Nasir Kazmi
Encyclopedia
Syed Nasir Raza Kazmi, (1925–1972) (Urdu: سید ناصر رضا كاظمی ) was a renowned Urdu poet of Pakistan
. He was one of the greatest poets of this era, especially in the use of "ista'aaray" and "chhotee beher
". Kazmi was born on December 8, 1925 at Ambala
in British India.
and Lahore
. He returned to Ambala in 1945 and started looking after his ancestral land. After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, he came to Lahore.
He did some journalistic work with Auraq-e-Nau as an editor and became editor-in-chief of the magazine Humayun in 1952. Later he was associated with Radio Pakistan, Lahore and other literary publications and organizations.
Nasir Kazmi started his poetic life in 1940 by following the style of Akhtar Sherani
and wrote romantic poems and sonnets. Later he began writing ghazal
s under the guidance of Hafeez Hoshyarpuri. He was a great admirer of Mir Taqi Mir
and probably the melancholy and "Ehsaas-e-Mehroomi" in his poetry was a direct result of that. His tutor in poetry was Hafeez Hoshyarpuri, who himself used a lot of symbols from nature in his poems.
Nasir, few days before his death, said in a TV interview by Intezaar Hussain, that
'horse riding, hunting, wandering in a village, walk along the river side, visiting mountains etc. were my favourite pastimes and probably this was the time when my mind got nourishment for loving nature and getting close to the expression of poetry. All my hobbies are related with fine arts, like singing, poetry, hunting, chess, love of birds, love of trees etc... I started poetry because I used to reflect that all the beautiful things those I see, and those in nature are not in my hands, and they go away from me. Few moments, that time which dies, cannot be made alive. I think can be alive in poetry, that is why I (Nasir) started poetry!'
Nowadays, very few people may remember that Nasir used to hum his poetic verses and that humming had much attraction in it.
He migrated from Ambala, India to Lahore Pakistan in August 1947. He also worked as a Staff Editor in Radio Pakistan. He used to sit at Tea House and wander at Mall Road, Lahore with his friends. He was fond of eating, wandering and enjoying life. Normally people take him as a sad poet but most of his poetry is based on romantic happiness and the aspect of hope.
His last four books were published after his death. He died in Lahore on March 2, 1972 due to stomach cancer
. Few people know that he did some great translations of English poets, especially his translation of Walt Whitman
's "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry
" by the title of "Brooklyn Ghaat Ke Paar" is a real masterpiece and worth reading.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. He was one of the greatest poets of this era, especially in the use of "ista'aaray" and "chhotee beher
Meter (poetry)
In poetry, metre is the basic rhythmic structure of a verse or lines in verse. Many traditional verse forms prescribe a specific verse metre, or a certain set of metres alternating in a particular order. The study of metres and forms of versification is known as prosody...
". Kazmi was born on December 8, 1925 at Ambala
Ambala
Ambala is a city and a municipal corporation in Ambala district in the state of Haryana, India, located on the border of the states of Haryana and Punjab in India. Politically; Ambala has two sub-areas: Ambala Cantt and Ambala City, approximately 3 kilometers apart from each other...
in British India.
Education and Career
Kazmi was educated at Ambala, SimlaShimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
and Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. He returned to Ambala in 1945 and started looking after his ancestral land. After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, he came to Lahore.
He did some journalistic work with Auraq-e-Nau as an editor and became editor-in-chief of the magazine Humayun in 1952. Later he was associated with Radio Pakistan, Lahore and other literary publications and organizations.
Nasir Kazmi started his poetic life in 1940 by following the style of Akhtar Sherani
Akhtar Sheerani
Akhtar Shairani is considered one of the most prolific romantic poets of Urdu.-Early life:...
and wrote romantic poems and sonnets. Later he began writing ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
s under the guidance of Hafeez Hoshyarpuri. He was a great admirer of Mir Taqi Mir
Mir Taqi Mir
Khuda-e-sukhan Mir Taqi Mir , whose real name was Muhammad Taqi and takhallus was Mir , was the leading Urdu poet of the 18th century, and one of the pioneers who gave shape to the Urdu language itself...
and probably the melancholy and "Ehsaas-e-Mehroomi" in his poetry was a direct result of that. His tutor in poetry was Hafeez Hoshyarpuri, who himself used a lot of symbols from nature in his poems.
