Majaz
Majaz Rudaulvi | |
---|---|
British India | |
Died | 5 December 1955 (aged 44) Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India |
Pen name | Majaz |
Occupation | Poet |
Nationality | Indian |
Genre | Urdu poetry, Ghazal, nazm, geet |
Subject | Love, philosophy, revolution |
Literary movement | Progressive Writers' Movement |
Relatives | Hamida Salim (sister) Ansar Harvani (brother) Javed Akhtar (nephew) Salman Akhtar (nephew) Farhan Akhtar (grand son) |
Part of a series on |
Progressive Writers' Movement |
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Asrar-ul-Haq (19 October 1911 to 5 December 1955), better known as Majaz Lakhnawi, was an Indian
Early life and education
Majaz was born on 19 October 1911 at Rudauli in Ayodhya district of what is now Uttar Pradesh.[2][3] His family were a branch of a land-owning gentry family, but were not wealthy. His brother Ansar Harvani was a journalist and he had two older sisters, namely Safia and Hamida.[a] Safia was the wife of poet Jan Nisar Akhtar. Thus, Majaz was the maternal uncle of Javed Akhtar.[4] Majaz suffered from a hearing impairment even as a child, and probably for this reason, he tended to be somewhat difficult, with erratic behavior; he was moody and also a loner.[2] He had the habit of staying awake all night and doing most of his work then; as a result, his earned the nickname "Jaggan Bhaiyya" ("awake brother" in Hindi). According to a major newspaper of the region, "With hindsight one could deduce that he had the marks of a bipolar mental disorder that became more pronounced as he grew older and his life began to fall apart".[2]
Majaz's father, Seraj-ul-Haq, was a university graduate at a time when this was rare; he joined government service, serving in the middle ranks of the registration department, and finally reached the rank of Assistant Registrar. He was posted mainly in Lucknow, but since his aged parents needed attention, he kept his wife and children in the ancestral house at Rudauli, which is not far from Lucknow, and he would visit them about twice a month. Thus, Majaz grew up mainly in Rudauli and received his basic education there. In the late 1920s, his father was transferred to Agra. Since his parents were no more, and since Agra was too far from Rudauli for frequent visits, Seraj-ul-haq decided to take his wife and children with him.
Majaz completed school in Agra in 1929, and enrolled in St. John's Intermediate College. Almost immediately, his father was transferred to Aligarh, and the family moved again, leaving Majaz in a hostel. The young Majaz was given a cash allowance for the first time in his life, and freedom from his mother's adoring but eagle surveillance.[2] He behaved like any teenager of his age, neglected his studies, spent his time and money the way he liked, and failed his exams. Yet, his time was spent not on games or in disreputable activities, but in attending mushairas (poetry symposia) and music concerts. It was at this time that he came in contact with both senior and upcoming poets of Agra, including Fani Badayuni, Ale Ahmad Suroor and Jazbi. With difficulty, Majaz finally cleared his intermediate exams in 1931, and rejoined his parents in Aligarh, where his father got him enrolled for BA at Aligarh Muslim University,[2] his subjects being philosophy, economics and Urdu. He graduated in 1936, again taking a year more than he should have.[5]
Career
The years that Majaz spent in
Majaz abandoned his MA in Aligarh due to financial reasons and moved to
In 1937, he returned to Lucknow and along with Jafri and Sibte Hassan founded the literary magazine, Parcham (Flag) which ran only for a single issue.[9] In Lucknow, he also worked on the editorial staff of journals like Halqa-e-Adab (Circle of Literature) and in Naya Adab (New Literature) along with Jafri and Sibte Hassan.[8]
Death
Majaz died on 5 December 1955,[2] while the first Students' Urdu Convention was underway in Lucknow. His condolence meeting was held on 7 December 1955 in the Rifah-e-Aam Hall and was attended by poets and writers from all over India.[10]
Due to his heavy drinking, he had a tragic death. On the night of his death, according to a newspaper, "Majaz's friends took him to a tavern in Lalbagh where they all drank on the rooftop. One by one they all left leaving Majaz alone in the cold winter night. The next morning he was rushed to the hospital where doctors diagnosed a brain hemorrhage and pneumonia".[5] Majaz died that night.
