Jigar Moradabadi
Encyclopedia
Jigar Moradabadi was the nom de plume of Ali Sikandar (1890-1960), one of the most famous Urdu poets of the 20th century and a celebrated Urdu ghazal
writer. He received the 1958 Sahitya Akademi
Urdu Award for his highly acclaimed poetry collection "Atish-i-Gul".
, Uttar Pradesh
, India
. He lost his father at an early age and did not have an easy childhood. At school (madrassah) he was taught both Arabic
and Persian
. His poetry teacher (ustad
) in the early days was Rasa Rampuri.
Still in his teens, Jigar, as he came to be known universally, moved to Gonda, near Lucknow
. This proved to be a turning point in his life. Here, he befriended Asghar Gondvi, who later also emerged as a notable Urdu poet. Gondvi was only six years older than Jigar, who became his protégé. Gondvi's influence over Jigar, and the significant role he played in his life, should not be underestimated. He was his mentor, a father figure, an older brother, a teacher, a friend and a fellow poet, all rolled into one. Jigar even married a sister of Gondvi's wife.
He made Gonda his permanent home and Gonda acquired one of the most famous literary figures to have ever lived there.
Jigar died on September 9, 1960 in Gonda
. A small residential colony in Gonda city called Jigar Ganj is named after him. It is close to his original residence. An intermediate school is also named after him - the Jigar Memorial Inter College. Mazar-e-Jigar Moradabadi is in Gonda.
writing and was a mentor to Majrooh Sultanpuri
, who became a prominent lyricist in the Indian film industry and penned many popular songs in Urdu and Hindi.
Jigar was extremely popular with the masses, who regarded him
as the People's Poet. The American singer Eartha Kitt
,
who was a contemporary of Jigar Moradabadi, sang "Monotonous", written by June Carroll
and Arthur Siegel
, in 1952, which became an international hit. Two memorable lines in this song are reminiscent of how Jigar's appearance in public
often created a stir, such was his appeal:
Traffic has been known to stop for me
Prices even rise and drop for me
Jigar Moradabadi has become even more popular since his death, as his poetry continues to gain ever more admirers, particularly among film-goers, who are familiar with his lyrics.
Jigar never received any formal higher education. No university
could have taught him what he taught himself in his chosen field. He is now regarded as one of the all-time great Urdu poets. He was only the second poet in the history of Aligarh Muslim University
to be awarded an honorary D.Litt - the first one to receive this honour was Allama Iqbal, which speaks volumes about Jigar's standing and reputation. He is already being mentioned in the same breath as Iqbal and Ghalib.
Faiz Ahmad Faiz, the distinguished Urdu poet and academic, regarded Jigar Moradabadi as a master craftsman in his field.
Malik Ram
, the renowned Urdu scholar and a leading authority on Ghalib, knew Jigar personally and wrote an appreciative article about him in the June 1959 issue of Nuqoosh - the reputable Lahore monthly Urdu literary journal. In 1974, Malik Ram
also included Jigar Moradabadi, along with Ghalib, in his award-winning book "Woh Surten Ilahi" (The Immortals) - biographical essays on nine giants in the Urdu literary world.
Although research on Jigar Moradabadi and his poetry is still in its infancy, his poetry is an established academic subject in Urdu departments at many universities.
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
writer. He received the 1958 Sahitya Akademi
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
Urdu Award for his highly acclaimed poetry collection "Atish-i-Gul".
Early life
Jigar Moradabadi was born on April 6, 1890 in MoradabadMoradabad
Moradabad is a city and a municipal corporation in Moradabad district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It was established in 1600 by prince Murad, the son of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan; as a result the city came to be known as Moradabad. It is the administrative headquarters of...
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, 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 lost his father at an early age and did not have an easy childhood. At school (madrassah) he was taught both Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
and Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
. His poetry teacher (ustad
Ustad
Ustad is an Arabized Persian word is a honorific title for a Muslim man in South Asia. The title precedes the name and is usually used for well regarded teachers and artists, most often musicians. It is applied and used via informal social agreement. It is abbreviated as ut. or ud.-References:*...
) in the early days was Rasa Rampuri.
Still in his teens, Jigar, as he came to be known universally, moved to Gonda, near Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
. This proved to be a turning point in his life. Here, he befriended Asghar Gondvi, who later also emerged as a notable Urdu poet. Gondvi was only six years older than Jigar, who became his protégé. Gondvi's influence over Jigar, and the significant role he played in his life, should not be underestimated. He was his mentor, a father figure, an older brother, a teacher, a friend and a fellow poet, all rolled into one. Jigar even married a sister of Gondvi's wife.
