Majaz

Majaz Biography

Asrar ul Haq Majaz, best known by the pen name Majaz was an Indian Urdu poet. He was also known as Majaz Lakhnawi who hailed from Agra province of British India. He composed ghazals and nazms in Urdu, and as a poet known for romantic and revolutionary genres of poetry and writing style. His sister Safiya, a noted writer was the second wife of Jan Nisar Akhtar, celebrated Urdu poet and Hindi lyricist. Thus he was a close relative of Javed Akhtar too. He considered Fani Badayuni as his mentor. He died at a young age of 44. He wrote the anthem, Tarana for Aligarh Muslim University.

His real name was Asrar ul Haq Majaz. He was born on 19 October 1911 in Rudauli, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India. His education was completed at Lucknow and Agra. He was born into a family of poets and litterateurs, who gave significant contributions to Urdu literature. Muztar Khairabadi and Usman Harooni are among his ancestors, related to literal world. His sister, Safiya – a writer too was married to Jan Nisar Akhtar, belonging to a family of writers known for their contributions to Urdu poetry and literature. In fact, the ancestors of both these families belonged to same root.

Majaz started writing poems while in Aligarh. He earned popularity and fame in a short interval of time. His name is always taken aside the writers of Progressive Writers' Movement. He composed the anthem, Tarana, for Aligarh Muslim University, 'Ye meraa chaman, hai mera chaman, Main apne chaman ka bulbul huun.' Aahang" and "Saaz-e-Nau" are other noted works. He served as assistant editor of Awaaz, the newly established journal of the All India Radio. Some of his romantic poems were dedicated to a rich married lady with whom Majaz was madly in love. Majaz, a heavy drinker, died alone in a tavern located in the Beldari Lane of Lalbagh in 1955. He was only 44 then.

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Updated: June 07, 2018