Jagan Nath Azad

Azad was born on 5 December 1920 in the small town of Isa Khel in Mianwali District, Punjab. The District became part of Pakistan after the partition of India in 1947. He inherited his love of Urdu literature from his father, Tilok Chand Mehroom – was the close companion of syed Hashim Raza, Syed Moeenuddin Jafri_UL_Chishti, Shabeer Hassan Khan (known as Josh Malihabadi) himself a poet of renown – who introduced him to Urdu poetry via Diwan-e-Ghalib and took him to mushairas in which he participated. The first such event resulted in the young Azad meeting Hafeez Jalandhari for the first time and being presented with a copy of Hindustan Hamara, which he read, cherished and re-read over the years.

Tara Charan Rastogi, the noted Iqbal scholar,[3] says:

"In the context of his writings on Iqbal and connected topics, Azad stands out as a critic with encyclopedic erudition; he is Iqbal Academy incarnate; and, he is the first man who ventured to rehabilitate Iqbal and Urdu Literature in post-partition India."[4]

Azad's book "Iqbal: Mind and Art"[5] received glowing reviews and was accorded an effusive welcome in the world of academia. Azad Gulati,[6] himself a professor and an award-winning Urdu poet,[7] echoed these sentiments when he reviewed the book in the April 1985 issue of the Iqbal Review published by the Iqbal Academy in Lahore, Pakistan.[8] Two short extracts from his review epitomise the plaudits showered on Jagan Nath Azad whenever Allama Iqbal is discussed in academic or literary circles:

"Prof. Jagan Nath Azad, who has earned for himself an authoritative niche in Iqbaliat, encompasses in this book the quartet of poetry, politics, philosophy and religion that forms the matrix of Iqbal’s creative genius."

"The appendices include stray notes on Iqbal, Prof. Azad’s letters to newspapers and journals about controversial facets of Iqbal’s evaluation, his reviews of books about Iqbal and his preface to Anand Narain Mulla's translation of Iqbal's "Lala-i-Tur". Prefaced by Dr. Mohammad Maruf's balanced and perceptive analysis of Prof. Azad's views and copiously studded with illustrative extracts from Iqbal's works and their meticulous translations, this valuable compendium on Iqbaliat provides smooth, racy reading."

The writer and critic Ashfaque Naqvi summed up Azad's monumental contribution to the study of Iqbal in his article A word about Jagan Nath Azad which appeared in Pakistan's leading English language daily newspaper Dawn on 27 June 2004, four weeks before Azad died. Naqvi wrote:

" The books authored by Jagan Nath Azad include some on literary criticism while about eleven, both in English and Urdu, are on Iqbal. Soon after partition, Iqbal was almost banned in India. It was only through the efforts of Jagan Nath Azad that Iqbal is as highly respected there today as Amir Khusrow, Meeraji or Ghalib. Even in Pakistan, it was Jagan Nath Azad's whisper into the ears of Gen Zia ul Haq that led to the establishment of the Iqbal Chair in the Punjab University."[9]

Whilst there was no tradition among established Urdu writers to publish travelogues, Azad was the first to write several detailed and absorbing accounts of his travels, in his own distinctive style, which caught the eye of Urdu lovers in general and Urdu-reading seasoned travellers in particular.

Azad was in the USSR, at a time when very few independent travellers found their way there. Upon his return home, he published "Pushkin Ke Des Mein" (In the Land of Pushkin ).[10] Likewise, an extended trip to the USA resulted in "Columbus Ke Des Mein" (In the Land of Columbus ).[11] His other travelogues cover Canada, Europe, Britain, Pakistan and India.[12]

Since Azad died, no Urdu writer of note has produced so many and such varied travelogues. However, the Indian National Council for Promotion of Urdu recognises the importance of such publications (safarnama ) and now supports research in this field, to encourage writers aspiring to follow in the footsteps of Azad.[13]

India & Pakistan: The single event that affected Azad more than any other was the partition of India. Before the partition, he worked as personal assistant to the Secretary, Communal Harmony Movement (Lahore) for a time and, when Sir Sikander Hayaat Khan (Unionist Muslim League) published a newsletter, Azad (a Hindu) travelled around Punjab spreading the word of the League. After the partition he always wished Pakistan well and firmly believed that "political divisions cannot divide the Indian poets from their love of Pakistan, nor the Pakistani poets from their love for India".

Azad was a passionate advocate of close friendship and bonding between the people of India and Pakistan.

Kashmir: During his 10-year tenure of Srinagar (Kashmir) as representative of the Government of India, Azad forged and cemented strong links with every shade of opinion in Kashmir ranging from Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq (Kashmiri religious & political leader) to Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah (Prime Minister of Kashmir). Kashmiris recognised Azad as an unbiased intellectual who was imbibed only with the spirit of humanity, not as ‘an agent of the Government’.

It is not a co-incidence that Kashmir witnessed a golden era of peace & progress in the 1970s & 80s – the time of Azad’s efforts in building bridges in the State.

He received the National Unity Award 2001–02 from Himotkarsh, Sahitya, Sabskriti aivam Jan Kalayan Parishad of Kashmir.

During his life Azad was the honoured recipient of numerous awards for his contribution to Urdu Literature and work on Allama Iqbal. Both the Governments of India & Pakistan (central & regional) presented him with trophies & citations. The Government of Pakistan awarded him the President of Pakistan's Gold Medal for his services to Urdu literature and the Government of India presented him with the Award for Services in the Cause of Strengthening Indo-Soviet Cultural Relations. Azad received the Minar-e-Pakistan from the Chief Minister of West Punjab (Pakistan) and Shiromani Sahityakar & Robe of Honour from the Government of East Punjab (India).

Local, national & international literary organisations including the Ghalib Institute, Ghalib Memorial Society, All India Meer Academy, Iqbal International Congress, Iqbal Memorial Trust, The Urdu Society of Canada, The Houston (Texas) Literary Society, The World Urdu Conference, various universities (including the University of Peking (China) bestowed him with honours. He was presented with awards for his literary works, invited to preside over their functions, launch their publications and present awards to winners of their awards.

Most famous writer, poet and Journalist Syed Fakhruddin Balley was Founder Chief_Editor and Syed Zafar Moeen Balley as Editor of "Aawaz E Jarras Lahore" (literary magazine) Mr S.F.Balley Alig published "Jagan Nath Aazad Number" of "Aawaz E Jarras Lahore" and Gosha E Jagan Nath Azad in "Aawaz E Jarras Lahore" Unikarians International (UAE Chapter) organised Jashn-e-Azad in Abu Dhabi in 1993 and Halqa-e-Fun-o-Adab (USA) convened Jashn-e-Azad in 1998. The Jammu & Kashmir Urdu Forum recognised him as “Abroo-e-Adab” in 1997.

• Urdu poetry
• Qaumi Tarana
• Indian poetry

• Jagan Nath Azad – A Tribute by his Daughter Archived 23 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine
• Jagan Nath Azad on Kavita Kosh Archived 23 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
• Tribute: Jagan Nath Azad – some reminiscences