Known for his unique approach to poetic exploration of existentialist themes, poet Jaun Elia would have been 93 years old on his birthday today.
Born Syed Hussain Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1931, Elia migrated to Pakistan in 1957 and settled in Karachi. His notable collections include Shayed, Ya’ni, Gumaan, Lekin, RamozAnd Goya.
Jaun, who was also a philosopher, died on November 8, 2002, was honored with the Presidential Pride of Performance Award for his important contributions to Urdu literature.
Even two decades after his death, his poetic style, characterized by candor, progressive ideas and insightful observations, has cemented his place as one of the most influential Urdu poets. most influential of the 20th century.
Despite his relocation to Karachi, his spirit remains deeply rooted in his birthplace like many Urdu speakers who migrated to Pakistan from India. His poetry often reflects this nostalgic longing, with lines that his body is in Karachi, while his soul still wanders in Amroha.
Jaun’s literary journey began at the age of 14 and his talent flourished over the years. His work for an Urdu magazine Insha allowing him to hone his skills as a poet and a prose writer. His poetry gatherings and muhairas quickly made him a household name, attracting admiration from both the public and literary circles.
Despite her immense talent, Elia lived a rather lonely life, often being introverted.
Elia’s legacy extends far beyond his poetic talent. He was a translator, a scholar and a cultural figure who made significant contributions to Urdu literature. His translations include: Al-Tawasin and Akhlaq-al-Safa brought these timeless texts to a wider audience.
Remember Jaun
In honor of Jaun, scholar and musician Shahram Azhar announced his return to the world of melodies by sharing a ghazal rendition Bahaar Se Band. Azhar wrote the following in honor of the poet-philosopher on his X account:
“Please join me in paying tribute to philosopher-poet Jaun Elia on the occasion of his 93rd birthday. It is no secret that the contributions of intellectuals who had the ‘audacity’ to go against the tide often went unappreciated during their lifetimes. Jaun could only live to publish one volume of “Shayad” in his lifetime. His remaining poetic works are still being published posthumously. I have attempted to translate this ghazal with the aim of making Jaun’s work accessible to audiences in both the East and the West, for such binaries were meaningless to the philosopher-king of we. Jaun’s work spans the Universe. The era of Jaun Elia will begin tomorrow.”