Mustafa Zaidi(1930–1970) is remembered as one of the few great progressive Urdu poets of the twentieth century. His vast work and literary accomplishments remain popular and relevant today. He was born on 16 October 1930 in Allahabad

Allahabad

Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...

, 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...

 (UP), India to Syed Lakhte Hasnain and Binte Haider. His father was a senior official in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the UP Province, with roots in Meman Saadat, a village in district Bijnor. Mustafa Zaidi grew up in a household with five elder half brothers and was the second of three real brothers.

Education

Mustafa Zaidi received his early religious education at home from a Maulvi Saheb, and also at a local Madrassa in Allahabad. From 1936 to 1945, he attended the Modern High School in Allahabad, where he passed his High School examination in 1945 with second division and a distinction in Urdu. He was the Secretary of the Urdu Literary Society (Bazm-e-Urdu). He then attended the Ewing Christian College, Allahabad and passed the Intermediate exam of the Board of High School and Intermediate Education, UP, in the first division in 1948. In 1950, he was awarded a first class Bachelor of Arts degree holding the 6th position from the University of Allahabad. He also won prestigious accolades such as Professor Dunn’s Gold Medal; Dr. R.N Bhatia’s Medal; and Iqbal Gold Medal.
After completing his MA previous, he migrated to Pakistan in 1951 and completed his Master’s degree in English Literature in 1953 from Government College, Lahore.

Professional Life

Mustafa Zaidi took up a job as professor in Islamia College, Karachi and Peshawar University before joining the Government of Pakistan, after successfully entering the Civil Service of Pakistan cadre in 1954. After his initial appointments as Assistant Commissioner of Sialkot, Dera Ghazi Khan and Murree, he remained Deputy Commissioner in Jhelum, Nawabshah, Khairpur, Sahiwal and Lahore. During his career, he received the prestigious civil award of Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam

Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam

Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam, or Medal of the Great Leader, is a civil award conferred by the Government of Pakistan on those who have attained academic distinction in the fields of science, art, literature, or distinction in the fields of sports and nursing; or for rendering dedicated services with...

 for outstanding service. He attended a Muffield Foundation training in London and returned to Pakistan in 1969 to take up what would be his last post as Secretary (Bunyadi Jamhooriat). His service career came to an end with his suspension from government service in December 1969 followed by dismissal in May 1970 during the tenure of President Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan

Yahya Khan

General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan Qizilbash, H.Pk, HJ, S.Pk, psc was the third President of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971, following the resignation of Ayub Khan...

.

Literary Work

Mustafa Zaidi’s first book of nazms “Zangeerein/Roshni” (Chains/Light) was published in Allahabad, India in 1949, under the pseudonym “Tegh Allahabadi” (Sword of Allahabad), when he was just nineteen. Zangeerein was endorsed by two legendary Urdu poets Josh Malihabadi and Firaq Gorakhpuri, who became mentors for young Tegh Allahabadi. The second edition was published as “Roshni” was published in Lahore in 1950. After moving to Pakistan, the poet dropped his pseudonym “Tegh Allahabadi” and continued to weave and compose brilliant works of poetry as Mustafa Zaidi. His published works include:

1. Zangeerein – 1949
2. Roshni - 1950
3. Shehr-e-Azar (City of idol worshippers) – 1958
4. Mauj Meri Sadaf Sadaf – 1960
5. Gareban – 1964
6. Qaba-e-Saaz – 1967
7. Koh-e- Nida – 1971 (published posthumously)

His famous verses include:

Innhi pattharoun pey chal kar agar aa sako tou aao
meray ghar key raastey mey koi kahkashan nahin hai

Mey kiss key haath pey apnaa lahoo talaash karoun
tamaam shehr ney pehney huwein hein dastaaney

Death

Mustafa Zaidi is believed to have been murdered in an apartment in Karachi where he was residing, and his body was found alongside Shahnaz Saleem - a popular socialite - who was initially charged with murder. After a media circus and a prolonged and complicated court case, the cause of death was deemed to be suicide. The mysterious circumstances and controversies leading to Mustafa Zaidi’s death on October 12, 1970, at age 39 made regular headlines in newspapers in Pakistan and threatened to overshadow his legacy as a poet.

Work on Mustafa Zaidi after his death

Soon after his death, all the leading Urdu poets paid their tribute to Mustafa Zaidi in form of poems and essays. Mustafa Zaidi supplements were published by major literary magazines “Naqoosh”, “Afkar” and “Naiee Qadrein”. The memorial work, Al-Marhum (The departed) collected essays from the issue of the literary magazines “Nuqoosh”. Compilations and books remembering Mustafa Zaidi such as “Ek tha Raja” and “Mustafa Zaidi ki Kahani (Hamid Baig)” were also published. A comprehensive research on Mustafa Zaidi was conducted by Dr. Laurel Steele in 2005-2006 from the University of Chicago. Her doctoral thesis was titled “Relocating the Post Colonial Self: Place, Metaphor, Memory and the Urdu Poetry of Mustafa Zaidi”.

Personal life

Earlier, Mustafa Zaidi married a German lady named Vera and had a son Mujtaba Zaidi and a daughter Ismat Zaidi. A photograph of his family can ve viewed here.http://www.flickr.com/photos/pimu/457578547/

External links

• http://www.razarumi.com/2006/07/25/mustafa-zaidi-a-poet-remembered/ Mustafa Zaidi Remembered
• http://www.soazsahib.com Mersiya "Aey Karbala Aey Karbala"
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/pimu/457578547/