Syed Ali Jawad Zaidi (10 March 1916 – 6 December 2004) was an Indian Urdu poet, scholar, and author of over 80 books in several languages.[1] He was also an Indian independence activist,[2] lawyer and later, a civil servant,[3] but is best known for his work in Urdu literature.[4]
He has received several awards for his contributions to literature and other fields.
Early life and educationedit
Zaidi was born in the village Karhan, Uttar Pradesh, then in Azamgarh district (now Mau district) in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the eldest of six children in a zamindar family of Mohammadabad-Gohna, Azamgarh. He was born at his maternal grandfather's home in Karhan. Belonging to a Saiyid family and being the eldest son in his family, he was sent to the local Arabicmadarsa to gain education and proficiency in Islamic theology and religious matters.
When Zaidi was 11 years old, his father died. His early formal education took place in Mahmudabad, the princely state. He then graduated from Government Jubilee College, Lucknow and an LLB from Lucknow University).[7]
Indian independence activismedit
During his graduation and later while doing his LLB, he came into contact with leaders of the Indian independence movement, which he joined in the late 1930s. He wrote revolutionary poetry while he led the student's movement along with other student leaders such as Shankar Dayal Sharma, who later went on to become the president of India. His poetry drew praise from Sarojini Naidu, and he was subsequently elected as the secretary-general of the All India Student's Federation. He remained the secretary-general of the All India Students Federation during the Quit India Movement (1942) launched by Mahatma Gandhi.[8]
His poems were proscribed by the British Colonial Government for inciting rebellion against the British Raj. The British government issued an arrest warrant in order to stop him from organising student rallies and mobilising students against the Raj. He continued his work underground, organising students throughout India. He was later arrested at Nagpur, and was sentenced to jail for anti-British activity and sent to serve his term at the Nagpur Central Prison and later transferred to the Benares Central Jail.
He was laid to rest at the Malka Jahan burial grounds, Lucknow, India, with full state honours provided to an Indian freedom fighter.
Government serviceedit
With India's independence, Zaidi ended his active involvement in politics. He joined the Information Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh and was a deputy director there until he was inducted into the Indian Information Service and posted to Srinagar.
Although he had taken up Government Service for a full-time job, and chosen that as a career, he remained active in arts and cultural activities in Jammu and Kashmir, organising and conducting the annual Kashmir festival during the summer months. He was appointed as the secretary general of the Society of Arts and Culture, Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the early 1960s he was transferred to Delhi and posted with the Press Information Bureau in Delhi and Mumbai. His final posting was in Tehran and he retired from active Government service as Joint Director, News Services, All India Radio in August 1978.
He also worked as the editor of Naya Daur, an Urdu monthly digest, and Al-Ilm, a monthly published from Mumbai. Naya Daur ran a series on his memoirs on a monthly basis for a time[when?], as well as a special issue in his memory of Ali Jawad Zaidi (Nov/Dec issue, 2004) after his death. He also did some translation work (into English) for the Sahitya Akademi.
Throughout his years with the government, Zaidi continued writing.[13] Seven of his books[which?] have won State Government Awards[which?]. He was the author of over 80 books in Urdu,[14] English, Hindi and Persian. Many of his works are now reference material for research students. He has been the subject of research scholars, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees have been awarded to four students[which?] for research done on his life and works.[citation needed]
He was president of the Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy, Lucknow and as the president of the Zainabbiya Institute of Islamic Studies, Mumbai, and was on the board of Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi and the Sangeet and Natya Akademi, New Delhi and other social, literary and cultural organizations. He was also an advisor to the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Amongst his notable works are Qasida Nigaran-e-Uttar Pradesh (in 2 Volumes), Uttar Pradesh ke Marsiyago (in 2 Volumes) & Do Adabi School, which have been published in Urdu-speaking Pakistan[16] as well. These books along with his History of Urdu Literature[17][18] (English),[19] Mirza Ghalib – Ek Parichay (Hindi), Mir Anis, are unique[how?] in their approaches to their subjects.
He was also a member of the Committee for Promotion of Urdu (appointed by the Government of India Resolution No. F. 15-25/72-L. 1 dated 5 May 1972)[21]
Confined to his home in Lucknow due to poor health and failing eyesight during his last years, he wrote using an amanuensis. He died on 6 December 2004.[22]
Awardsedit
The Government of India conferred on him the Padma Shri[23] in recognition of his contributions to Urdu literature.[24] (1988),[25][24] He also received a Tamra Patra award for his role in the freedom movement, and the Ghalib award[26]
Other awards included:
Anis Award in recognition of Expertise on Mir Anis
Ghalib Award in recognition of Expertise on Mirza Ghalib
Certificate of Honour presented by The Rotary Club, Lucknow
Awards presented to his various books by Governments and Literary Organizations are marked in the list of his books below.
