Zafar bin Sadiq
Author, Translator, Script Writer, Song Writer, Poet, Librettist
I work with a team of diverse experts from several nations. Between us, our core team speak Urdu, Punjabi, English, Farsi, Pashto and Arabic. This is my journey:-
Born in Pakistan, as I grew up, I excelled in languages and persuaded teachers to place me in classes a year ahead of my age because I was so eager to learn. Even in those early days, I manifested a strong talent and fast-growing expertise in communications. This was noted by adults around me who encouraged me to learn story writing, script-writing and journalism during my teens. I was already speaking Urdu, English, Punjabi, some Sindhi and Farsi.
While still a teen, living in the cosmopolitan city of Karachi, I secured the mentorship – in translation and writing – of the renowned Indian Urdu writer and translator, Shahid Ahmed Delhvi. A family of top-class publishers, they owned the famous Saqi Books (Delhi). He introduced me to elite members of the literary classes in the nation. As a young adult, I secured the mentorship of several famous Urdu-medium writers whose skills I quickly mastered. By 1974, I had become a translator for the creation of Urdu Pocket Books (Karachi).
I moved to London in the UK, where I was commissioned by world-renowned Indian novelist Upendra Nath Ashk (1910-1996) to edit the Urdu-English translations of his short stories which had been requested by London University’s School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS).
In the UK, I found myself surrounded by world-class libraries and universities, so I put my expertise to use in revising the Urdu translation of an eyewitness account of the life of Ibne Mariam. Taking advantage of the research facilities in London and the University of Cambridge, I accompanied the narrative with in-depth explanatory notes so my Urdu-speaking friends could understand it for themselves, in their own style and idiom.
‘Ibne Mariam’ was hailed by professional linguists as setting a ‘Gold Standard’ for Urdu translation. Passionate about seeing nations and faith communities find realistic ways to live together harmoniously through the teachings of Jesus, I have visited around fifty countries as a lecturer and consultant in cross-cultural relationships. I have founded several UK and overseas charities focusing on the arts, disaster relief and education. The multi-cultural arts centre in London, which I founded in 1998, was formally opened by Sir Cliff Richard OBE.
Ibne Mariam was such a success, that it created a demand for an ‘Arabised English’ edition. My team included Saira Ambreen MSc MA, who participated in the translation and compilation of this work.
My current projects include revising the Western Punjabi poetry of the Story of Isa by the pioneer Joshua Fazal Din. I am also involved in recording new versions of Psalms (zaboor) for speakers of Western Punjabi. Saira Ambreen composes and records many of these. They are posted on the YouTube channel ‘Punjabi Songs for Everyone’.
As a librettist, I have authored the English opera script (libretto) for the first Aria of a groundbreaking, proposed Sufi-Opera – ‘Marvi’s Tears’. The professional producer highly commended my work, even comparing its expressive quality to that of Shakespeare. He then asked me to complete an entire opera based on the folk story of Marvi.
I live in London. I am a qualified therapeutic parenting counsellor. I hold a Level 3 Diploma in Therapeutic Parenting, the highest such qualification in the UK. I have adapted principles and understanding of this skill to apply to non-Western settings that are more collaborative than individualistic Western societies. Currently, I am preparing books on Therapeutic Parenting for Urdu and Arabic speakers, including their UK diasporas. I am passionate about helping parents understand the younger generation and how to respond to behaviours informed by traumas impacting parent-child relations.
