Josh Malihabadi

Josh Malihabadi (born Shabbir Hasan Khan; 5 December 1898 – 22 February 1982) popularly known as Shayar-e-Inqalab (poet of revolution) was a Pakistani Urdu poet.

Known for his liberal values and challenging the established order, he wrote over 100,000 couplets and more than 1,000 rubaiyat in his lifetime. Yaadon ki Barat, his autobiography, is noted for its frank and candid style. The first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru held him in high esteem and frequently attended the mushaira at Lala Kishan Lal Kalra's United Coffee House where Josh recited his poetry.

Some of his works were translated to English like The Unity of Mankind elegies by Josh Malihabadi by Syed Akbar Pasha Tirmizi.

Early life Josh was born to an Urdu-speaking Muslim family of Afridi Pashtun origin in Malihabad (13 miles from Lucknow), United Provinces, British India. He studied at St Peter's College, Agra and passed his Senior Cambridge examination in 1914. Subsequently, he studied Arabic and Persian and, in 1918, spent six months at Tagore's university at Shantiniketan. The death of his father, Bashir Ahmed Khan, in 1916, prevented him from undertaking a college education.

His family had a long tradition of producing men of letters. His great-grandfather, Nawab Faqeer Muhammad Khan ‘Goya’; his grandfather, Nawab Muhammad Ahmad Khan; his paternal uncle, Ameer Ahmad Khan; and his father, Basheer Ahmad Khan, were all poets with numerous works, including poetry collections, translations, and essays. Another of his relative was the journalist, scholar and Abul Kalam Azad's confidant, Abdur Razzaq Malihabadi.

Josh in Pakistan Josh migrated to Pakistan in 1956 – despite Jawaharlal Nehru's insistence against it – over what is generally believed to be his concern regarding the future of Josh and Urdu language in India, Poet Faiz, who coincidentally landed in Pakistan on 22 February 1982 after a long self-imposed exile to meet General Zia Ul-Haq, the then military ruler of Pakistan, and complained to him for not attending Joautobiographyuneral.'

In August 2012, the Government of Pakistan announced Hilal-i-Imtiaz for Josh Malihabadi. This award was presented to his granddaughter and founding chairperson of Josh Memorial Committee, Tabassum Akhlaq by the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari in a ceremony held in the Presidency on Pakistan Day 23 March 2013. Saif-o-Subu Sumoom-o-Saba Tulu-e-fikr Qatra-o-Qulzum Nujoom-o-Jawahar Mauja-e-Fikr Auraaq-e-Sahar Ilhaam-o-Maqalaat-e-zarreen Nawaredaat-e-Josh Irfaniyat-e-Josh Yaadon Ki Baraat (autobiography)

Honours and awards Padma Bhushan Award, India's third highest civilian honour in 1954. The Title of "The Poet of the Century" was given by the "QAFLA-PERA'O" Lahore, announced by the QAFLA_SALAR Syed Fakhruddin Balley, Jawaid Ahmad Qureshi, Wazir Agha, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi and Ashfaq Ahmad, in 1992. Kamal-e-Sukhan Award was announced for Hazrat Josh Mallihabadi by The Old Boys Association EMERSON College, Multan in 1999. Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) Pakistan's second highest civilian honor on 23 March 2013. Ali Sardar Jafri captured Josh's biography in a serial named Kahkashan aired on DD National