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Asrar ul Haq Majaz, Ismat Chughtai, Jaan Nisaar Akhtar, Javed Akhtar, Majaz, majaz on stamp, parcham, trivia
Did you know that Poet Majaz was the uncle of Javed Akhtar and brother-in-law of Jaan Nisaar Akhtar.
Majaz is called Keats of Urdu Poetry.
He was born Asrar ul Haq Majaz (1911 – 5 December 1955). He received his early education in Lucknow and Agra, and did his B.A. at Aligarh Muslim University.He was the first Urdu poet who looked at woman with a different persepective, as a ‘hamsafar‘ [companion] and yearned for an intelligent, enlightened and equal life partner.
His ghazal ‘Tere maathe pe yeh anchal bohot khoob hai/ Lekin tu isse ek parcham(banner/flag)bana leti to achchha thaa’ was the foremost progressive voice in 30s. A darling of poetry-lovers, Majaz was so popular that Ismat Chughtai recounts, Girls college mein ladkiyan usse shaadi ke liye qura nikaalti theen”[it was a pastime among hostel girls to play draw of lots to decide which girl will marry him].They kept his picture under their pillow but no father was willing to give him a daughter. After all, he was a poet with no other means to eke out a decent living for his family.
You can read this blog piece for a interesting insight into Majaz : http://www.anindianmuslim.com/2005/12/keats-of-urdu-poetry.html
You can also watch Kahkashan a TV serial which was produced many years back and covers the life of Majaz in three parts on youtube. Link to Part 1 is attached : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzxRXM1TwsE
I remember one of his sher Ae gham-e-dil kya karoon..