Asad Jafri

Asad Jafri addressing at Academy of Letters in Karachi in September 2016[1]
Asad Jafri during a Radio FM interview in Karachi[2]

Asad Jafri (full name, Asghar Ali Asad Jafri, اصغر علی اسد جعفری, born on 3 June in 1935) is an educationist and poet (Urdu poetry) from Bhakkar.[3] He has written three books on serious and humorous poetry. Two books' titles are Khanda Navazi and Tera hansna qayamat hay.[4][5][6] He has written non-humorous poetry as well. His compilation of such verses has been published under the title "Qindeel-e-Jaan". Asad Jafri has been writing several satirical quartets in various Urdu newspapers in Pakistan on social and political subjects.[7][8][9]

BBC Urdu presenter Raza Ali Abidi met Asad Jafri during his visit to Bhakkar while travelling along the banks of the Indus River and conducted an interview. He also mentioned him in his book Sher Darya.[10][11]

Early life

Asad Jafri was born in Darya Khan (Bhakkar) to Ghulam Hussain Jafri, a school teacher. When Asad was five years old, his father migrated to Vehari. Asad completed his school education in Vehari and later graduated from Government Emerson College Multan. He was appointed as headmaster of Municipal Committee (M.C.) High School Bhakkar in 1961 where he served as the head of school till 1985. Thereafter he was appointed as District Education Officer in Bhakkar, a position in which he served till 1990.

Poetic Journey

Asad Jafri started writing verses in his school and college days. As a school student he wrote a 'boatman's song' for a film. His earlier poetry was romantic (Palkon pe ruk gia hai samandar khumaar ka/ Kitna ajab nasha hai teray intezar ka), but later he started writing ghazals about the bitter realities of life (Misaal apni tau hai uss darakht ki ke jissay/ Laga jo sang tau badley mein phal giranay laga) or (Ye haqiqat meray dushman par na abtak khul saki/ Zarb ki quat jo gul mein hai wo pathar mein nahi).[12] Initially, his romantic couplets and poems were published in prestigious and popular magazines like "Nairang-e-Khayal", "Adb-e-Lateef", Zer-e-Lab" and "Qindeel". These poems were noticed by the literary circles in 1950s and 1960s. Meanwhile, Asad Jafri got the privilege of conducting as compere All Pakistan Poetry Recitals (Mushaairas). During these recital sessions Asad got an opportunity to interact with the poetic stalwarts like Faiz Ahmad Faiz. The poetry of Asad Jafri has several influences including those of Josh Malihabadi, Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Ahmad Faraz. Later in 1970, the harsh realities of life prompted Asad Jafri to move from melancholic ghazals to humorous poems on everyday subjects. His first choice was familiar characters, neighbors and friends. His poem "Mughal ki Car" became very popular, though he wrote hilarious poems on a broken TV of a neighbor, a quarrelsome female neighbor, advice to a friend not to marry, elegy on the death of a pet rooster, husband's lament before his wife etc. These humorous poems though originally written for the entertainment of a few close acquaintances came to be known later as literary masterpieces. In addition to ghazals and poems, Asad Jafri has penned several songs for films which have been sung by eminent vocalists in South Asia. Noted singers including Jaswinder Singh and Richa Sharma have lent their voices to his songs Dil Mein Sama Ke Aapne and Zara Mujhe Sanbhalna.[13] In 1990s his song Dil Ko Roka Hai was sung by Sohrab Khan for Lollywood movie Anjaam. Asad has also written "sahras" (poems celebrating happiness of bride-groom) and "rukhsaties" (poems depicting sentiments of brides leaving their parents' homes) read out at wedding ceremonies.

A collection of humorous poems published in Lahore under the title "Nawadrat-e-Sukhan" included famous humorous poems of Asad Jafri. Subsequently, Asad's literary pieces were discovered by Dr. Anwar Sadeed in his book "Urdu Adab Ki Tahreekain"who included him in the syllabus of Punjab University for students of Masters in Urdu Literature. A few students have done their Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) on the poetry of Asad Jafri in his lifetime.

