Hafiz Mahmood Khan Shirani is the pioneer of modern research in Urdu language and literature. He travelled to England for higher studies where he got a chance to work with a company dealing with manuscripts of Oriental languages. His stay in England and work at this company introduced him to modern research methodology. His hard work and profound knowledge in the field of manuscript won him international fame. This article is a study of Shirani's literary contribution especially in modern Urdu research.