Mazhar Imam

Imam was 83. He was undergoing treatment in the hospital for almost three weeks. However, he died of cardiac arrest. Mazhar Imam was born in Darbhanga (Bihar). His first collection of poetry Zakhm-e-Tamanna was published in 1962.

Besides, his other collections included ‘Rishta Goongey Safar Ka’, ‘Pichhle Mausam ka Phool’, ‘Band hota hua Bazaar’. A compilation of his pieces on literary criticism was also published. It was titled, “Aati Jaati Lahrein’.

Mazhar Imam had retired as Director of Doordarshan Kendra at Sri Nagar. Apart from Azad Ghazal, he also wrote Nazms. At Urdu India, we have published a selection of his couplets in the past. Read the couplets at this link.

Indscribe

A host of programmes were organised to pay tributes to the late poet. In Delhi, many events were held. Urdu Tehzib, Angla Arabic School Old Boys’ Association, Delhi Urdu Club and Maulana Azad Educational & Medical Society held condolence meets.

People recalled how Shuja was among the two Muslim IPS officers (Asad Farooqui was the other) who had been deployed along with other officials to arrest Indira Gandhi during Janata Party rule in 1977.
Shuja, a former IPS officer, had quit service in the midst of his career (in 1994).

Jatinder Parwaz said that Shuja had recited in mushairas along side legends like Firaq Gorakhpuri, who also considered him a gem among poets. “Firaq said that he cherished reciting along with him”, he recalled. Shuja Khawar’s death has left a void in Urdu literature.

Shuja had also flirted with politics briefly. After a paralytic stroke, he had been bedridden for years. However, he had lately regained health and was again attending literary functions. He died suddenly due to heart attack.

Read Shuja Khawar’s couplets and his literary achievements here.

Gour, 93, was a close associate of legendary poet and revolutionary Makhdoom Mohinuddin. Dr Gour was not just a communist leader, a former MP and a champion for the rights of Urdu, but also a symbol of secularism & humanity.

His death was mourned across the world, particularly, in Urdu circles. Dr Gour who was born in 1918, had passed his MBBS examination from Osmania University in Urdu medium.

He along with Makdhoom, Alam Khundmiri and Javed Rizwi, formed the Comrade Association, which was banned. As a participant in the Telangana Armed Revolution in the era, he was arrested and jailed.

An intellectual, a writer and a great human being, Dr Gour remained associated with Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu for 40 years, and was elects its president also.

In a programme organised at Urdu Ghar in Delhi to pay last respects to Dr Gour, Professor Akhtarul Wasey said that late Raj Bahadur Gour’s name will always be taken with great respect in Urdu circles, along with names like Tej Bahadur Sapru, Anand Narayan Mulla and Hriday Nath Kunzru.

Renowned poet Anand Mohan Zutshi Gulzar Dehlvi said that Dr Raj Bahadur Gaur was a fearless crusader for Urdu and a man who epitomised Urdu culture.

Khaliq Anjum, Ali Javed, Syed Shariful Hasan Naqvi, Aslam Parvez and Shauq Amrohvi were amongst others who paid rich tributes to Dr Gour.

Just a few days before his death he had donated Rs 3 lakh to Urdu Talimi Trust from his personal assets. Once when Urdu was under attack and termed a ‘Muslim language’, he made the famous statement:

“If Urdu is the language of Muslims alone then how come all the national slogans from Inquilab Zindabad to Gharibi Hatao are in Urdu alone”.

He would often say Urdu was his mother tongue while English was his stepmother tongue. He often recalled how in the pre-partition era and the days after police action, there was a feeling against Nizam but never against Muslims or Urdu in Hyderabad Deccan.

Now we have hardly any towering personality who could speak courageously for Urdu and even fewer among non-Muslims who can claim the zaban as their mother tongue.

Urdu India salutes this Mard-e-Mujahid of Urdu.

PS: Sad that Urdu papers in Deccan didn’t carry the news of his death as prominently as was expected of them. In Mumbai, special page-1 editorials were published and in Urdu papers in North also, the news that he passed away was splashed on front page and obituaries published for days.

Indscribe

Almost a near contemporary of the legendary Ibn-e-Safi, Akram Allahabadi also had a huge fan following. His characters, particularly, Inspector Khan and sergeant Baley, also have a secured place in the history of Urdu literature.

Unfortunately, Akram Allahabadi is not remembered as much, as he ought to be. In my childhood, I remember, almost every AH Wheeler bookstall across India, had his novels on display along with Jasoosi Duniya.

