Ustad Daman ( Punjabi, ur, , (born as Chiragh Deen), Punjabi, ur, ), (3 September 1911 – 3 December 1984) was a Punjabi

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems ( oral or wri ...

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, p ...

and a mystic.
'USTAD DAMAN--THE PEOPLE'S POET By Dr. Afzal Mirza published 10 May 2006, Retrieved 30 June 2022 He was introduced into politics by Iftikharuddin, Mian Iftikharuddin, a left-leaning politician, member of the

Pakistan Movement The Pakistan Movement ( ur, , translit=Teḥrīk-e-Pākistān) was a political movement in the first half of the 20th century that aimed for the creation of Pakistan from the Muslim-majority areas of British India. It was connected to the per ...

and owner of ''Pakistan Times'', a major newspaper in

Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city ...

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...

Life

Ustad Daman's birth name was Chiragh Deen son of Mian Mir Baksh. He was born on 3 September 1911. Ustad Daman was introduced originally as part of the struggle for independence from British rule. A tailor by profession, in 1930, he stitched a suit for

Mian Iftikharuddin Mian Iftikharuddin (Punjabi, ur, میاں افتخارالدیں; 8 April 1907 – 6 June 1962) was a Pakistani politician, activist of the Indian National Congress, who later joined the All-India Muslim League and worked for the cause of Pakis ...

, who got impressed by his inspiring poetry verse, when the two met each other at his shop. He invited Ustad Daman to recite his poem at a public meeting organized by the

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British E ...

, where Ustad Daman became an instant hit. Pandit Nehru, who was present at that public meeting, dubbed him the ‘Poet of Freedom’ after listening to his revolutionary anti-imperialist poetry. After this meeting. he became a regular participant in these meetings. At the time of 1947

Partition of British India The Partition of British India in 1947 was the change of political borders and the division of other assets that accompanied the dissolution of the British Raj in South Asia and the creation of two independent dominions: India and Pakistan. T ...

, his shop and house were burned down by rioting mobs and his wife and young daughter were killed. However, Ustad Daman decided to stay in

and the newly created country of

. He then never remarried and lived the rest of his life in a small room in the 'Old Lahore'. He remained, throughout his life, a fierce opponent of dictatorship, civilian or military, and all corruption and hypocrisy. His work and poetry were published as 'Daman De Moti' after his death by his devoted followers and admirers. The poems he wrote are still widely quoted in the Punjab as well as in other regions of Pakistan. Pakistani poet

Faiz Ahmed Faiz Faiz Ahmad ''Faiz'' (13 February 1911 – 20 November 1984; Urdu, Punjabi: فیض احمد فیض) was a Pakistani poet, and author of Urdu and Punjabi literature. Faiz was one of the most celebrated Pakistani Urdu writers of his time. Out ...

was one of his admirers and occasionally used to visit him in

Taxali Gate Taxali Gate ( ur, , ''Taxali Darwaza'') was one of several historic gates of the Walled City of Lahore in Lahore, Pakistan. Also known as the Taxal, or royal mint, it was built from 1575 -1585 during the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar. There ...

area of Lahore, Pakistan.

Songs in films

The following poems of Ustad Daman were used in Pakistani films: * "Bach jaa mundia maurr taun, mein sadqey teri tore taun" Sung by

Noor Jehan Noor Jehan ( Punjabi: ) (born () Allah Rakhi Wasai ; 23 September 1926 – 23 December 2000; sometimes spelled Noorjehan),Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen, ''Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema,'' British Film Institute, Oxford University Pres ...

, lyrics by Ustad Daman and music by

Feroz Nizami Feroz Nizami (born Ferozuddin Ahmad; 10 November 1910 – 15 November 1975), was a Pakistani film score composer, music director and classical singer. He composed music for bollywood films in British India and after partition, he remained acti ...

, film Chan Wey (1951) * "Changa banaya aee sahnun khidona" Sung by

, lyrics by Ustad Daman, music by Feroz Nizami, film Chan Wey (1951)film Chan Wey (1951) on IMDb website
Retrieved 30 June 2022 * "Na mein sonay jai na Chandi jai mein pittal bhari paraat, meinun dharti qali kara de, mein nachhaan sari raat" Sung by

Humaira Channa Humaira Channa, also known as Humera Channa (born on 22 Jun 1970 at Lahore), is a 6 Nigar Award winning film playback singer from Pakistan. She has won 3rd most Nigar Awards in history, ranked only after Noor Jehan and Mehnaz. Early life and c ...

, lyrics by Ustad Daman, music by Kaalay Khan, a PTV,

production.

Death and legacy

He died on 3 December 1984 and was buried in ''Madhu Lal Hussain'' graveyard in Lahore.

References

External links

Ustad Daman: The People's Poet
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daman, Ustad 1911 births 1984 deaths Poets from Lahore Pakistani Marxist writers Pakistani Marxists Urdu-language poets from Pakistan Punjabi-language poets Punjabi-language writers Punjabi people Pakistani activists People of British India Pakistani poets 20th-century poets Pakistani songwriters Pakistani lyricists

Life

Songs in films

Death and legacy

See also

References

External links