Mehfils will not be the same again

Muztar Majaz was not only a ‘shayar’, critic and translator but also an authority on the bard Allama Iqbal

The recent death of Muztar Majaz has robbed Hyderabad and the Urdu world of a great poet, critic and translator. In fact he was the last word on the Urdu bard Allama Iqbal, and was known to be authority on 'Iqbaliat'.

Majaz breathed life in mushairas and without his scholarly presence adabi mehfils will not be the same again. Even at the ripe age of 83 he could steal the limelight.

His three books of verses — Mausam-e-Sang, Ek Sukhan Aur and Tilism-e-Majaz — show what consummate skill he had as a poet. He grappled with real issues until his shayeri gradually turned philosophical and spiritual. Eloquent expressions, flights of fancy and a soaring spirit are hallmarks of his poetry. However, Majaz is best remembered for his versified Urdu translation of the Persian works of Allama Iqbal under the title - Sada-e-Dilkusha . Thanks to Majaz, Iqbal’s works Javednama, Payame Mashriq, Armaghan-e-Hijaz are now available in Urdu. He also translated select poems of Ghalib in his Naqsh Haye Rang Rang .

Majaz has addressed more than 300 'Iqbal Shinasi' sessions at Masjid-e-Aliya, Hyderabad, expounding on Iqbal’s Persian verses. His translations earned praise from the German scholar Annemarie Schimmel who has translated Iqbal's poetry in German.

Majaz excelled in ghazals, coming up with fresh radeefs and qafiyas (rhyming pattern). Also, his distinct recitation style made him a big hit with the audience.

Mala wala, bindi windi, jhoomer woomer kya?

Zevar tera chera, tujh ko zevar waver kya?

Jeevan ek chadta darya hai, doob ke karle paar

Is darya main kashti washti langar wangar kya


A graduate from Osmania University, Majaz took up government service but retained his passion for poetry. Apart from Urdu and Persian, he loved English, Hindi and Telugu literature. Much feted ,Majaz bagged the prestigious Ghalib award from Ghalib Institute, Delhi.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in The Hindu

Dated October 26,2018