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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.

Majaz

Majaz

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

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