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Syed Hussain Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi,[1] commonly known as 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 Shia tradition, Muslim religious sciences, Western literature, and Kabbala."[2]

Jaun Elia
Native name	جون ایلیا
Born	Syed Hussain Jaun Asghar Naqvi (1931-12-14)14 December 1931 Amroha, United Provinces, British India
Died	8 November 2002(2002-11-08) (aged 70) Karachi, Sindh.
Occupation	Urdu Poet, scholar philosopher
Nationality	Colonial Indian (1931–1947) Indian (1947–1957) Pakistani (1957–2002)
Education	Philosopher, biographer, and scholar
Genre	Ghazal poetry
Notable works	Shayad, Yani, Lekin, Gumman, Goya, Farnod
Spouse	Zahida Hina ​ ​ (m. 1970; div. 1992)​
Children	2

Early life

Jaun Elia was born as Syed Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi on 14 December 1931 in Amroha, British India.[3][4] His father, Shafiq Elia, was 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.[5] He was the youngest of his siblings. Rais Amrohvi was his elder brother. Indian film director Kamal Amrohi was his first cousin.[6]

Described as a child prodigy, he was initially educated at the Syed-ul-Madaris in Amroha.

Being a communist, Elia opposed the partition of India.[7] Elia once remarked on the creation of Pakistan that "this was the mischief of boys from Aligarh".[8][9][10] 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.[11]

He began writing poetry at the age of 8 but published his first collection, Shayad, when he was 60. He was inspired by the philosophy of Islam.[12]

He married writer Zahida Hina in 1970.[13] They separated in 1992.[14]

Works

Poetry collections

• Sukhan Meri Udasee Hai
• Zakham-e-Umeed – زخمِ امید
• Mubada
• Tumharey Aur Mere Darmiyan
• Daricha Haye Kheyal
• Qitaat
• Jaun Elia Ki Tamam Ghazlain (parts I-III)
• Inshaye aur Mazaameen
• Farnood
• Is Rang Ke Tufaan اس رنگ کے طوفاں
• Shayad

Prose work (mainly translations)

Elia was not just a poet but was also an editor and a translator, especially of old Sufi, Mutazili and Ismaili treatises.

• Masih-i-Baghdad Hallaj,
• Jometria,
• Tawasin,
• Isaghoji,
• Rahaish-o-Kushaish,
• Hasan bin Sabah
• Farnod, Tajrid,
• Masail-i-Tajrid,
• Rasail Ikhwan al Safa

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.[15] Muneeb arfan

Politics

Jaun Elia was a communist who, in his poems, supported communism in Pakistan.[16] References to class consciousness are also seen in his poems.

In media

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 & recited by Jaun Elia.[17]

See also

• Rais Amrohvi

References

External links

• BBC Urdu's collection of writings on Jaun Elia (in Urdu)

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