Jaun Elia

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Template:Infobox writer Syed Hussain Sibt-e-Asghar NaqviTemplate:Efn (14 December 1931 – 8 November 2002), commonly known by his pen name Jaun Elia,Template:Efn was a Pakistani poet.[1][2]

One of the most prominent modern Urdu poets of Template:Transliteration (amatory poems), popular for his unconventional ways, he "acquired knowledge of philosophy, logic, Islamic history, the Muslim Sufi tradition, Muslim religious sciences, Western literature, and Kabbala".[3]

He was fluent in Urdu, Arabic, Sindhi, English, Persian, Sanskrit and Hebrew.[1][3] Elia was also the younger brother of poet Rais Amrohvi.

Early life and family

Jaun Elia was born on 14 December 1931 in Amroha, UP, British India into an educated Shia family. He was the youngest child of Allama Shafiq Hassan Elia.[1][4][5] His father was a scholar of literature and astronomy well-versed in the Arabic, English, Persian, Hebrew and Sanskrit languages, and who corresponded with leading intellectuals like Bertrand Russell.[6] Jaun Elia was the youngest of his siblings: his brother Rais Amrohvi was a poet and psychoanalyst while another brother, Syed Mohammed Taqi, was a philosopher and a translator who had translated Karl Marx's Das Kapital.[7] Indian film director Kamal Amrohi was his first cousin.[8] Another relative in Pakistan is actor Munawar Saeed, famous for his roles as a villain.[9]

Described as a child prodigy, Jaun was initially educated at the Syed-ul-Madaris in Amroha, a madrasa affiliated with the Darul Uloom Deoband.[10]

Marriage and Children

He married writer Zahida Hina in the year 1970. He met her during the publication of an urdu language magazine Insha and ended up falling in love with her.[1][11] They got separated in 1984 and later divorced due to differences in their temperament.[1]

They have three children, Zeryoun Elia, Fainnana and Sohaina Elia[12]

Writing career

He began writing poetry when he was 8 but published his first collection, Shayad, when he was 60.[13]

Political views

Partition and migration to Pakistan

Being a communist, Elia opposed the partition of India.[14][15][16] However, he eventually migrated to Pakistan in 1956, and decided to live in Karachi.[1]

Communism

In his poems, he supported communism in Pakistan.[17] References to class consciousness are also seen in his poems. He also was described as "An anarchist, a nihilist, and a poet".[18]

Jaun Elia died on 8 November 2002 at age 70 in Karachi, Pakistan.[19] Some people that knew him called him a difficult, temperamental and complicated person. He also drank alcohol excessively which then contributed to his health problems.[1][20]

Poet Pirzada Qasim said: Template:Blockquote

According to BBC News website:

Jaun Elia's friend Qamar Razi once said of him, "He was quick to criticize, but he was a true friend, a lost traveler in his thoughts".[1]

Noted Indian poet Majrooh Sultanpuri called him "the poet of poets"...[1]

In 2020, Punjabi rapper Kay Kap's album Rough Rhymes for Tough Times featured a song entitled Bulaava which had couplets from the poem Pehnaayi Ka Makaan written and recited by Jaun Elia.[21]

In 2020, Pakistani rock-fusion band Nishtar Park released a single Purane Aur Naye Sawal which was based on Elia's ghazal Umr Guzaregi Imtihan Mein Kya.

In 2023, Urdu rapper Talha Anjum’s album Open Letter featured a song entitled Secrets which was strongly influenced by Jaun Elia’s poem Be-dilli Kya Yuhin Din Guzar Jaenge. Talha Anjum’s other works are also heavily influenced by Jaun Elia’s poetry.

Commemorative postage stamp

On his death anniversary of 8 November 2013, Pakistan Post Office issued a commemorative postage stamp to honor him for his literary services in its 'Men of Letters' series.[22]

Awards and recognition

Works

Poetry collections

  • Sukhan Meri Udasee Hai
  • Zakham-e-Umeed
  • Mubada
  • Tumharey Aur Mere Darmiyan
  • Daricha Haye Kheyal
  • Qitaat
  • Jaun Elia Ki Tamam Ghazlain (parts I-III)
  • Inshaye aur Mazaameen
  • Farnood[18]
  • Shayad[18][19]
  • Firaaq
  • Lekin[18][19]
  • Goya[19]
  • Gumaan[19]
  • Ramooz[19]
  • Ya'ni[19]

Prose work (mainly translations)

Elia was not just a poet but was also an editor and a translator, especially of old Sufi, Mutazili and Ismaili treatises.

