Jaun Elia
Pakistani poet (1931–2002)
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Syed Hussain Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi[a] (14 December 1931 – 8 November 2002), commonly known by his pen name Jaun Elia,[b] was a Pakistani poet.[1][2]
14 December 1931
Jaun Elia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Native name | جون ایلیا |
| Born | Syed Hussain Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi 14 December 1931 |
| Died | 8 November 2002 (aged 70) |
| Pen name | Jaun Elia |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Genre | Ghazal |
| Literary movement | Progressive Writers Movement |
| Notable works | Shayad, Yani, Lekin, Gumman, Goya, Farnood |
| Notable awards | Pride of Performance award by the President of Pakistan in 2000 |
| Spouse | |
| Relatives | Kamal Amrohi (cousin) Rais Amrohvi (older brother) |
One of the most prominent modern Urdu poets of ghazals (amatory poems), popular for his unconventional ways, he "acquired knowledge of philosophy, logic, Islamic history, the Muslim Sufi tradition, Muslim religious sciences, Western literature, and Kabbala".[3]
He was fluent in Urdu, Arabic, Sindhi, English, Persian, Sanskrit and Hebrew.[1][3] Elia was also the younger brother of poet Rais Amrohvi.
Early life and family
Jaun Elia was born on 14 December 1931 in Amroha, UP, British India into an educated Shia family. He was the youngest child of Allama Shafiq Hassan Elia.[1][4][5] His father was a scholar of literature and astronomy well-versed in the Arabic, English, Persian, Hebrew and Sanskrit languages, and who corresponded with leading intellectuals like Bertrand Russell.[6] Jaun Elia was the youngest of his siblings: his brother Rais Amrohvi was a poet and psychoanalyst while another brother, Syed Mohammed Taqi, was a philosopher and a translator who had translated Karl Marx's Das Kapital.[7] Indian film director Kamal Amrohi was his first cousin.[8] Another relative in Pakistan is actor Munawar Saeed, famous for his roles as a villain.[9]
Described as a child prodigy, Jaun was initially educated at the Syed-ul-Madaris in Amroha, a madrasa affiliated with the Darul Uloom Deoband.[10]
Marriage and Children
He married writer Zahida Hina in the year 1970. He met her during the publication of an urdu language magazine Insha and ended up falling in love with her.[1][11] They got separated in 1984 and later divorced due to differences in their temperament.[1]
They have three children, Zeryoun Elia, Fainnana and Sohaina Elia[12]
Writing career
He began writing poetry when he was 8 but published his first collection, Shayad, when he was 60.[13]
Political views
Partition and migration to Pakistan
Being a communist, Elia opposed the partition of India.[14][15][16] However, he eventually migrated to Pakistan in 1956, and decided to live in Karachi.[1]
Communism
In his poems, he supported communism in Pakistan.[17] References to class consciousness are also seen in his poems. He also was described as "An anarchist, a nihilist, and a poet".[18]
Death, legacy and popular culture
Jaun Elia died on 8 November 2002 at age 70 in Karachi, Pakistan.[19] Some people that knew him called him a difficult, temperamental and complicated person. He also drank alcohol excessively which then contributed to his health problems.[1][20]
Poet Pirzada Qasim said:
Jaun was very particular about language. While his diction is rooted in the classical tradition, he touches on new subjects. He remained in quest of an ideal all his life. Unable to find the ideal eventually, he became angry and frustrated. He felt, perhaps with reason, that he had squandered his talent.[21]
According to BBC News website:
Jaun Elia's friend Qamar Razi once said of him, "He was quick to criticize, but he was a true friend, a lost traveler in his thoughts".[1]
Noted Indian poet Majrooh Sultanpuri called him "the poet of poets"...[1]
In 2020, Punjabi rapper Kay Kap's album Rough Rhymes for Tough Times featured a song entitled Bulaava which had couplets from the poem Pehnaayi Ka Makaan written and recited by Jaun Elia.[22]
In 2020, Pakistani rock-fusion band Nishtar Park released a single Purane Aur Naye Sawal which was based on Elia's ghazal Umr Guzaregi Imtihan Mein Kya.
In 2023, Urdu rapper Talha Anjum’s album Open Letter featured a song entitled Secrets which was strongly influenced by Jaun Elia’s poem Be-dilli Kya Yuhin Din Guzar Jaenge. Talha Anjum’s other works are also heavily influenced by Jaun Elia’s poetry.
Commemorative postage stamp
On his death anniversary of 8 November 2013, Pakistan Post Office issued a commemorative postage stamp to honor him for his literary services in its 'Men of Letters' series.[23]
Awards and recognition
- Pride of Performance award by the President of Pakistan for his literary services in 2000.[24][19]
Works
Poetry collections
Prose work (mainly translations)
Elia was not just a poet but was also an editor and a translator, especially of old Sufi, Mutazili and Ismaili treatises.
- Masih-i-Baghdad Hallaj,
- Jometria,
- Tawasin, usman
- Isaghoji,
- Rahaish-o-Kushaish,
- Hasan bin Sabah
- Farnod, Tajrid,
- Masail-i-Tajrid,
- Rasail Ikhwan al Safa
Above are some of his translations from Arabic and Persian. Not only did he translate these books but also introduced several new words in the Urdu language.[18]