Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi
Encyclopedia
Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi also Khalil al-Rehman Azmi (1927–1978) was an eminent Urdu
poet and literary critic. Born in village Seda Sultanpur, of district Azamgarh. His father Maulana Muhammad Shafi was deeply religious man. Khaleel-Ur-Rehman 'Azmi' matriculated from Shibli National High School, at Azamgarh
in 1945. He graduated in 1948 and did his M.A.
in Urdu
from Aligarh Muslim University
. It was during this time that he was involved in giving tuitions to Ralph Russell
, who was also in Aligarh at that time and later to develop long association with Khurshid-ul-Islam. He was awarded Ph. D. in Urdu in 1957 by Aligarh Muslim University titled Urdu Mein Tarraqipasand Adabi Tahrik.
"Khalil Sahib had been attacked during the Hindu-Muslim riots that accompanied independence as he was travelling by train from Delhi to Aligarh. He had been stabbed, thrown out of the train, and left for dead. But he recovered. In later years he became a lecturer in the Urdu departmentat Aligarh and eventually published a book on the Progressive Writers’ Movement."
He joined as lecturer
in 1952 in the department of Urdu at Aligarh Muslim University. In 1956 he became Reader
and continued on that position till his death in 1978. He died of leukemia after his long struggle with the disease. He was posthumously declared professor which was long overdue.
He started writing from his early school days and composed poems for Payami taleem, children's literary magazine. He was outstanding writer of prose as well as poetry. He was one of the pioneer's of Modernism
in Urdu, and was also aligned with Progressive Writers Movement.
He received the Ghalib Award for Urdu Poetry in 1978.
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
poet and literary critic. Born in village Seda Sultanpur, of district Azamgarh. His father Maulana Muhammad Shafi was deeply religious man. Khaleel-Ur-Rehman 'Azmi' matriculated from Shibli National High School, at Azamgarh
Azamgarh
Azamgarh is a town in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is headquarters of Azamgarh district and Azamgarh Division.-History:Azamgarh, one of the easternmost districts of the State, once formed a part of the ancient Kosala kingdom, except the north-eastern part of it which was included in the...
in 1945. He graduated in 1948 and did his M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
from Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University ,is a residential academic university, established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammedan Angelo-Oriental College and later granted the status of Central University by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 1920...
. It was during this time that he was involved in giving tuitions to Ralph Russell
Ralph Russell
Professor Ralph Russell SI was a British scholar of Urdu literature and a Communist. He was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, UK. He taught Urdu and Urdu literature at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and also in universities in India and Pakistan...
, who was also in Aligarh at that time and later to develop long association with Khurshid-ul-Islam. He was awarded Ph. D. in Urdu in 1957 by Aligarh Muslim University titled Urdu Mein Tarraqipasand Adabi Tahrik.
"Khalil Sahib had been attacked during the Hindu-Muslim riots that accompanied independence as he was travelling by train from Delhi to Aligarh. He had been stabbed, thrown out of the train, and left for dead. But he recovered. In later years he became a lecturer in the Urdu departmentat Aligarh and eventually published a book on the Progressive Writers’ Movement."
He joined as lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
in 1952 in the department of Urdu at Aligarh Muslim University. In 1956 he became Reader
Reader (academic rank)
The title of Reader in the United Kingdom and some universities in the Commonwealth nations like Australia and New Zealand denotes an appointment for a senior academic with a distinguished international reputation in research or scholarship...
and continued on that position till his death in 1978. He died of leukemia after his long struggle with the disease. He was posthumously declared professor which was long overdue.
He started writing from his early school days and composed poems for Payami taleem, children's literary magazine. He was outstanding writer of prose as well as poetry. He was one of the pioneer's of Modernism
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
in Urdu, and was also aligned with Progressive Writers Movement.
Work and contributions
- Kaghzi Pairahan (1953)-collection of poetry, 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 and ghazalGhazalThe 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. - Naya Ahad Nama (1965)-collection of poetry, 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 and ghazalGhazalThe 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. - Nai Nazm Ka Safar (Collection of Urdu poetry after 1936-1972-(edited by Khaleel-ur-Rehman Azmi)
- Fikr-o-Fan (1956)
- Zawiay-e-Nigah (1966)
- Mazameen-e-Nau (1977) – Literary criticism
- Muqaddama-e- Kalam-e-Aatish
- Taraqqi Pasand Tahreek 1965
- Urdu Mein Taraqqi Pasand Adabi Tahreek (1972)
He received the Ghalib Award for Urdu Poetry in 1978.
Further reading
- Khaleel-ur-Rehman number, Sha'ir (monthly)
- Jadeed Sha'iri ke Naye Chiragh, Shakeel-ur-Rehman