Above are some of his translations from Arabic and Persian. Not only did he translate these books but also introduced several new words in the Urdu language.[18]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 جون ایلیا: اپنے خیالوں میں گم مسافر جسے شاعروں کا شاعر کہا گیا (Jaun Elia, who has been called a poet of poets) (in Urdu language). BBC News اردو(14 December 2024). Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  2. ↑ Jaun Eliya - Profile & Biography. Rekhta. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Urdu poet Jaun Elia remembered on 10th death anniversary. The Express Tribune(8 November 2012). Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  4. ↑ In search of Jaun Elia. The Tribune(26 August 2018). Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  5. ↑ Jani! kya aaj meri barsi hai–Yani kya aaj mar gya tha main?. The Nation newspaper(9 November 2016). Retrieved 2025-11-09.
  6. ↑ Essay: The Elia Paradox, Altaf, Salman. Dawn(2017-11-05). Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  7. ↑ KARACHI: Jon Elia's death condoled. Dawn News(11 November 2002).
  8. ↑ In the name of father. Dawn(4 April 2014). Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  9. ↑ Good to be Bad: The Villains of Pakistani Cinema, Suhayb, Muhammad. Youlin Magazine(22 June 2021). Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  10. ↑ KARACHI: Jon knew how to enthral audience. Dawn News(10 November 2002).
  11. ↑ Zahida Hina - Profile & Biography. Rekhta. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  12. ↑ Jaun Elia: An Enduring Legacy In Urdu Poetry. The Friday Times(2024-11-11). Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  13. ↑ Jaun Elia remembered. The Nation(15 December 2018). Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  14. ↑ Master of loneliness and frenzy | Pakistan Today. Pakistan Today(5 November 2011). Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  15. ↑ Life and politics in South Asia (Part 1). Jamhoor. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  16. ↑ All writings of Jaun Eliya. Rekhta. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  17. ↑ Jaun Elia: A Communist Poet Who Found Religion and Marxism Compatible, Salim, Saquib. The Wire(2018-06-29). Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Jaun Elia - An anarchist, annihilist, and a poet - Pakistan. Dunya News website(7 November 2016). Retrieved 2025-11-08.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 19.7 Death anniversary of Jaun Elia observed. Radio Pakistan website(8 November 2024). Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  20. ↑ Pakistan's Jaun Elia was more than a tragic poet. He was an atheist, Marxist & philosopher. The Print website(8 November 2024). Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  21. ↑ Kay Kap (Ft. Jaun Elia) – Bulaava.
  22. ↑ Men of Letters - Jaun Elia. Tareekh-e-Pakistan website(8 November 2013). Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  23. ↑ Renowned poet Jaun Elia remembered. The Nation newspaper(9 November 2022). Retrieved 7 November 2025.

Bibliography

  • Jaun Eliya Hayat Aur Shayari{{#if:Iqbal|, Iqbal}(2019)
  • Jaun Eliya-khush Guzran Guzar Gaye{{#if:Syed|, Syed}. Academy Bazyaft(2011)
  • Qurbat-e-Tanhai, Unheard Jaun Elia{{#if:Khan|, Khan}. Bluerose Publishers(25 August 2022)
  • Jaun Elia Ka Jin{{#if:Sikandar|, Sikandar}. Rajpal and Sons
  • Koi Rehta Hai Aasmaan Mein Kya{{#if:Imam|, Imam}. Rekhta Publications(2023)
  • Jaun Elia: Ek Ajab-Ghazab Shayar{{#if:Firozabadi|, Firozabadi}. Hind Yugm(2019). ISBN 9789384419998
  • Lekin{{#if:Elia|, Elia}. Vani Prakashan(2021-11-09). ISBN 978-93-90678-58-7

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