Jaun Elia remembered on 20th death anniversary

KARACHI:

Jaun Elia wrote poetry more for life and its trials and turbulence than creating beautiful literature, poet and writer Iftikhar Arif said presiding online a ceremony to mark the 20th death anniversary of a great Urdu poets.

The ceremony for famous poet of Pakistan, Syed Hussain Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi, known by his pen name Jaun Elia, was held in the Auditorium II of the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi. Speakers shared the moments they spent with Jaun Elia and his poetry with the audience.

The participants of the discussion included ACP President Ahmad Shah, Dr Anbreen Haseeb Anbar, Abbas Naqvi, and Sohail Javed.

Iftikhar Arif said Jaun was a cultured man, he came from a cultured society, he belonged to a traditionalist family, and he wrote many immortal poems. Before Jaun, poetry was not written in a common language. Jaun's poetry was more about life than literature, he said.

Ahmad Shah said that Jaun belonged to a family that produced great writers.

Our love for reading and writing came from Jaun's house, a poet of our own. It leaves an impact. I read Ghalib, and Iqbal in my childhood, and I felt that Jaun was very close to Ghalib.

Ahmad Shah read Jaun Elia's poetry written on the political situation of Karachi.

Munawar Saeed said that Jaun Elia was a very difficult person. Jaun found it very difficult to leave Amroha and finally migrated to Pakistan 10 years after its formation.

Munawwar Saeed recalled, "When Jaun came to Karachi in 1957, he used to live in our house. My uncle spent a lot of time with Jaun." Jaun was very fond of wrestling and would often go to dangals in Amroha to watch men grapple in sand and sweat.

Filmmaker Sohail Javed, expressing his views said, "Jaun's poetry gave me inspiration for many visuals."

Abbas Naqvi said every word that Jaun spoke or wrote had a message in it. During mushaira, he would make people sit up and listen intently, showering praise on every line and couplet.

Journalist Pirzada Salman performed the duties of moderator.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2022.