Mahjoor
Encyclopedia
Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad; 3 September 1885 − 9 April 1952), better known by the pen name Mahjoor , was a renowned poet
of the Indian Kashmir Valley
, along with contemporaries, Zinda Kaul
, Abdul Ahad Azad
, Dinanath Nadim
. He is especially noted for introducing a new style into Kashmiri poetry and for expanding Kashmiri poetry into previously unexplored thematic realms. In addition to his poems in Kashmiri, Mahjoor is also noted for his poetic compositions in Persian
and Urdu
.
. Mahjoor followed in the academic footsteps of his father, who was a scholar of Persian language.
He received the primary education from the Maktab of Aashiq Trali (a renowned poet) in Tral. After passing the middle school examination from Nusrat-ul-Islam School, Srinagar, he went to Punjab where he came in contact with Urdu poets like Bismil Amritsari and Moulana Shibi Nomani. He returned to Srinagar in 1908 and started writing in Persian and then in Urdu.
Determined to write in his native language, Mahjoor used the simple diction of traditional folk storytellers in his writing.
Mahjoor worked as a patwari (regional administrator) in Kashmir. Along with his official duties, he spent his free time writing poetry, and his first Kashmiri poem 'Vanta hay vesy' was published in 1918.
, and his poems awakened latent nationalism among Kashmiris
. His popular verses engaged such topics as love, communal harmony, social reform, and the plight of the Kashmiris. He also wrote on such timeless themes as youth, the flowers of Nishat Garden, peasant girls, gardeners, and the golden oriole
. At that time, such songs were unknown in formal Kashmiri poetry.
Mahjoor is also recognized as a poet who revolutionized the traditional forms of nazm
and ghazal
.
In 1972, a bilingual film named Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor
was released with the Hindi
version starring Balraj Sahni
. A square in Srinagar is named after him. He is buried near the poetess Habba Khatoon at a site near Athwajan on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
of the Indian Kashmir Valley
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
, along with contemporaries, Zinda Kaul
Zinda Kaul
-External links:*]]...
, Abdul Ahad Azad
Abdul Ahad Azad
Abdul Ahad Azad was one of the well known Kashmiri poets of his era. He was one of the pioneers of the modernist movement.Azad is often referred to as JOHN KEATS of kashmir. Both Keats and Azad wrote modernist poems and both died in early forties....
, Dinanath Nadim
Dinanath Nadim
Dinanath Nadim was a prominent Kashmiri poet of the 20th century. He was born in Srinagar city and with him began an era of modern Kashmiri poetry. He also virtually led the progressive writers movement in Kashmir. Rooted to the soil of Kashmir, Nadim's language was spoken Kashmiri, though he...
. He is especially noted for introducing a new style into Kashmiri poetry and for expanding Kashmiri poetry into previously unexplored thematic realms. In addition to his poems in Kashmiri, Mahjoor is also noted for his poetic compositions in 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...
and Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
.
Early life
Mahjoor was in the village of Metragam, Pulawama, which is located approximately 37 km from the city of SrinagarSrinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
. Mahjoor followed in the academic footsteps of his father, who was a scholar of Persian language.
He received the primary education from the Maktab of Aashiq Trali (a renowned poet) in Tral. After passing the middle school examination from Nusrat-ul-Islam School, Srinagar, he went to Punjab where he came in contact with Urdu poets like Bismil Amritsari and Moulana Shibi Nomani. He returned to Srinagar in 1908 and started writing in Persian and then in Urdu.
Determined to write in his native language, Mahjoor used the simple diction of traditional folk storytellers in his writing.
Mahjoor worked as a patwari (regional administrator) in Kashmir. Along with his official duties, he spent his free time writing poetry, and his first Kashmiri poem 'Vanta hay vesy' was published in 1918.
Poetic legacy
Many of the themes of the poetry of Mahjoor involved freedom and progress in KashmirKashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
, and his poems awakened latent nationalism among Kashmiris
Kashmiri people
The Kashmiri people are a Dardic linguistic group living in Kashmir Valley in Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and parts of the Pakistani territory of Azad Kashmir who speak the Kashmiri language...
. His popular verses engaged such topics as love, communal harmony, social reform, and the plight of the Kashmiris. He also wrote on such timeless themes as youth, the flowers of Nishat Garden, peasant girls, gardeners, and the golden oriole
Golden Oriole
The Eurasian Golden Oriole or simply Golden Oriole is the only member of the oriole family of passerine birds breeding in northern hemisphere temperate regions...
. At that time, such songs were unknown in formal Kashmiri poetry.
Mahjoor is also recognized as a poet who revolutionized the traditional forms of nazm
Nazm
Urdu Nazm is a major part of the Urdu poetry, that is normally written in rhymed verse and also in modern prose style poems. Nazm has many different forms as,* Doha * Geet * Hamd * Hazal * Hijv...
and ghazal
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...
.
In 1972, a bilingual film named Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor
Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor
Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor is a 1972 Bollywood biographical drama film directed by Prabhat Mukherjee. The film stars Balraj Sahni.The film is a biography of Kashmiri poet Ghulam Ahmed Mahjoor....
was released with the Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
version starring Balraj Sahni
Balraj Sahni
Balraj Sahni , born Yudhishthir Sahni , was a famous Hindi film actor. He belonged to a Punjabi Khatri family from Bhera now in Punjab, Pakistan...
. A square in Srinagar is named after him. He is buried near the poetess Habba Khatoon at a site near Athwajan on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.