Death anniversary of Josh Malihabadi
DECEMBER 05 1894 --- 22 FEBRUARY 1982
Josh Malihabadi will be remembered as Shayar-e-Shabab (poet of beauty) and Shayar-e-Inqilab (rebel poet). This 20th century master poet’s life and work has gained public attention, in the recent years, for its creative thought and rebellion against all forms of establishment and norms. Throughout his tumultuous and eventful life, as the poet migrated to Pakistan much later at the age of 58 to Pakistan, he remained, a misunderstood and controversial poet. Josh is considered only second to Mir Taqi Mir for his rich additions to Urdu language’s diction and vocabulary.
He was born as Shabbir Hasan Khan on December 5‚ 1894 and died as Shair-e-Inqilab and Shair-e-Shabab (poet of revolution and youth) on February 22, 1982.
Josh Malihabadi is reputed to have had a masterful command over Urdu and was quite strict about respecting the grammar and rules of the language. The first collection of his poetry was published in 1921.
He was not only a poet but also an intellectual and prolific writer as he wrote about religion, history and politics as well. He fought for the independence of the Indian Sub-continent with his pen. A number of his poems were written against the British rule.
He is remembered as one of the greatest revolutionary poets of the pre-independence era. Some of his poems were broadcasted by German radio during the Second World War. He was awarded the highest Indian medal, ‘Padma Bhoshan’ in 1954.
His poetry and publications include Shola-o-Shabnam‚ Junoon-o-Hikmat‚ Fikr-o-Nishaat‚ Sunbal-o-Salaasal‚ Harf-o-Hikaayat‚ Sarod-o-Kharosh‚ Irfaniyat-e-Josh and Yaadon ki baraat.
Literary and research work on ‘Josh Malihabadi' efforts from some experts have become a movement of ‘Josh Shanasi' in Pakistan. The main objective of the literary movement is to authentically discover the hidden but luminous features of the great poet especially among the admirers of Urdu literature.
Josh migrated to Pakistan in 1958 – despite Jawaharlal Nehru's insistence against it – over what is generally believed to be his concern regarding the future of the Urdu language in India, where he thought the Hindu majority would encourage the use of Hindi rather than Urdu. After migration, Josh settled in Karachi and rigorously worked for Anjuman-i-Tarraqi-i-Urdu with Maulvi Abdul Haq.
He remained in Pakistan until he died on 22 February 1982 in Islamabad. Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Syed Fakhruddin Balley both were the closest companions and friends of Josh.
About the loss of Lucknow, he says it was like losing the world. He says in this interview about a visit to Lucknow, where he asked a taxi driver, how is it going with all these Sikhs and Punjabis who have come to Lucknow. The taxi driver replies, we have taught them (Lakhnavi) etiquette!
دل کی چوٹوں نے کبھی چین سے رہنے نہ دیا
جب چلی سرد ہوا میں نے تجھے یاد کیا
اس کا رونا نہیں کیوں تم نے کیا دل برباد
اس کا غم ہے کہ بہت دیر میں برباد کیا