Ahmad Siddiq, known as Majnun Gorakhpuri, was born on 10 May 1904 in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh (then United Provinces). His father was Muhammed Farooq Devana Gorakhpuri who used to teach at Aligarh Muslim University as a professor and also used to write a newspaper column in Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar's newspaper Hamdard.[1]
His friend Firaq Gorakhpuri also hailed from Gorakhpur and was now settled in Allahabad. Firaq himself recalls, "Majnun Gorakhpuri came to Allahabad those days and got admitted to a college. He was staying with me and his company dispelled my loneliness a little". He added: "In those days I used to spend a good deal of my time in the company of Majnun Gorakhpuri and Munshi Premchand. Their company helped to awaken my poetic instincts and kindle my thoughts".[2]
Majnun Gorakhpuri then became associated with the Progressive Writers Movement since its inception. Other notable short story writers like Ismat Chughtai and Saadat Hasan Manto also took inspiration from him.[1] Ismat Chughtai once admitted publicly and acknowledged that she used to practice short story writing by emulating Majnun Gorakhpuri's style, before she actually started her own literary career. Majnun Gorakhpuri himself was inspired by the writings of noted writer Niaz Fatehpuri (1884–1966).[1]
Education
Majnun Gorakhpuri's early education took place in Gorakhpur, and he went to Allahabad University for higher education. He earned his MA in English degree from Agra University and thereafter earned an MA in Urdu degree from the University of Calcutta.[1]
Masnavi-i-Zahr-i ishq, Mirza Shauq : tabsire by Majnun Gorakhpuri and Mohsin Faruqi; (digar rumani dastanen, Mohsin Faruqi tazkirah va tanqid) Criticism and interpretation on Zahr-i-ishq, poetical work written in 1855 by Mirzā Shauq; includes criticism on different folk tales by Mohsin Fārūqī.
