Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez Jullundhri

Abul Asar Hafeez Jalandhari is a celebrated Pakistani poet who wrote the lyrics for both the National Anthem of Pakistan and the Anthem of Azad Kashmir. He composed works in Urdu and Persian languages to achieve widespread fame across the nation.

Early life and education

Hafeez Jalandhari was born in Jalandhar, Punjab, within British India on 14 January 1900. He belonged to a Punjabi Muslim family where his father, Shams-ud-Din, served as a Hafiz-e-Qur'an. His initial schooling took place in a mosque, but he later transitioned to a conventional local school in Jalandhar. He completed his formal education only until the seventh grade because he disliked mathematics. While he avoided math, he possessed a deep passion for learning the Urdu language.

He was an eager reader who worked hard to teach himself various subjects. His natural affinity for poetry led him to become a disciple of Maulana Ghulam Qadir Bilgrami, a poet of the Persian language. As he grew, he became an active member of the Pakistan Movement to promote the creation of a new state. Following the partition of India in 1947, he migrated to Lahore within the newly formed state of Pakistan.

Career

Jalandhari began his professional literary journey as an editor for several monthly magazines between 1922 and 1929. These publications included Nonehal, Hazar Dastaan, Teehzeeb-e-Niswan, and Makhzin. He published his first collection of poems, Nagma-e-Zar, in 1935. After World War II concluded, he served as the director of the Song Publicity Department where he wrote various songs.

His commitment to the Pakistan Movement saw him using his writings to inspire the public. In early 1948, he joined the forces fighting for the freedom of Kashmir and sustained wounds during this period. He authored the Kashmiri Anthem, titled "Watan Hamara Azad Kashmir," and later wrote many patriotic songs during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. His career included serving as the Director General of Morals in the Pakistan Armed Forces. He also held a prominent position as an adviser to President Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan and worked as a Director of the Writers Guild of Pakistan.

The poet achieved significant fame through his four-volume work, Shahnama-e-Islam, which records Islamic history in verse. In 1946, he traveled to the Sylhet region of Bengal to watch a mushaira performance by the Anjuman-i Taraqqi-i Urdu. His most historic achievement occurred on 23 February 1949, when the Government of Pakistan formed a committee to select a national anthem. Out of 723 competitors, his lyrics were chosen for the National Anthem of Pakistan. Ahmed Ghulamali Chagla, also known as Ahmed G. Chagla, composed the music for this anthem.

His poetic style featured an enchanting melody and lilting rhythms that set him apart in Urdu poetry. He focused on romantic, religious, patriotic, and natural themes throughout his life. His language utilized a blend of Hindi and Urdu diction to reflect South Asian culture. One famous poem, 'Abhi Toh Mein Jawan Hoon,' was sung by Malika Pukhraj in the 1950s with music by Master Inayat Hussain. Although he was a devout Muslim, he also wrote Krishn Kanhaiya to praise the Hindu god Krishna.

His extensive bibliography includes several notable books such as Soz-o-Saaz (1932) and Chiragh-i-Sehar (1974). He also authored Chayty Nama in 1982 and left behind an unfinished autobiography titled Baqalam-e-Khud. He died in Lahore on 21 December 1982 at the age of 82.

Personal life

Jalandhari married his cousin, Zeenat Begum, in 1917 when he was 17 years old. This marriage produced seven children, all of whom were girls. In 1939, he entered a second marriage with Anela, a young English woman of Lithuanian descent. They had one daughter before the marriage ended in divorce. After Zeenat Begum died in 1954, he married Khurshid Begum in 1955 and they had a daughter.

Awards and recognition

The President of Pakistan awarded him the Hilal-i-Imtiaz Award for his literary and patriotic services. He also received the Pride of Performance Award from the Government of Pakistan in 1958. In 2001, the Pakistan Post Office issued a commemorative postage stamp to honor him as part of the 'Poets of Pakistan' series.