In 1987, Zaidi asked government bodies and literary organizations not to consider his works for awards.[citation needed]
The Jawad Memorial Prize[27] was instituted in his remembrance in 2019 for awarding outstanding translations of Urdu works to English.[28]
List of published booksedit
(Books marked by an ‘*’ are award-winning books) authored by Saiyid Ali Jawad Zaidi
Meri Gazalain 1959 * Poetry
Teesha-e-Awaaz 1985 Poetry
Uttar Pradesh Ke Marsiyago Research
Do Adbi School 1970 * Critical Analysis
Naath Nigari Uttar Pradesh mein Research & analysis
Zabt Shuda Nazmein Collection of Proscribed Poems
Urdu Main Qaumi Shairi Ke Sau Saal 1957 Criticism & analysis
History of Urdu Literature 1993 Research & Analysis[29]
Mir Anis (Tr. English) 1986 Biography
Rang-e-sang 1944 Poetry
Dayar-e-Sahar 1960 Poetry
Naseem-e-Dasht-e-Arzoo 1980 * Poetry
Inteqhab Ali Jawad Zaidi 1971 Poetry
Silsila (Inteqhab) 1990 Poetry
Warq Warq Zanjeer 1990 Poetry
Dhoop Chaaon 1994 Poetry
Urdu Main Shairi Ke Sau Saal (Muqqadame ke saath) 1981 Criticism & analysis
Hamari Quami Shairi Criticism & analysis
Taamiri Adab 1959 * Criticism & analysis
Anwaar-e-Abu Al Kalaam 1959
Hindustan Mein Islami Uloom Ke Marakaz 1972
Fikr-o-Riyaz 1975 * Collection of Muqalaat
Tareekh-e-Adab Urdu Ki Tadween 1976 Research
Qasida Nigaran-e-Uttar Pradesh 1978 Research
Tarrek Adab Ki Tadween (Vol II) 1983 Research
Do Aadabi Ischool (Revised Edition) 1980 Critical Analysis
Qasida Nigaran-e-Uttar Pradesh (Vol II) 1983 Research & analysis
Masnavi Nigari 1985 Research & analysis
Diwan-e-Ghani 1964 Research & analysis
Zikr-o-Fikr Ghani 1966 Silsila Muqalaat
Nasr Nigari Uttar Pradesh Mein Research & analysis
Do aadabi Ischool (Pakistan edition) 1988 Critical Analysis
Hindustan Mein Arabi Ki Taweej Research & analysis
Ali Jawad Zaidi, Hindustan Adab ke Mehmur, Sahitya Acedemy, by Wazahat Hussain Rizvi, 2012[39]
Naya Daur, Shumara Number-008,009, by Wazahat Hussain Rizvi[40]
Ali jawad Zaidi aur sheeraza Kashmir (research), presented at Ali Jawad Zaidi - Fun aur shakshiyat; by Dr. Mohd. Rashid Azeez
List of unpublished worksedit
The Prophet's Daughter Historical Research (Ready but Unpublished)
Urdu Mein Ramkatha Research on the Ramayanas written in the Urdu language[41]
Referencesedit
^"Ali Jawad Zaidi Poetry - Ali Jawad Zaidi Shayari, Urdu Ghazal, Nazam Collection". UrduPoint. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^"The Milli Gazette". www.milligazette.com. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
^"A Tribute to Shri A.J. Zaidi | India of the Past". www.indiaofthepast.org. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
^OpenLibrary.org. "Ali Jawad Zaidi". Open Library. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
^"Archive News". The Hindu. 24 July 2008. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
^"English bibliography - A Desertful of Roses". Columbia.edu. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
^"A Cyber Joint for Lucknow University Family ..:::." www.lucknowuniversity.org. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
^Ghayur, Syed Inam ur Rahman (1 October 2019). "Gandhi's actions & reasoning weren't always acceptable, even to his friends". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 July 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^"Diplomatic Musings". Bal-anand.blogspot.com. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
^"Reviving Urdu, once the official language of India". The New Indian Express. 6 July 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
^"Library of Congress Online Catalog - Legacy Catalog Retired". Catalog.loc.gov. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
^Farhan, Mohammad (21 August 2020). "Lahore in my heart: Fikr Taunsvi's memoir is an incisive account of the Partition". @businessline. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
^"Ali Jawad Zaidi". Open Library. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ http://seoelitereviews.com/blog/internet-marketing/progressive-writers-movement/. Retrieved 22 December 2008. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^The Milli Gazette, OPI, Pharos Media (15 January 2005). "Obituary, The Milli Gazette, Vol.6 No.01, MG119 (1-15 Jan 05)". Milligazette.com. Retrieved 1 December 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Padma Awards | Interactive Dashboard". www.dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^ ab"This website is for sale! - indianmuslims Resources and Information". Indianmuslims.info. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
^"Untitled Document". Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
^"Ghalib Institute". Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
^"Award Winners | AJZ". ali-jawad-zaidi. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^"Aalim Akhtar, Bilal Tanweer Named Joint Winners of 2021 Jawad Memorial Prize". The Wire. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
^Zaidī, ʻalī Javād; Zaidi, Ali Jawad (1993). A History of Urdu Literature. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 8172012918.
^"DAWN - Features; November 18, 2008 - Newspaper". Dawn. Pakistan. 18 November 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
^"New Page 1". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
^"Vice President of India : Photo Gallery". Archived from the original on 9 April 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
^Parekh, Rauf (3 November 2014). "LITERARY NOTES: World's shortest poem and the art of quatrain". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^"The Ballad of Ram-e-Hind: Revisiting the Urdu versions of Ramayana that once lit up the stage". The Indian Express. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^"Gani Kashmiri's memory relived; large library opened in his house - Scoop News Jammu Kashmir". www.scoopnews.in. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^"Events | Former Vice President of India | Government of India". mhamidansari.nic.in. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^"ali jawad zaidi". Rekhta. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^"ali jawwad zaidi". Rekhta. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^"Naya Daur, Lucknow". Rekhta. Retrieved 16 December 2021.