Jaun Elia | |
|---|---|
 Elia in 1967 | |
| Native name | جون ایلیا |
| Born | Syed Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi 14 December 1931 Amroha, United Provinces, British India |
| Died | 8 November 2002 (aged 70) Karachi, Pakistan |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Genre | Ghazal |
| Notable works | Shayad, Yani, Lekin, Gumman, Goya, Farnood |
| Notable awards | Pride of Performance |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Syed Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi,[1] commonly known by his pen-name Jaun Elia (Urdu: جون ایلیا, 14 December 1931 – 8 November 2002), was a Pakistani poet, philosopher, biographer, and scholar.
One of the most prominent modern Urdu poets, popular for his unconventional ways, he "acquired knowledge of philosophy, logic, Islamic history, the Muslim Sufi tradition, Muslim religious sciences, Western literature, and Kabbala". He was fluent in Urdu, Arabic, Sindhi,[2] English, Persian, Sanskrit and Hebrew.[3]
Jaun Elia was born as Syed Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi on 14 December 1931 in Amroha, British India.[4][5] He belonged to a very educated and Influential Shia Family. His father, Shafiq Elia a Shia Muslim and a scholar of literature and astronomy well-versed in the Arabic, English, Persian, Hebrew and Sanskrit languages, and who corresponded with leading intellectuals like Bertrand Russell.[6] He was the youngest of his siblings. Rais Amrohvi was his elder brother. Indian film director Kamal Amrohi was his first cousin.[7] Another relative in Pakistan is actor Munawar Saeed, famous for his roles as a villain.[8]
Described as a child prodigy, Although he was Shia Muslim but he was initially educated at the Syed-ul-Madaris in Amroha, a madrasa affiliated with the Darul Uloom Deoband.[9]
He married writer Zahida Hina in the year 1970.[10] They got separated in the year 1992.[11]
He began writing poetry when he was 8 but published his first collection, Shayad, when he was 60.[12]
Being a communist, Elia opposed the partition of India.[13] Elia once remarked on the creation of Pakistan that "this was the mischief of boys from Aligarh".[14][15][16] However, he eventually migrated to Pakistan in 1957, and decided to live in Karachi.
Poet Pirzada Qasim said:
Jaun was very particular about language. While his diction is rooted in the classical tradition, he touches on new subjects. He remained in quest of an ideal all his life. Unable to find the ideal eventually, he became angry and frustrated. He felt, perhaps with reason, that he had squandered his talent.[17]
In his poems, he supported communism in Pakistan.[18] References to class consciousness are also seen in his poems. He also was described as "An anarchist, a nihilist, and a poet" by dunyanews.tv.
In 2020, Punjabi rapper Kay Kap's album Rough Rhymes for Tough Times featured a song entitled Bulaava which had couplets from the poem Pehnaayi Ka Makaan written and recited by Jaun Elia.[19]
In 2020, Pakistani rock-fusion band Nishtar Park released a single Purane Aur Naye Sawal which was based on Elia's ghazal Umr Guzaregi Imtihan Mein Kya.
In 2023, Urdu rapper Talha Anjum’s album Open Letter featured a song entitled Secrets which was strongly influenced by Jaun Elia’s poem Be-dilli Kya Yuhin Din Guzar Jaenge. Talha Anjum’s other works are also greatly inspired by Jaun Elia’s poetry.
Elia was not just a poet but was also an editor and a translator, especially of old Sufi, Mutazili and Ismaili treatises.
Above are some of his translations from Arabic and Persian. Not only did he translate these books but also introduced several new words in the Urdu language.[20]