I still recall how elders would talk about Ibn-e-Safi’s ‘Deo Paikar Darinda’ or ‘Zamin ke Badal’ in the same breath as Allahabadi’s ‘Junction Bilara’ and ‘Salazar series’ or Sputnik which were all immensely popular novels.

Syed Mohammad Akram, who was born in 1922, was born in a zamindar family in Allahabad. He was sent to Bhopal for studies but fell in love with a girl and was later sent to Kanpur. After his graduation, Akram Allahabadi took to journalism and joined an Urdu daily in Allahabad, in 1946.

Akram Allahabadi started several daily newspapers and magazines, edited journals and later shifted to Mumbai. A prolific writer, his novels were sell-outs. He married a woman who had African ancestry.

Unlike H Iqbal or others who wrote novels, copying the characters of Ibn-e-Safi, viz. Imran, Faridi-Hameed, Akram Allahabadi had his own style. Sometimes, I felt, that he wrote in a hurry and didn’t take a second glance, because in a couple of his novels the story line grew fantastically but the minute details were often ignored.

I remember another of his character, Inspector Madhulkar who along with his assistant Raazi, took on gangsters and mysterious criminals.

After Ibn-e-Safi’s demise, Akram Allahabadi also, apparently lost interest. His ‘competitor’ had gone. A trade unionist, he remained active in his later years. Today his novels are rare to find but the legend of Akram Allahabadi grows.

Akram Allahabadi [also spelt as Akram ILAHABADI] was a writer of scores of bestsellers in the era of 1950s to late 70s and thereafter. A Facebook group and the plan of his family members and fans to publish his novels has also generated interest among the lovers of Urdu detective fiction.

Indscribe

Roshan Shama is the latest Urdu magazine launched in India. The magazine, which is in a digest form, has been priced at Rs 25.

It’s after a long time that a new social [or family] magazine in Urdu has been launched from Delhi. Though news magazines have been launched in recent past, there was no social magazine that could fill the void after Shama, Bano and Biswin Sadi stopped publication.

Shahid Siddiqui, who is known for his weekly Nai Dunia, has begun publishing Roshan Shama. It would be a rival to Pakiza Anchal. The latest issue also has a story on Pathan brothers–Irfan and Yusuf.

The fact that is not a ‘desk story’ and the writer went to the Pathan household, for the interview and a first-hand coverage, is indeed laudable. Otherwise it has become a norm to write desktop reports.

Apart from Shahid Siddiqui’s novel, there are ten short-stories, three short novels and four other long stories that will be published in parts in the coming issues.

In order to engage reader, several columns have been introduced in the digest. Historical novels and stories other than Urdu poetry and religious information fill the rest of the pages.

Unlike Huma, which often publishes Pakistani writers’ stories without even giving credit to Suspense digest and other magazines from across the border, Roshan Shama has most of the content written by Indian writers.

Indscribe

After ETV Urdu, which is a complete infotainment channel, other channels were also launched. Among them, DD Urdu has achieved some success despite cable operators’ lack of enthusiasm towards the channel.

Zee group’s Zee Salaam and Aalami Sahara have been launched recently. Salaam is more about religion and Islamic devotional programmes and poetry while Aalami Sahara focuses on news.

With the the launch of Munsif TV, the fifth Urdu channel in India, there will be healthy competition and the audience will also get to see better coverage as the Urdu market grows despite negative predictions in the past.

Siasat and Munsif are established newspapers in Hyderabad. Though belated, it has been a laudable step. The channel can be seen also at the website www.munsif.tv though the reception is not too good.

There is need to improve the standard of language used in the channel and so is the presentation that is not as professional initially. An example is ‘Aap zikr kiye’ rather than ‘Aapne zikr kiya‘.

Just a couple of brief training sessions can iron out the hitches. Of course, Dakhani has a distinct style and everything can’t be viewed from the perception of a North Indian Urdu speaker.

For the moment it’s good news for Urdu speaking populace that has come once again from South India. The owners claim it is available in 80 countries through satellite.

Indscribe

Daily Sahafat’s journalists Ali Raza Adeel and Mohammad Ahmad Khan’s report about the disinterest of Urdu Academy and individuals towards rectifying the mistakes, highlights the issue once again. The problem is at different levels.

Lack of interest of citizens and falling standards of Urdu-knowing painters are some of the reasons behind such blunders. Bazaar becomes Bajaar and Muhiuddin becomes Moinuddin. Even worse when the board is near the mazar of Maulana Abdul Kalam Muhiuddin Azad. It’s time that Urdu anjumans and activists join hands and ensure that qualified persons are consulted and after due approval, the signboards are painted.

