->Ser Amantio di Nicolao at 21:53, 11 January 2022

2022-01-11T21:53:40Z

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{{short description|India writer}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}

{{Infobox writer
| name =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1913|11|29}}
| birth_place = [[Balrampur]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2000|08|01|1911|02|13}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| resting_place =
| occupation = Writer, poet, critic, film lyricist.
| language = [[Urdu]]
| nationality = [[India]]n
| education = [[Zakir Husain Delhi College]]<br> [[Aligarh Muslim University]]<br>[[Lucknow University]]
| period =
| genre =
| subject =
| movement =
| notableworks =
| spouse = Sultana
| children = 2
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (1967)<br>[[Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship]](1971)<br> [[Jnanpith Award]] (1997)
}}
{{Progressive Writers' Movement}}

'''Ali Sardar Jafri''' (29 November 1913 – 1 August 2000<ref>[http://www.urdustudies.com/pdf/16/35_Jafri_Memorium.pdf Ali Sardar Jafri Memorium] Annual of Urdu Studies, October
2000</ref>) was an Indian writer of [[Urdu]] language. He was also a poet, critic and film lyricist.

==Biography==

===Early life and education===
Ali Sardar Jafri was born in [[Balrampur]], Uttar Pradesh, where he spent his formative years.<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/aug/01jaffri.htm Obituary] www.rediff.com, August 2000.</ref>

His early influences were [[Mir Anees]] and [[Josh Malihabadi]]. In 1933, he was admitted to [[Aligarh Muslim University]] (AMU) where he soon got exposed to Communist ideology and in 1936 he was expelled from the University for 'political reasons'. However, he graduated in 1938 from [[Zakir Husain College]] ([[The Delhi College|Delhi College]]), [[Delhi University]], but his subsequent postgraduate studies at [[Lucknow University]] ended prematurely following his arrest during 1940–41 for writing anti-War poems, and for taking part in political activities organised by the [[Indian National Congress]] as Secretary of the university's Students' Union.<ref name=front/>

===Literary career===
Jafri embarked on his literary career in 1938 with the publication of his first collection of short stories called ''Manzil'' (Destination).<ref>{{cite web|title=In Memoriam Ali Sardar Jafri|url=http://www.urdustudies.com/pdf/16/35_Jafri_Memorium.pdf}}</ref> His first collection of poems ''Parvaz'' (Flight) was published in 1944. In 1936, he presided over the first conference of the [[Progressive Writers' Movement]] in [[Lucknow]]. He also presided over their subsequent assemblies for the rest of his life.<ref>{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20080329072708/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1717/17171020.htm The Sardar of Urdu literature ]}} ''[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]], Volume 17 – Issue 17, 19 August – 1 September 2000.</ref> In 1939, he became co-editor of ''Naya Adab'', a literary journal devoted to the [[Progressive Writers' Movement]] which continued to be published until 1949.<ref name=front>{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20070915125924/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1503/15030780.htm A progressive poet]}} [[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]], [[The Hindu]], Vol. 15 :: No. 03 :: 7–20 February 1998.</ref>

He was involved in several social, political and literary movements. On 20 January 1949, he was arrested at [[Bhiwandi]], for organising a (then banned) Progressive Urdu writers' conference, despite warnings from [[Morarji Desai]], the Chief Minister of [[Bombay]] State; three months later, he was rearrested.

His important works as a lyricist include ''[[Dharti Ke Lal]]'' (1946) and ''[[Pardesi (1957 film)|Pardesi]] (1957)'' . Between 1948 and 1978 he published eight poetry collections, which include, ''Nai Duniya Ko Salaam'' (Salute to the New World), (1948), ''Khoon Ki Lakeer'', ''Amn Ka Sitara'', ''Asia Jaag Utha'' (Asia Awakes) (1951), ''Patthar Ki Deewar'' (Stone Wall) (1953), ''Ek Khwab Aur'' (One More Dream), ''Pairahan-i-Sharar'' (The Robe of Sparks) (1965) and ''Lahu Pukarta Hai'' (The Blood Calls) (1965). These were followed by ''Awadh ki khak-i-haseen'' (Beautiful Land of Awadh), ''Subhe Farda'' (Tomorrow Morning), ''Mera Safar'' (My journey) and his last anthology entitled ''Sarhad'', which the then Prime Minister of India [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] carried with him on his bus journey to [[Lahore]] in 1999. The prime minister had invited Jafri to accompany him on this trip but ill health prevented him from doing so. ''Sarhad'' is also an audio album dedicated to Indo-Pakistan amity produced by Squadron Leader Anil Sehgal and composed and sung by "Bulbul-e-Kashmir" Seema Anil Sehgal. [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] made history when he presented ''Sarhad'', as a national gift, to the then prime minister of Pakistan [[Nawaz Sharif]], during the historic Lahore Summit, 20–21 February 1999. It was also a milestone in Jafri's life.

