Maqsood Ellahie Sheikh is an independent Urdu journalist and famous Urdu short story writer who, on the 18^th July 2013, was awarded the ‘Honourary Degree of Doctor of Letters’ by the University of Bradford, U.K, for his contribution to ‘Modern Urdu Literature and playing a prominent role in the development of community cohesion in the city of Bradford’. 

Maqsood Sheikh is the author of 12 Urdu fiction books, and was the Editor and Managing Director of ‘Ravi Asian Newsweekly’– the only Urdu Newspaper to be published from the North, in the U.K. 

‘Ravi’ was published for 25 years and through this medium, Maqsood championed an ‘independence of expression’ amongst its readers “Dil main na rakhiay, Ravi main likhiay”.  Through, ‘Ravi’, Maqsood Sheikh also promoted harmony and peaceful relations between the early Pakistani community of the UK and the indigenous population.  These efforts included the formation of the Pakistan Society and later the Sherdil Club, an organisation that seeks to build bridges amongst communities.

From 2001 to 2011, Maqsood Sheikh concentrated his efforts on pioneering the compilation and publication of the international Makhzan annual.  This was a series of publications which aimed to provide a platform to new and upcoming Urdu writers based in the U.S.A, Canada, Europe, Middle East and Asia.  The works of these writers were then critiqued by world famous ‘Adabi’ Urdu icons.  The bringing together of the ‘new’ with the ‘established’ by Maqsood Sheikh, has been recognised as ‘truly innovative’. 

The Makhzan has achieved great success and popularity in the Indo-Pak sub-continent and is acknowledged as a bold contribution in the growth of Urdu Literature around the world.

Maqsood Sheikh has received many awards and honours over the years for his journalism; short story writing; contribution to the promotion of Art & Culture, through to Public Service and Special Awards in recognition of promotion of the Asian community.  He became the first Pakistani Justice of Peace (J.P) in Bradford, U.K in 1970, and in March 2009 he was honoured with the ‘Tamgha-I-Imtiaz’ for Excellence in Literature by the Government of Pakistan.

It is the culmination of these achievements that is recognised by the award of Honourary Degree of Doctor of Letters.  The degree award recognises that he has been a key figure in the promotion of Urdu literature for over 60 years, and has played a prominent role in the development of community cohesion within Bradford. 

The University of Bradford recognised that:

"Mr Sheikh strives to enrich the quality of life in Bradford since he moved to the city in 1965, by encouraging good community relations, founding the Pakistan Society in 1965 and the Sherdil Club in 1992.  Mr Sheikh endeavours to encourage less-established Urdu writers, makes significant contributions to the research of others and often attends international conferences as a speaker".

Personal Life

Mr Sheikh was born in Gujrat Pakistan and is married to Farida Sheikh and they have 5 children and 16 grandchildren.

He has travelled extensively including various visits to Pakistan, India, USA, Turkey, Italyand Amsterdam.

Mr Sheikh travelled to Los Angeles with his wife and some of his children in 2003 to receive the “Ahmed Adaya Urdu International Award 2002” awarded by Urdu Markaz International Los Angeles California.

And there have been numerous other awards and special achievements gained by Mr Sheikh.