Daily Times

Aarzoo Lakhnavi

Compiled by Muhammad Reze Kazimi

This is a representative selection of Aarzoo Lakhnavi’s poetry. His career as a poet began with the composition of a marsiya at the age of 12. Guided by Jalaal Lakhnavi, he soon became skilled in the art of poetry. Three collections of Aarzoo’s ghazals, Fughan-e-Aarzoo, Jahan-e-Aarzoo and Nishan-e-Aarzoo have been popular with Urdu poetry readers. He moved to Bombay in 1942, where he wrote lyrics and dialogues for films.

Iftikhar Arif

Compiled by Abdul Aziz Sahir

This is a representative selection of Iftikhar Arif’s poetry. He is a veteran poet and his poetry laments the loss of moral values and speaks contemptuously of greed, hypocrisy, and callousness that mar our society today. But he sees the social and political milieu in a wider historical perspective. He has published three collections of poetry Mehr-i-Do Neem, Harf-i-Baryab, and Jahan-i-Maaloom. His collected works, Kitab-i-Dil-o-Dunya, was published in 2009.

Shakaib Jalali

Compiled by Tanzeem-Ul-Firdous

This book is a representative selection of Shakaib Jalali’s famous poetry. His style of writing ghazals is different because of the unique diction that he engages in, that rendered his couplets pleasing and his poetry became popular. His unique juxtaposition of sorrow and grief with rebellion and anxiety enhances the beauty of his ghazals.

Mir Anis

Compiled by Muhammad Reza Kazimi

This book contains a selection from the marsias of Mir Anis, hailed as the greatest exponent of this form, as well as one of the greatest poets of the Urdu language. The theme is the Tragedy of Karbala and Mir Anis has presented his elegies in long narrative poems with descriptions of the battleground, single combats, and the death of the protagonist followed by lamentation. The marasi are also noted for being pure in their diction and exemplary in their idiom. All British historians of Urdu literature are united in according him a very high stature in Urdu literature.

Syed Muhammad Jafari

Compiled by Rauf Parekh

This is a representative selection of Syed Muhammad Jafari’s poetry. He was known for his witty and satirical verses. Reciting humorous poetry at mushairas had made him very popular. The collection of his poetry was published some 10 years after his death. Criticising politicians, bureaucrats, and pseudo-religious elements hurting the society were the butt of his satire. His poetry successfully captures the socio-political environment of the sub-continent in the pre and post-Independence eras. This selection includes all his popular verses, making it a truly hilarious critique of the society.