Indscribe

kahne ko chand gaam thaa ye arsa-e-hayaat
lekin tamaam umr hi chalnaa paRaa mujhe
[Wazir Agha]

Agha wrote over 60 books including texts on criticism, poetry, literary trends, humour and other genres.
He was 88 at the time of his death. He is remembered for his role in establishing Urdu ‘inshaiya’ while he is also credited as a leading poet of modernist verse [Nazm].

Dr Agha also wrote ghazals. Apart from his collection of poetry, he also penned an autobiography. In Delhi, Shrine Group of Action, organised a programme in memory of the late litterateur. Eminent poets paid tributes to Dr Agha.

In Lucknow, Bazm-e-Lauh-o-Qalam organised a condolence meeting. The speakers recalled Wazir Agha’s literary journey from Adabi Dunya to Auraaq. His Nazms, particularly, Aadhi Sadi ke Baad, and Ek Katha Anokhi were also mentioned.

Literary organisations throughout India are holding condolence meets in other cities also and obituaries are appearing in newspapers as the news. In fact, his demise has stunned the literary world in the sub-continent.

We are publishing his verse ‘din Dhal chukaa thaa aur parinda safar meN thaa’ by Wazir Agha in Urdu [nastaliq] script here:

It is quite a unique Nazm, which is written in ghazal format. He also wrote free verse or Azad Nazm apart from Nasri Nazms and Paaband Nazms.

jabeen-e-sang pe likha mera afsaana gaya
maiN rahguzar tha mujhe raund ke zamaana gaya [Wazir Agha]

However, Agha is not a figure who could be forgotten. As a leading nazm-go shaa’er and an immensely respected critic, Dr Wazir Agha’s contribution can’t be erased. His name and his works are now part of the literary history of Urdu.

Indscribe

He castigated the centre for stopping advertisements to Urdu newspapers, a recent decision which has hit the Urdu media and has made it immensely difficult for the papers to survive.

Unfortunately, the Muslim MPs, particularly those who won on Congress ticket, didn’t raise the issue. It must be recalled that after successive Congress governments tried to bury the language, the Mulayam Singh-led SP government had given Urdu its rights in UP for the first time ever.

It was under Mulayam Singh Yadav’s rule that Urdu translators were appointed in UP and strict directions were given to display Urdu signboards and nameplates in government offices.

Once again, it was the Samajwadi Party supremo who forcefully raised his voice for the language. After Mulayam Singh, Railway minister Mamata Bannerjee also supported him.

She said that West Bengal had nearly 30% Urdu speakers and there was dire need for a Urdu university in the state, apart from reservation for Muslims in jobs.

A surprise was BJP leader Gopinath Munde whose speech in favour of Urdu and his stress on promoting the language that is respresentative of India’s ganga-jamuni culture, put the Union government on backfoot.

Filmstar-turn-actor Shatrughan Sinha also raised the issue of injustice with Urdu. Farooq Abdullah and other leaders including communist Gurudas Das Gupta joined the debate.

In fact, the rare solidarity for the cause of Urdu and the manner in which politicians spoke in unison for the language, forced the government to admit that it was rare unity in the house.

When Speaker Meira Kumar urged the government to take cognizance of the concern of members, Pranab Mukherjee gave an elaborate response and assured that the issue of cutting newspaper advertisements would be sorted out.

Urdu India hopes that Urdu-speaking MPs and leaders whose mother tongue is Urdu, would raise the issue of injustice with the language in Uttar Pradesh where Urdu medium schools are not allowed to function as per an old and discriminatory state law implemented during the earlier Congress regimes.

While Maharashtra, Bihar, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have thousands of Urdu medium schools, none exists in UP, which is the heart of Urdu language and culture.
Adnan [Indscribe]

The effort at the ground level is laudable. In Muzaffar Nagar, UDO’s district unit is leading the drive in municipal wards. Nameplates were installed at the residences of several Muslim officials and prominent personalities.

UDO’s district chief Kalim Tyagi, members of the organisation and representatives of Urdu organisation, were part of the drive. Some citizens apologised for not getting their names writen in Urdu script and promised to get Urdu nameplates put up at the earliest.

The campaign is also urging people to get Urdu signboards pained and installed at private establishments, offices and shops. This will also open employment opportunities to Urdu painters.

UDO is the rare organisation that takes its work for promoting Urdu to the streets. It’s time that UDO spreads its wings and open its branches in other states of the country to promote Urdu at the grassroots.

For those who are not aware, UDO which is based in Allahabad has been fighting for Urdu for many years. It has taken legal action and has won several court cases for the language in Uttar Pradesh.