He was buried in a cemetery in Lucknow. His grave bears a verse from one of his ghazals written in 1945:[10]
And after this there is morn and the new morning Majaz
With me ends the eve of sorrows of Lucknow.
Major works
Majaz's collection of poems include:[8]
- Ahang (Melody) - 1938[2]
- Shab-e-tar (Dark Night) - 1945
- Saaz-e-Nau (New Musical Instruments) - 1949
- Tarana (anthem) of Aligarh Muslim University
- "Noora Nurse " Poem
Legacy
- In memory of the poet a book launch of, Majaz Aur Uski Shaayeri, edited by The Nehru Centre, London and Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association (UK).[11] The programme included video clippings on Majaz including comments by Hamida Salim (Majaz's sister) and Ali Sardar Jafri (Majaaz's friend and contemporary poet), a speech by Parvaiz Alam (broadcaster and dramatist), a lecture Majaz – Teen Daayeron ka Shayer by Akhtar, and Kalam-e-Majaz sung by Nasser Harvani and Majaz's nephew from New Delhi.[12]
- A dastangoi based on Majaz's life and poetry was performed by Ankit Chadha and Himanshu Bajpai[13] This narrative introduces the audience to Majaz, his childhood, his fame at AMU, his days in Delhi, his love, his poetry and most importantly his vagabondism.[14] The story was told through accounts of the poet's relatives, friends and acquaintances.[15]
- Majaz: Ae Gham-e-Dil Kya Karun, is a 2017 Indian biographical film directed by Ravindra Singh about Majaz.[16]
- A poem by Majaz is now the anthem for Aligarh Muslim University.[6]
Notes
References
- ^ IANS (1 June 2014). "A poet for all times: Majaj Lakhnavi". Business Standard (newspaper). Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mehr Afshan Farooqi (14 July 2013). "The lonely poet: Majaz". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ a b Coppola 1981, p. 48.
- ^ a b Jalil 2014.
- ^ a b c Inam Abidi (12 December 2011). "Asrar-ul-Haq Majaj - A Journey of Love, Hope and Nationalism". Muslims Today (newspaper). Retrieved 30 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Remembering Majaz Lakhnavi, the Keats of Urdu poetry". The Indian Express. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ Jalil 2014, p. 254.
- ^ a b c Coppola 1981, p. 49.
- ^ Jalil 2014, p. 258.
- ^ a b Jalil 2014, p. 264.
- ISBN 9788176505284.
- ^ "In memory of the legendary Urdu poet Asrarul Haq Majaaz (1913-54): Book launch of 'Majaaz Aur Uski Shaayari'". nehrucentre.org.uk. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
- ^ नई दास्तान, नया दास्तानगो!. Tehelka Hindi (19 November 2014). Retrieved on 2018-11-13.
- ^ Ahmed, Farzand (27 October 2014). "The premier show of Dastan-e-Majaz in Lucknow left everyone sobbing". shahernama.com. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
- ^ Dastangoi returns home to Lucknow The Times of India (19 October 2014). Retrieved 30 October 2021
- ^ "Majaz - Ae Gham-e-Dil Kya Karun". JioCinema website. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
Cited sources
- Coppola, Carlo (1981). "Asrarul Haq Majaz: The Progressive Poet as Revolutionary Romantic". Indian Literature. 24 (4): 46–62. JSTOR 23330208.
- Jalil, Rakhshanda (2014). Liking Progress, Loving Change: A Literary History of the Progressive Writers' Movement in Urdu. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-809673-3.
Further reading
- Majaz Aur Uski Shayari. Star publications, New Dekhi. 2012. ISBN 9788176505284.
External links
- Biography of Majaz at Aligarians.com
- Asrar-ul-Haq Majaz – A Journey of Love, Hope and Nationalism
- Listen and Explore Majaz at SahityaStudio