Jaun Elia

Syed Hussain Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi, commonly known as Jaun Elia ( ur, , 14 December 1931 – 8 November 2002), was an Indo-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."

Early life

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

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. 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. Poet Pirzada Qasim said:

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.

He married writer Zahida Hina in 1970. They separated in 1992.

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