Nasir Kazmi

November 18 2013

Syed Nasir Raza Kazmi, (1925–1972) was an Urdu poet from Pakistan and one of the greatest poets of this era^{[citation needed]}, especially in the use of "ista'aaray" and "chhotee beher." Kazmi was born on 8 December 1925 at Ambala, Haryana.

Education and career

Kazmi was educated at Ambala, Simla and afterwards at Islamia College, Lahore 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.^{[citation needed]}

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 organisations.^{[citation needed]}

Kazmi started his poetic life in 1940 by following the style of Akhtar Sherani and wrote romantic poems and sonnets.^{[citation needed]} Later he began writing ghazals under the guidance of Hafeez Hoshyarpuri.^{[citation needed]} 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 admiration.^{[citation needed]} His tutor in poetry was Hafeez Hoshyarpuri, who also used symbols from nature in his poems.^{[citation needed]}

Nasir used to hum his poetic verses and it was appealing to many of his readers and listeners.

He emigrated from Ambala, India to Lahore, Pakistan in August 1947. He also worked as a Staff Editor for 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 thought of as a sad poet, most of his poetry is in fact based on romantic happiness and the aspect of hope.

His last four books were published after his death of stomach cancer in Lahore on 2 March 1972. A few days before his death, Kazmi said in a television interview with Intezaar Hussain, "...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... 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!"^{[this quote needs a citation]}

Books

Barg-e-Nae (ghazlein, 1952)
Deewaan (ghazlein, 1972)
Pehli Baarish (1975), Introductions by Ghalib Ahmed (1975) & Basir Sultan Kazmi (1983)
Nishat-e-Khwab (Collection of nazms, 1977)
Sur Ki Chhaya (Manzoom Drama, Katha, 1981), Introduction by Basir Sultan Kazmi
Khushk Chashme ke Kinare (Prose, 1982, edited by Basir Sultan Kazmi & Hassan Sultan Kazmi: essays, radio features, editorials. New Edition, 1990, includes Nasir's last interview and his dialogues with Intizar Husain, Muhammad Haneef Ramay & Sheikh Salahuddin)
Nasir Kazmi Ki Dairy (Chand Pareshan Kaghaz, 1995, compiled by Hassan Sultan Kazmi)
Intekhab-e-Meer (Poetry, 1989), Compiled & Introduced by Basir Sultan Kazmi
Intekhab-e-Nazeer (Poetry, 1990), Compiled & Introduced by Basir Sultan Kazmi
Intekhab-e-Wali Dakni (Poetry, 1991), Compiled & Introduced by Basir Sultan Kazmi
Intekhab-e-Insha (Poetry, 1991), Compiled & Introduced by Basir Sultan Kazmi
Intekhabs of other poets