He made Gonda his permanent home and Gonda acquired one of the most famous literary figures to have ever lived there.
Jigar died on September 9, 1960 in Gonda
Gonda
Gonda may refer to:* Gonda district* Gonda, Uttar Pradesh* Gonda * Gonda, Aligarh...
. A small residential colony in Gonda city called Jigar Ganj is named after him. It is close to his original residence. An intermediate school is also named after him - the Jigar Memorial Inter College. Mazar-e-Jigar Moradabadi is in Gonda.
Acclaim
Jigar Moradabadi belonged to the classical school of ghazalGhazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
writing and was a mentor to Majrooh Sultanpuri
Majrooh Sultanpuri
Majrooh Sultanpuri was an Urdu poet, lyricist and songwriter...
, who became a prominent lyricist in the Indian film industry and penned many popular songs in Urdu and Hindi.
Jigar was extremely popular with the masses, who regarded him
as the People's Poet. The American singer Eartha Kitt
Eartha Kitt
Eartha Mae Kitt was an American singer, actress, and cabaret star. She was perhaps best known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 hit recordings of "C'est Si Bon" and the enduring Christmas novelty smash "Santa Baby." Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the...
,
who was a contemporary of Jigar Moradabadi, sang "Monotonous", written by June Carroll
June Carroll
June Carroll was an American lyricist, singer and actress.Born June Sillman in Detroit, Michigan, Carroll appeared in the Broadway musical New Faces of 1952, singing the Murray Grand standard, Guess Who I Saw Today, as well as two songs that she also wrote: Penny Candy and Love is a Simple...
and Arthur Siegel
Arthur Siegel
Arthur Siegel was an American songwriter.Born on December 31, 1923 in Lakewood Township, New Jersey, he grew up in Asbury Park, New Jersey...
, in 1952, which became an international hit. Two memorable lines in this song are reminiscent of how Jigar's appearance in public
often created a stir, such was his appeal:
Traffic has been known to stop for me
Prices even rise and drop for me
Jigar Moradabadi has become even more popular since his death, as his poetry continues to gain ever more admirers, particularly among film-goers, who are familiar with his lyrics.
Jigar never received any formal higher education. No university
could have taught him what he taught himself in his chosen field. He is now regarded as one of the all-time great Urdu poets. He was only the second poet in the history of Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University ,is a residential academic university, established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammedan Angelo-Oriental College and later granted the status of Central University by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 1920...
to be awarded an honorary D.Litt - the first one to receive this honour was Allama Iqbal, which speaks volumes about Jigar's standing and reputation. He is already being mentioned in the same breath as Iqbal and Ghalib.
Faiz Ahmad Faiz, the distinguished Urdu poet and academic, regarded Jigar Moradabadi as a master craftsman in his field.
Malik Ram
Malik Ram
Malik Ram Baveja or Malik Ram was a renowned Urdu, Persian and Arabic scholar. His monumental work “Tazkirah-e-Muasireen” was awarded the 1983 Sahitya Akademi Award.- Early life :...
, the renowned Urdu scholar and a leading authority on Ghalib, knew Jigar personally and wrote an appreciative article about him in the June 1959 issue of Nuqoosh - the reputable Lahore monthly Urdu literary journal. In 1974, Malik Ram
Malik Ram
Malik Ram Baveja or Malik Ram was a renowned Urdu, Persian and Arabic scholar. His monumental work “Tazkirah-e-Muasireen” was awarded the 1983 Sahitya Akademi Award.- Early life :...
also included Jigar Moradabadi, along with Ghalib, in his award-winning book "Woh Surten Ilahi" (The Immortals) - biographical essays on nine giants in the Urdu literary world.
Although research on Jigar Moradabadi and his poetry is still in its infancy, his poetry is an established academic subject in Urdu departments at many universities.
External links
- Jigar Moradabadi at Kavita Kosh (Hindi)
- Weaving ghazals on love, by Ashraf Faruqi
- Complete poetry of jigar Moradabadi in free single pdf file uploaded by Javed Hussen
- http://urduworld.com/h/videos/video/1322-jigar+moradabadi%3A+mushaira%3A+muddat+mein+%D8%AC%DA%AF%D8%B1+%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C%3A+%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B1%DB%81%3A+%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%AA+%D9%85%DB%8C%DA%BA+%D9%88%DB%81?groupid=71