Indscribe [anindianmuslim.com]

But Prof Hasan [1926-2010] who was associated with the Progressive Writers’ Movement was also a poet, a playright and a multi-facted personality.

He had penned a biographical novel ‘Gham-e-Dil, Vahshat-e-Dil’ on the ‘Keats of Urdu poetry’ Majaz Lakhnavi. The novel is considered a gem.

Dr Hasan wrote several plays including the famous drama on Ghalib. His play, Zohak, centred on the sensitive subject of emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the seventies.

A former chaiman of the Centre for Indian Languages, JNU, he wrote 75 books, which include his collection of poetry Zanjir-e-Naghma apart from some unpublished works.

A Lucknowite, his creativity bloomed further in Delhi after he joined the JNU. He paid special attention to drama and wrote several plays. His book on Iqbal, which was published in English, is regarded highly by scholars.

Indscribe

It was a pleasant surprise to see Sabaq-e-Urdu, a new literary magazine, hitting the stands. The monthly revives the memories of SR Faruqi’s Shab Khoon.

In fact, when I initially flipped the pages, the printing and fonts gave me a feeling that I was reading Shab Khoon. Editor Danish Allahabadi and his companion Riyaz Ahmad must be congratulated for the publication.

Apart from the usual treat of ghazals and nazms, Mohammad Zakariya Virk’s three exhaustive articles about role of Muslims in Europe’s renaissance, eminent Muslim scientists of yore and 42 historials of Al-Andalus are hallmark of the issue.

Majaz’ nazm Aawara has a universal appeal and Mohammd Salim has put an effort in translation. Though I personally prefer KC Kanda’s ‘What to do O aching heart, What to do O frenzy wild’ for ‘Aye gham-e-dil kya karuuN, aye vahshat-e-dil kyaa karuuN’.

Sabaq-e-Urdu has its head office in Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh and is printed at Allahabad. Faruqi is the patron of the magazine. The magazine costs a mere Rs 25.

Send a cheque or draft to Sabaq-e-Urdu at Sabaq-e-Urdu, Gopiganj, Bhadohi (UP) 221303. The annual subscription is Rs 250 for twelve issues of the magazine.

Indscribe

Kamal was amongst the last generation of Urdu poets in India that not only had absolute command over Urdu diction but also made full use of the legacy of Urdu poetry from Wali to Meer and Ghalib to Nasir Kazmi.

Abdullah Kamal was 62. He had been associated with different magazines and had two collections of poetry to his name. He was living in Mumbra for a few years and avoided attending events due to his illness.

Tributes were paid to him at a condolence meet in Kurla. The speakers rued that litterateurs are passing away and there are hardly any new poets seen that can fill this void.

Kamaal’s demise didn’t get mention in papers as well as on websites. An esteemed visitor to this blog, Mr Humayun, had drawn my attention towards the fact. I intend to write about him at my other blog.

Indscribe

Kausar doesn’t need any introduction among Urdu readers. He has been writing incessantly since 1949 and has penned 650 stories in his six decade long literary career.

The latest collection ‘Agni Pariksha’ has sixteen afsanas including Bijuka Shakarganji, Katbe ki Faryaad and Naye Veerane, which keep the reader hooked.

The book is priced at Rs 150. Kausar, who lives in Bhopal, has dedicated the book to author and journalist Abid Suhail, who once edited monthly Kitaab from Lucknow.

Naeem Kausar was born in Begamganj in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh in 1936. His father late Kausar Chandpuri was a renowned writer. This is his fourth book.

Naeem Kausar is also editor and publisher of a fortnightly literary-socio-cultural newspaper ‘Sada-e-Urdu’ which is published from Bhopal.

Indscribe

The magazine was earlier owned by Khushtar Girami, a noted Sikh litterateur. Later Naiyar maintained the same standards. He was also editor of the film magazine Ruby [or Roobi] that became a rival for Shama.

Biswin Sadi played an important role in cultivating the interest of readers towards high literature. Almost all the top writers and poets were published in the magazine that also had articles, political satire, cartoons, health section and short stories [afsanas].

However, a few years back he had begun withdrawing from the world. It was strange. He was shunning everything. Afterwards Biswin Sadi got closed and then he passed away silently in November 2009.

Truly, an era of Urdu journalism has ended with his demise.

Indscribe

The Bahadur Shah Zafar award that comprises Rs 1.11 lakh cash and citation would be shared by the two Aligarh-based scholars and poets–Prof Sajida Zaidi and Prof Zahida Zaidi.

