Remembering famous Urdu poet Makhdoom Mohiuddin on his 48th death anniversary.
Makhdoom Mohiuddin or Abu Sayeed Mohammad Makhdoom Mohiuddin Huzri (4 February 1908–25 August 1969) was an Urdu poet and Marxist political activist of India. He was a distinguished revolutionary Urdu poet. He founded the Progressive Writers Union in Hyderabad and was active with the Comrades Association and the Communist Party of India, and at the forefront of the 1946–1947 Telangana Rebellion against the Nizam of the erstwhile Hyderabad state.
Makhdoom started working as a lecturer at the City College in 1934 and taught Urdu literature. He became an Urdu language poet of incredible versatility. He was the founder of Communist Party in Andhra Pradesh state of India. Therefore he is also called as “Freedom Fighter” of India and has also rallied against the then monarchy of the Princely State of Hyderabad to merge with India. The then ruler of Hyderbad, Mir Osman Ali Khan (Nizam) had ordered to kill him for awakening people for freedom and get rid of the Nawab or the princely rule.
He is best known for his collection of poems entitled Bisat-e-Raqs (The Dance Floor), for which he was awarded the 1969 Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu. His published works include an essay “Tagore” and his Poetry, a play, Hosh ke Nakhun (Unravelling), an adaptation of Shaw’s Widowers’ Houses, and a collection of prose essays. Bisat-e-Raqs is a complete collection of Makhdoom’s verse including his two earlier collections Surkh Savera (The Red Dawn) 1944, and Gul-e-Tar (The Dewdrenched Rose) 1961
He is known as Shayar-e-Inquilab’ (‘Poet of the Revolution’). His ghazals and lyrics have been used in many Hindi films. Among his notable are the romantic ghazals:Ek Chameli Ke Mandve Taley, Aap Ki Yaad Aati Rahi Raat Bhar and Phir Chhidi Raat, Baat Phoolon Ki.
He was also a member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council for 5 years and the most popular political leader across India. He had travelled almost all European countries that exist under the umbrella of Russia and also visited China. He also met Yuri Gagarin when he visited Moscow and wrote a poem on him.