Asad's poetry in the eyes of critics

Asad Jafri's literary work attracted notice of the critics in 1990s whereas he was writing poetry since 1950s. The major reason for this has been his residence in a city far away from the literary hubs of the country including Lahore and Karachi. On his part Asad did not try to reach out to wider audience at the national level. In 1990s he was discovered by Dr. Anwar Sadeed who included Asad in poets of quality work in Urdu literature. Dr. Anwar Sadeed in his book "Urdu Adab Ki Mukhtasar Tareekh" (Brief History of Urdu Literature) included Asad in the list of poets of "pure humour" and termed Asad's poems as 'kamyaab' (of rare quality).[14] Later literary giants like renowned essayist and critic Wazir Agha who wrote a book Adab Mein Tanz-o-Mazah, and renowned urdu poet Iftikhar Arif in his preface to 'Tera Hansna Qayamat Hai" has appreciated Asad Jafri's poetry as "a valuable addition to Urdu humorous poetry" terming Asad Jafri as "a poet of smiling thoughts".[15] Anwar Masood in his book 'Shaakh-e-Tabassum' has given references to the humorous poetry of Asad Jafri. During his meeting with Mushtaq Yusufi in Karachi in August 2016, the latter admired Asad's poems and quartets.

Literary Publications

Popular Humorous Poems

References

  1. ↑ Alam, Muhammad Khurshid. "Pakistan Academy of Letters Sindh". pakistanacademyofletterssindh.com. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  2. ↑ "Radio Pakistan". Radio Pakistan. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  3. ↑ "Bhakkar Essay". www.reportingpoint.net. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  4. ↑ "Tera Hasna Qayamat Hai By Asad Jafri". www.urdupdfbooks.com. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  5. ↑ Jafri, Asad. Khanda Nawazi (in Urdu). ISBN 9789624101676.
  6. ↑ "ZoomInfo Cached Page". www.zoominfo.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  7. ↑ "Security Check Required". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  8. ↑ "ASAD JAFRI (POET) TV INTERVIEW METRO ONE NEWS - Video Dailymotion". Dailymotion. 2016-10-15. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  9. ↑ "Asad Jafri TV Interview at "Bazm-e-Shairi" - Video Dailymotion". Dailymotion. 2016-10-29. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  10. ↑ "Sher Darya". Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  11. ↑ Raza Abidi (2012-03-06), SHER DARYA 41 of 60 Bhakkar, retrieved 2016-10-03
  12. ↑ "Dailytimes | Your Right To Know". www.dailytimes.com.pk. Archived from the original on 2016-03-26. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  13. ↑ Jaswinder Singh (2013-12-01), Dil Mein Basa Ke Apne, Jaswinder Singh & Richa Sharma, retrieved 2016-10-01
  14. ↑ "Urdu Adab Ki Mukhtasar Tareekh - | Rekhta". Rekhta. Retrieved 2016-11-06.
  15. ↑ ahmad, Saeed. "Tera Hasna Qayamat Hai By Asad Jafri". Free Urdu Books Downloading, Islamic Books, Novels. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  16. ↑ Jafri, Asad. Khanda Nawazi (in Urdu). ISBN 9789624101676.
  17. ↑ ahmad, Saeed. "Tera Hasna Qayamat Hai By Asad Jafri". Free Urdu Books Downloading, Islamic Books, Novels. Retrieved 2016-11-08.
  18. ↑ "Read full nazm by Asad Jafri". Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  19. ↑ "Urdu Adab Ki Mukhtasar Tareekh - | Rekhta". Rekhta. Retrieved 2016-11-06.
  20. ↑ "Urdu Adab Ki Mukhtasar Tareekh - | Rekhta". Rekhta. Retrieved 2016-11-06.
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