Poet Jaun Elia would have been 93 today

Known for his unique approach to poetry exploring themes of existentialism, poet Jaun Elia would have been 93 years old on his birthday today.

Born Syed Hussain Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, India, in 1931, Elia migrated to Pakistan in 1957 and settled in Karachi. His notable collections include Shayed, Ya’ni, Gumaan, Lekin, Ramooz, and Goya.

Jaun who was also a philosopher passed away on November 8, 2002, was honored with the Presidential Pride of Performance Award for his significant contributions to Urdu literature.

Even two decades after his passing, his poetic style, characterised by its straightforwardness, progressive thought, and profound observations, has solidified his place as one of the most influential Urdu poets of the 20th century.

Despite his physical relocation to Karachi, his spirit remained deeply rooted in his birthplace like many Urdu-speaking people who has migrated to Pakistan from India. His poetry often reflects this nostalgic longing, with lines that his body was in Karachi, while his soul still roamed in Amroha.

Jaun’s literary journey began at the age of 14, and his talent flourished over the years. His work for the Urdu magazine Insha allowed him to hone his skills as both a poet and a prose writer. His poetry gatherings and mushairas soon made him a household name, drawing admiration from both the general public and literary circles.

Despite his immense talent, Elia led a rather solitary life, often retreating into introspection.

Elia’s legacy extends beyond his poetic brilliance. He was a translator, a scholar, and a cultural figure who made significant contributions to Urdu literature. His translations of works like Al-Tawasin and Akhlaq-al-Safa brought these timeless texts to a wider audience.

Remembering Jaun

To honour Jaun, academic and musician Shahram Azhar announced his return to the world of tunes by sharing a rendition of ghazal Band Bahaar Se. Azhar wrote the following to honour the poet-philosopher on his X account:

“Please join me in paying tribute to the philosopher-poet Jaun Elia on his 93rd birthday. It is no secret that the contributions of intellectuals with the ‘audacity’ to go against the tides often go underappreciated during their lifetimes. Jaun could only live to publish one volume, “Shayad”, in his lifetime. His remaining poetic works are still being published posthumously. I have attempted to translate this ghazal with the aim of making Jaun’s work accessible to audiences in both the East and the West, for such binaries are meaningless for our philosopher-king. Jaun’s work encompasses the Universe. The era of Jaun Elia begins tomorrow.”