Hanafi gets the award of Rs 51,000. Bhagwan Das Ejaz, Ibn Kanwal, Zafar Moradabadi, Riyaz Qidwai, Zafar Agha, Ashhar Qadeer, Mohd Zakir, Yunus Jafri and Syeda Kishwar are amongst other awardees.

The names mentioned above include those selected for awards under the category of best teacher, journalist, translator, poet, fiction writer, science writing et al.

The awards for the year 2008 where finalised sometime back. Late Qamar Raees was alive then. Chief Minister Sheila Dixit okayed the list and the awards would be presented at a function soon.

By Indscribe [anindianmuslim.com]

Yusuf Nazim, one of the foremost Urdu humorist in India, was a prolific writer and wrote over two dozen books. He penned popular columns for newspapers like Inquilab.

His initial articles were published way back in 1944. For almost 65 years he consistently wrote. He had joined Labour department of Hyderabad Deccan in 1944 and retired as Deputy Commissioner Labour in 1976 in Mumbai.

Born as Syed Mohd Yusuf, he also wrote travelogues and books for children. In Urdu daily Inquilab, Nadeem Siddqui, in an obituary tells us about one of his couplets:

khoon-e-Aadam bahe saDkoN pe to rangeeni hai
aaj ke daur ki qismat hi filisteeni hai

Though his ancestors belonged to Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh, Yusuf Nazim was born in Jalna in Marathwada region of Maharashtra in undivided India.

AnIndianMuslim.com

The event was known as Jashn-e-Fatma Zehra. Poetry and Urdu couplets praising Fatima [RH] were recited at the Urdu poetry recital session. Other than literary meets, such poetry sessions where poetry is rendered exlusively in praise of Prophet, Hazrat Ali, Bibi Fatima or Muharram, are common in Urdu-speaking areas in the sub-continent.

While Sunnis organise Natiya Mushairas, the Shias mostly hold poetry sessions where religious figures including Hazrat Ali, Bibi Fatima, Hazrat Imam Husain and the events leading to Yaum-e-Ashurah are the topic of poetry.

Some of the couplets at the poetry session:

kyaa tajallii hai ki Khurshiid-e-falak chakkar meN hai
nuur hai markaz pe lekin roshni manzar meN hai
[Shamim Amrohvi]

Zahra haiN yuuN khayaal-e-suKhanwar ke aas paas
khushbuu-e-paak jaise gul-e-tar ke aas paas
[Nausha Amrohvi]

nahiiN voh be-wafa ho hii nahiiN saktaa zamaane meN
tere Ghaazi kaa jo parcham uThaaye Fatima Zehraa
[Saahil Amrohvi]

mil gayii haii mujhko jurrat, ho gayaa be-baak bhii
madahat-e-Zahraa ne baKhshii quvvat-e-idraak bhii
[Haji Abid Amrohvi]

There are just a few sample asha’ar recited at the poetry session. Several other poets also read out their verses and received hearfelt applause from the audience.

By Indscribe [anindianmuslim.com]

Habib Tanvir who dominated the Indian theatre scene for nearly half-a-century is no more. He died in Bhopal at the age of 86.

Tanvir’s role in keeping Indian theatre close to the masses is second to none. Agra Bazar and Charandas Chor are universally acclaimed as among the most popular plays in post-independent India.

Tanvir, who was born in Raipur in 1923, had leftist leanings from the beginning. He wrote poetry in Urdu and adopted the ‘takhallus’ or pen name Tanvir.

He blended theatre, folk art and poetry with finesse. The artistes whether the fakirs of Delhi or the villagers from tribal dominated Chhattisgarh, remained with him like his family members.

With a firm conviction to expose the bigotry and fundamentalism in the society, he kept penning plays that often rubbed on the wrong side of the right-wing BJP-led governments.

His play ‘Ponga Pandit’ drew the ire of the BJP and its sister organisations. But Tanvir remained unperturbed. A crusader against communalism and a champion of communal harmony, Tanvir’s legacy will be carried by his daughter Nageen.

Read ‘Habib Tanvir and his play Agra Bazar based on Nazir Akbarabadi’s poetry’ at the link.

By Indscribe [anindianmuslim.com]

One of his ghazals with a unique ‘radeef’ is being posted here. It’s just a glimpse to the master craftsman who enriched Urdu language and literature for decades.

He was 84. Kavish Badri was published in Urdu journals across the world. His ghazals were a permanent feature in literary magazine, Shabkhoon.

Vellore has a subtantial Urdu speaking populace. In fact, one of the pioneers of Urdu ghazal, Vali Vellori (not to be confused with Wali Dakhni) also hailed from this town.

By Indscribe