Jazib Qureshi
Encyclopedia
Jazib Qureshi (born August 3, 1940) is a prominent Urdu poet from Pakistan
.
in India
. He was born in Calcutta where his father Mohammad Afzal Sheikh worked in the government printing press. At birth Jazib Qureshi was named Mohammad Sabir. His mother, Mahmoodah Khanum, came from a family of soldiers who served the Mughals
. Jazib Qureshi’s father died of throat cancer
when Qureshi was five years old. After his father’s death, Jazib Qureshi’s household consisting of his mother, her three sons (including Jazib Qureshi) and his three cousins, Mohammad Ahmad (from a deceased maternal aunt), and Tahira and Ayesha (from another deceases maternal aunt), faced tremendous financial hardship. Jazib Qureshi and his younger brother Mohammad Shakir were taken out of school when Qureshi was still in class II and made to work at a foundry
. In Lucknow, Jazib Qureshi used to go to mushairas with his poet cousin Shamim Lukhnawi. It was there that Jazib Qureshi showed an inclination towards writing Urdu poetry. The family moved to Lahore
in 1950, where Jazib Qureshi started studying privately when his financial conditions improved. During that time Qureshi wrote poetry and short stories, and attended meetings of 'Halq Arbab e Zaug'; those programs were frequented by Manto, A Hameed, Mukhtar Siddiqui and Ibadat Barelvi. Meanwhile Jazib Qureshi's family moved away from Lahore while he remained in there, living with his uncle. For some time Jazib Qureshi served as the secretary of 'Mukhliseen e Adab', a literary group initiated by Farogh Lakhnavi. Meetings of that group were regularly held behind the Anarkali Bazaar
.
where he got married a year later. In Karachi he worked with a number of literary magazines: "Naqsh" by Shams Zuberi, "Nigarish" by Nasir Mahmood, "Saat Rung" by Athar Siddiqui, and "NamakDan" by Tufail Ahmad Jamali. Qureshi started teaching in a primary school in 1964. He remained associated with a literary group called "Arbab e Qalam" till he joined the University of Karachi
in 1967 to work on his Master's degree
. After completing his education from the University of Karachi, Qureshi decided to make a commercial film
. It took him six years to complete "Pathar kay Sanam", a movie that flopped and left Qureshi in a bad financial state. He returned to writing poetry and teaching. For a short while he worked as the editor
of "KaInat", a literary magazine founded by famous Pakistani artist Azar Zubi. Qureshi also wrote columns for the weekly "Nusrat."
These days Jazib Qureshi spends most of his time writing poetry and critique. He regularly attends mushiras (poetry sessions) in Pakistan and overseas.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
Early life
Jazib Qureshi's family originated from LucknowLucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was born in Calcutta where his father Mohammad Afzal Sheikh worked in the government printing press. At birth Jazib Qureshi was named Mohammad Sabir. His mother, Mahmoodah Khanum, came from a family of soldiers who served the Mughals
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
. Jazib Qureshi’s father died of throat cancer
Head and neck cancer
Head and neck cancer refers to a group of biologically similar cancers that start in the upper aerodigestive tract, including the lip, oral cavity , nasal cavity , paranasal sinuses, pharynx, and larynx. 90% of head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas , originating from the mucosal lining...
when Qureshi was five years old. After his father’s death, Jazib Qureshi’s household consisting of his mother, her three sons (including Jazib Qureshi) and his three cousins, Mohammad Ahmad (from a deceased maternal aunt), and Tahira and Ayesha (from another deceases maternal aunt), faced tremendous financial hardship. Jazib Qureshi and his younger brother Mohammad Shakir were taken out of school when Qureshi was still in class II and made to work at a foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
. In Lucknow, Jazib Qureshi used to go to mushairas with his poet cousin Shamim Lukhnawi. It was there that Jazib Qureshi showed an inclination towards writing Urdu poetry. The family moved to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
in 1950, where Jazib Qureshi started studying privately when his financial conditions improved. During that time Qureshi wrote poetry and short stories, and attended meetings of 'Halq Arbab e Zaug'; those programs were frequented by Manto, A Hameed, Mukhtar Siddiqui and Ibadat Barelvi. Meanwhile Jazib Qureshi's family moved away from Lahore while he remained in there, living with his uncle. For some time Jazib Qureshi served as the secretary of 'Mukhliseen e Adab', a literary group initiated by Farogh Lakhnavi. Meetings of that group were regularly held behind the Anarkali Bazaar
Anarkali bazaar
Anarkali bazaar is a famous bazār in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is one of the oldest surviving markets in South Asia, dating back at least 200 years...
.
Career
In 1962 Jazib Qureshi moved to KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
where he got married a year later. In Karachi he worked with a number of literary magazines: "Naqsh" by Shams Zuberi, "Nigarish" by Nasir Mahmood, "Saat Rung" by Athar Siddiqui, and "NamakDan" by Tufail Ahmad Jamali. Qureshi started teaching in a primary school in 1964. He remained associated with a literary group called "Arbab e Qalam" till he joined the University of Karachi
University of Karachi
The University of Karachi is a public university located in Karachi, Pakistan. It serves an on-campus student population of more than 24,000. According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, it is ranked among the top three universities of the country...
in 1967 to work on his Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
. After completing his education from the University of Karachi, Qureshi decided to make a commercial film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
. It took him six years to complete "Pathar kay Sanam", a movie that flopped and left Qureshi in a bad financial state. He returned to writing poetry and teaching. For a short while he worked as the editor
Editor
The term editor may refer to:As a person who does editing:* Editor in chief, having final responsibility for a publication's operations and policies* Copy editing, making formatting changes and other improvements to text...
of "KaInat", a literary magazine founded by famous Pakistani artist Azar Zubi. Qureshi also wrote columns for the weekly "Nusrat."
These days Jazib Qureshi spends most of his time writing poetry and critique. He regularly attends mushiras (poetry sessions) in Pakistan and overseas.