, also in Delhi.

During the mid-to-late 1930s, whilst still a teenager, him and his family moved to New Delhi, now the capital of India. He attended high school there and it was also the place where he discovered his love for journalism. The world of newspapers attracted him far more than the dull books of accounting. He often sat, glued to his radio set, listening to the latest war news.^[2]

By 1940, then having become a college student, he started and founded a newspaper and magazine publishing company for the Muslims of British India during World War II in Delhi. He called it Jang, Urdu for War. Some of his critics said at that time that he encouraged more war hysteria by selecting a name like that for his newspaper, but Rahman made it clear that he was doing it for the soldiers and not to encourage the Second World War.^[1]

Career

After the independence of Pakistan was declared on 14 August 1947, Mir Khalil moved to Karachi, the former capital of the newly founded nation at the time, and started publishing the Daily Jang from there, making Karachi the new headquarters for Jang Newspapers. The company was soon funded by a loan of 5,000 PKR from Abdul Ghani Barq of the Ferozsons Publishers of Lahore. Pakistan's first Governor General and founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was delighted by this move and offered the government's help in running it. Mir, however, declined the offer, saying that the freedom of the press was his motto and goal for journalism in Pakistan. Mir also helped in the founding of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors. He opposed tooth and nail of any government measures or actions which curbed the freedom of press in the country.^[1]

Death

Mir Khalil ur Rahman died on 25 January 1992 in London, United Kingdom at the age of 70.

Some time before his death, Rahman was diagnosed with lung cancer, and was flown to the city of London for medical treatment. There, he was further diagnosed with tracheostomy, having only one functioning lung, subsequently requiring surgery.

On the evening of 25 January, shortly after his seemingly successful surgery, Rahman unexpectedly suffered a cardiac arrest while on the ventilator. That night, the doctors confirmed that he had passed away, his family members by his side at the time of his demise.

Personal life

Mir Khalil ur Rahman was married to Mehmooda Khalil ur Rahman (1926-2021) from 1943 until 1992, following his death. Together, they had seven children (five daughters and two sons), including Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and the late Mir Javed ur Rahman. He had a younger sister named Tahira Baqa.

Aside from his love for newspapers and journalism, Rahman had a strong passion for cleanliness, as well as reading and writing. He was also extremely fond of recycling, as he hated the unnecessary wastage of things.