Nasir, few days before his death, said in a TV interview by Intezaar Hussain, that
'horse riding, hunting, wandering in a village, walk along the river side, visiting mountains etc. were my favourite pastimes and probably this was the time when my mind got nourishment for loving nature and getting close to the expression of poetry. All my hobbies are related with fine arts, like singing, poetry, hunting, chess, love of birds, love of trees etc... I started poetry because I used to reflect that all the beautiful things those I see, and those in nature are not in my hands, and they go away from me. Few moments, that time which dies, cannot be made alive. I think can be alive in poetry, that is why I (Nasir) started poetry!'
Nowadays, very few people may remember that Nasir used to hum his poetic verses and that humming had much attraction in it.
He migrated from Ambala, India to Lahore Pakistan in August 1947. He also worked as a Staff Editor in Radio Pakistan. He used to sit at Tea House and wander at Mall Road, Lahore with his friends. He was fond of eating, wandering and enjoying life. Normally people take him as a sad poet but most of his poetry is based on romantic happiness and the aspect of hope.
His last four books were published after his death. He died in Lahore on March 2, 1972 due to stomach cancer
Stomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
. Few people know that he did some great translations of English poets, especially his translation of Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
's "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry
Crossing Brooklyn Ferry
"Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" is a poem by Walt Whitman, and is part of his collection Leaves of Grass. It describes the ferry trip across the East River from Manhattan to Brooklyn at the exact location that was to become the Brooklyn Bridge....
" by the title of "Brooklyn Ghaat Ke Paar" is a real masterpiece and worth reading.
Books
- Barg-e-Nae (1952)
- Deewaan (1972)
- Pehli Baarish (1975)
- Nishat-e-Khwab (Collection of nazmNazmUrdu Nazm is a major part of the Urdu poetry, that is normally written in rhymed verse and also in modern prose style poems. Nazm has many different forms as,* Doha * Geet * Hamd * Hazal * Hijv...
s, 1977) - Sur Ki Chhaya (Manzoom Drama, Katha 1981)
- Khushk Chashme ke Kinare (Prose, 1982 edited by Basir Sultan Kazmi & Hassan Sultan Kazmi, New Edition 1990, essays, radio features, dialogues, editorials, last interview etc.)
- Nasir Kazmi Ki Dairy (Chand Pareshan Kaghaz) (Autobiography, 1995 compiled by Hassan Sultan Kazmi)
- Intekhab-e-Meer (poetry 1989)
- Intekhab-e-Nazeer (poetry 1990)
- Intekhab-e-Wali Dakni (poetry 1991)
- Intekhab-e-Insha (poetry 1991)
- 'Intekhabs' of other poets
Famous Ghazals & Nazms
Some of the famous ghazals and nazams of Nasir Kazmi are listed below,- kaun is raah se guzartaa hai
- terii zulfoN ke bikharne kaa sabab hai ko'ii
- dukh kii lehar ne chheRaa hogaa
- dil meN ek lehar sii uThii hai abhii
- naaz-e-be-gaangii meN kyaa kuch thaa
- O ! mere masruuf Khudaa
- yaas meN jab kabhii aaNsuu niklaa
- ko'ii jiye yaa ko'ii mare
- be minnat-e-Khizr-e-raah rahnaa
- jurm-e-inkaar kii sazaa hii de
- jab raat gaye tiri yaad aayii, sau tareh se jii ko behlaaya
- tere aane kaa dhokaa saa rahaa hai
- tanhaa ishq ke khwaab na bun
- fikr-e-taameer-e-aashiaN bhi hai
- rang barsaat ne bhare kuch to
- kise dekhein kahaaN dekha na jaye
- karta use beqarar kuch der
- wo dil nawaz hai lekin nazar shanaas nahi
- Neeyat e shauq bhar na jaye kahiin