In the course of his literary career spanning five decades, Jafri also edited anthologies of [[Kabir]], [[Mir]], [[Ghalib]] and [[Meera Bai]] with his own introductions.{{Citation needed|date= April 2018}} He also wrote two plays for the [[Indian People's Theatre Association]] (IPTA), produced a documentary film ''Kabir, Iqbal and Freedom'' and two television serials: the runaway success, the 18-part [[Kahkashan]], based on the lives and works of six Urdu poets of the 20th century he had known personally viz.[[Firaq Gorakhpuri]], [[Josh Malihabadi]], [[Majaz]], [[Hasrat Mohani]], [[Makhdoom Mohiuddin]] and [[Jigar Moradabadi]]; and ''Mehfil-e-yaaran'' in which he interviewed people from different walks of life. Both serials had tremendous mass appeal. In addition, he published his autobiography.{{Citation needed|date= April 2018}} He was also the editor and publisher of ''Guftagu'', one of the leading Urdu literary magazines of the [[Indian sub-continent]].{{Citation needed|date= April 2018}}

He died on 1 August 2000 in [[Mumbai]]. To mark his first death anniversary, the book ''Ali Sardar Jafri: The Youthful Boatman of Joy'', edited by Squadron Leader Anil Sehgal, a close associate, was published in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/siafdu/jafri.html |title=A Tribute page to Ali Sardar Jafri |access-date=2013-09-07 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030110141140/http://www.geocities.com/siafdu/jafri.html |archive-date=10 January 2003 |df=dmy }}</ref>

==Excerpts from poems==
{{Verse translation|
{{lang|ur-Latn|Ai watan khake watan woh bhi tujhe de denge
Bach raha hai jo lahoo abke fasaddat ke baad}}
|attr2=Awadh ki Khak-i-Haseen|
O my country, my beloved land we shall be most willing to sacrifice
Whatever blood is left in us after the bloodbath of riots}}

{{Verse translation|
{{lang|ur-Latn|Ghareeb Sita ke ghar pe kab tak rahegi Ravan ki hukmrani
Draupadi ka libas uske badan se kab tak chhina karega
Shakuntala kab tak andhi taqdeer ke bhanwar mein phansi rahegi
Yeh Lakhnau ki shiguftagi maqbaron mein kab tak dabi rahegi}}
|attr2=Awadh ki Khak-i-Haseen|
How long will Ravan rule over the home of poor Sita
How long will Draupadi be deprived of her garment
How long will Shakuntala be enmeshed in the abyss of fate
How long will the freshness of Lucknow remain buried under the imposing tombs?<ref>[http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/01122001/45.htm Ali Sardar Jafri: the last romantic] By S N H Jafri. www.milligazette.com.</ref>}}

==Awards and honours==
In 1998, Jafri became the third Urdu poet to receive the [[Jnanpith Award]] (for 1997), after [[Firaq Gorakhpuri]] (1969) and [[Qurratulain Hyder]] (1989). The [[Bharatiya Jnanpith]] said, "Jafri represents those who are fighting against injustice and oppression in society".<ref>{{cite news |title=Jnanpith for Ali Sardar Jafri |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/jan/17jaf.htm |access-date=5 November 2018 |work=Rediff.com |date=17 January 1998}}</ref> He was also the recipient of several other significant awards and honours including [[Padma Shri]] (1967), [[Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship]] (1971),<ref>{{cite web| title = Official list of Jawaharlal Nehru Fellows (1969-present)|work = [[Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund]] | url = http://www.jnmf.in/flist.html }}</ref> the Gold medal from the Pakistan Government for Iqbal studies (1978), the [[Uttar Pradesh]] [[Urdu Academy, Uttar Pradesh|Urdu Academy]] Award for poetry, the [[Makhdoom]] Award, the [[Faiz Ahmad Faiz]] Award, the Iqbal Samman Award from the [[Madhya Pradesh]] government and the Sant Dyaneshwar Award from the [[Maharashtra]] government.

[[Aligarh Muslim University]] (AMU) conferred a doctorate ([[D.Litt.]]) on him in 1986, fifty years after he was expelled from the university.<ref name=front/> He was the fourth person to receive this honor, his predecessors being the notable [[Muhammad Iqbal|Dr. Alama Iqbal]], Mrs. [[Sarojini Naidu|Sarojni Naydu]], and Hazarat [[Jigar Moradabadi]]. His works have been translated into many Indian and foreign languages.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indiaclub.com/shop/AuthorSelect.asp?Author=Ali+Sardar+Jafri |title=Ali Sardar Jafri |access-date=22 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120001732/http://www.indiaclub.com/shop/Authorselect.asp?Author=Ali%2BSardar%2BJafri |archive-date=20 November 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Ali Sardar Jafri married Sultana in January 1948. They had two sons.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.sardarjafri.com}}
* [http://alisardarjafri.callindya.com]{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [http://aligarians.com/category/poets/ali-sardar-jafri/ A collection of verses by Ali Sardar Jafri] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611151818/http://aligarians.com/category/poets/ali-sardar-jafri/ |date=11 June 2007 }}
"Ali Sardar Jafri Ba Hasiyat Nasr-Nigar" by Dr. Kapil Sharma

{{Jnanpith Award}}
{{Gangadhar National Award For Poetry}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jafri, Ali}}
[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:2000 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature & education]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Jnanpith Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Gangadhar National Award]]
[[Category:People from Balrampur]]
[[Category:University of Delhi alumni]]
[[Category:Aligarh Muslim University alumni]]
[[Category:University of Lucknow alumni]]
[[Category:Urdu-language poets from India]]
[[Category:Urdu-language short story writers]]
[[Category:Indian literary critics]]
[[Category:Indian lyricists]]
[[Category:Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Jawaharlal Nehru Fellows]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Uttar Pradesh]]

Ali Sardar Jafri - Revision history

->Ser Amantio di Nicolao at 21:53, 11 January 2022