Syed Ali Jawad Zaidi (10 March 1916 – 6 December 2004) was an Indian Urdu poet, scholar, and author of over 80 books in several languages.[1] He was also an Indian independence activist,[2] lawyer and later, a civil servant,[3] but is best known for his work in Urdu literature.[4]
He has received several awards for his contributions to literature and other fields.
Early life and education
Zaidi was born in the village Karhan, Uttar Pradesh, then in Azamgarh district (now Mau district) in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the eldest of six children in a zamindar family of Mohammadabad-Gohna, Azamgarh. He was born at his maternal grandfather's home in Karhan. Belonging to a Saiyid family and being the eldest son in his family, he was sent to the local Arabicmadarsa to gain education and proficiency in Islamic theology and religious matters.
When Zaidi was 11 years old, his father died. His early formal education took place in Mahmudabad, the princely state. He then graduated from Government Jubilee College, Lucknow and an LLB from Lucknow University).[7]
Indian independence activism
During his graduation and later while doing his LLB, he came into contact with leaders of the Indian independence movement, which he joined in the late 1930s. He wrote revolutionary poetry while he led the student's movement along with other student leaders such as Shankar Dayal Sharma, who later went on to become the president of India. His poetry drew praise from Sarojini Naidu, and he was subsequently elected as the secretary-general of the All India Student's Federation. He remained the secretary-general of the All India Students Federation during the Quit India Movement (1942) launched by Mahatma Gandhi.[8]
His poems were proscribed by the British Colonial Government for inciting rebellion against the British Raj. The British government issued an arrest warrant in order to stop him from organising student rallies and mobilising students against the Raj. He continued his work underground, organising students throughout India. He was later arrested at Nagpur, and was sentenced to jail for anti-British activity and sent to serve his term at the Nagpur Central Prison and later transferred to the Benares Central Jail.
He was laid to rest at the Malka Jahan burial grounds, Lucknow, India, with full state honours provided to an Indian freedom fighter.
Government service
With India's independence, Zaidi ended his active involvement in politics. He joined the Information Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh and was a deputy director there until he was inducted into the Indian Information Service and posted to Srinagar.
Although he had taken up Government Service for a full-time job, and chosen that as a career, he remained active in arts and cultural activities in Jammu and Kashmir, organising and conducting the annual Kashmir festival during the summer months. He was appointed as the secretary general of the Society of Arts and Culture, Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the early 1960s he was transferred to Delhi and posted with the Press Information Bureau in Delhi and Mumbai. His final posting was in Tehran and he retired from active Government service as Joint Director, News Services, All India Radio in August 1978.
He also worked as the editor of Naya Daur, an Urdu monthly digest, and Al-Ilm, a monthly published from Mumbai. Naya Daur ran a series on his memoirs on a monthly basis for a time[when?], as well as a special issue in his memory of Ali Jawad Zaidi (Nov/Dec issue, 2004) after his death. He also did some translation work (into English) for the Sahitya Akademi.
Throughout his years with the government, Zaidi continued writing.[13] Seven of his books[which?] have won State Government Awards[which?]. He was the author of over 80 books in Urdu,[14] English, Hindi and Persian. Many of his works are now reference material for research students. He has been the subject of research scholars, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees have been awarded to four students[which?] for research done on his life and works.[citation needed]
He was president of the Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy, Lucknow and as the president of the Zainabbiya Institute of Islamic Studies, Mumbai, and was on the board of Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi and the Sangeet and Natya Akademi, New Delhi and other social, literary and cultural organizations. He was also an advisor to the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Amongst his notable works are Qasida Nigaran-e-Uttar Pradesh (in 2 Volumes), Uttar Pradesh ke Marsiyago (in 2 Volumes) & Do Adabi School, which have been published in Urdu-speaking Pakistan[16] as well. These books along with his History of Urdu Literature[17][18] (English),[19] Mirza Ghalib – Ek Parichay (Hindi), Mir Anis, are unique[how?] in their approaches to their subjects.
He was also a member of the Committee for Promotion of Urdu (appointed by the Government of India Resolution No. F. 15-25/72-L. 1 dated 5 May 1972)[21]
Confined to his home in Lucknow due to poor health and failing eyesight during his last years, he wrote using an amanuensis. He died on 6 December 2004.[22]
Awards
The Government of India conferred on him the Padma Shri[23] in recognition of his contributions to Urdu literature.[24] (1988),[25][24] He also received a Tamra Patra award for his role in the freedom movement, and the Ghalib award[26]
Other awards included:
Anis Award in recognition of Expertise on Mir Anis
Ghalib Award in recognition of Expertise on Mirza Ghalib
Certificate of Honour presented by The Rotary Club, Lucknow
Awards presented to his various books by Governments and Literary Organizations are marked in the list of his books below.
In 1987, Zaidi asked government bodies and literary organizations not to consider his works for awards.[citation needed]
The Jawad Memorial Prize[27] was instituted in his remembrance in 2019 for awarding outstanding translations of Urdu works to English.[28]
