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Jaun Elia’s Early life and family:
Syed Jaun Asghar (1931-2002), popularly known as Jaun Elia, was born in Amroha where he received his early education under the guidance of his father, Shafiq Hasan Elia. He acquired the degrees of Adeeb Kamil (Urdu), Kamil (Persian), and Fazil (Arabic). He migrated from India in 1957 and settled in Karachi where he worked at the Ismailia Association of Pakistan supervising writing and compilation from 1963 to 1968. Following this, he remained associated with the Urdu Dictionary Board. He also edited Aalami Digest with Zahida Hena.
Jaun Elia was a Pakistani progressive Marxist Urdu poet, philosopher, biographer, and scholar. He was the brother of Rais Amrohvi and Syed Muhammad Taqi, who were journalists and psychoanalysts. He was fluent in Urdu,Arabic, English, Persian Sansikrit and Hebrew. One of the most prominent modern Pakistani 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.
Partition and migration to Pakistan:
Being a communist, Elia opposed the partition of India. Elia once remarked on the creation of Pakistan that “this was the mischief of boys from Aligarh”. However, he eventually migrated to Pakistan in 1957, and decided to live in Karachi.
Jaun Eliya Works:
Jaun Elia was deeply interested in the disciplines of history, philosophy, and religion. This gave a certain touch of otherness to his personality and poetry. His poetry is remarkable for its effortless expression and immediacy of appeal. While he published his first anthology Shaayed (1991) during his lifetime, Other poetry collections Yaani (2003) Gumaan (2004), Lekin (2006), Goyaa (2008), and a book in prose titled Farnood (2008) were published posthumously by his trustworthy companion Khalid Ahmed Ansari. Among these Yaani was initially published by Al Hamd Publishers but they republished it with Khalid’s help and with inclusion of 80 additional verses.
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.
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 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.
Khalid also compiled Jaun’s prose work titled ‘FARNOOD,’ which Jaun had been contributing to various magazines from 1958 until his demise in 2002.
Furthermore, Khalid compiled Jaun’s epic poem ‘RAMOOZ,’ consisting of 12 tablets, as well as a book titled “MaiN Ya MaiN” which contains articles about Jaun Elia, written by various individuals, his friends, his acquaintances and various prominent literary figures. This book gives a deep insight about Jaun’s life and his works and is a very important document for those who are interested in knowing Jaun Elia more.
Currently, Khalid is working on Jaun’s long-awaited poetic collection, titled ‘KYUN.
Jaun had also collected his letters to Zahida Hina to whom he was married but they had separated later. Elia had also translated Kitab-ut-Tawwaseen and Jauhar-e-Salqui by Mansoor Hallaj which remain unpublished. The government of Pakistan honoured him with the prestigious award of excellence for his services to literature.
Prose work: 
- Masih-i-Baghdad
- Jometria
- Tawasin, usman
- Isaghoji
- Rahaish-o-Kushaish
- Farnod, Tajrid
- Masail-i-Tajrid
Famous Poetry collections:
- Tumharey Aur Mere Darmiyan
- Daricha Haye Kheyal
- Qitaat
- Jaun Elia Ki Tamam Ghazlain (parts I-III)
- Inshaye aur Mazaameen
- Farnood
- Sukhan Meri Udasee Hai
- Zakham-e-Umeed
- Mubada
Arso visit: https://poetrypk.com/best-no-1-poetry-of-tahzeeb-haafi/
Written by Arslan
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