Aawara Majaz remembered on his birth centenary

HYDERABAD: A people’s poet, who swung from extremes of despair and depression to bring life to humour and rejoinders, Asrarul Haq Majaz embodied the turbulent times he lived in and died. The centenary celebrations of the poet held at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University at Gachibowli on Thursday, brought to life the various facets of the poet.“Majaz embodied the Aawara (vagabond) poet, who lived to write to drown his sorrows and was forever caught in this trap in life. He gave poesy to the term ‘Aawara’ which was later used as an abuse, such was his life,” said Dr Syed Mujavar Husain Rizvi, former head of the Urdu department, University of Hyderabad. Highlighting Majaz’s participation in the communist movement and being an alcoholic, which lead to his death at a young age, Dr Rizvi shared anecdotes gathered from contemporaries and friends of the celebrated poet.A pioneer of progressive thinking and a champion of socialism, Majaz’s poetry reflects the post-partition era. He is also known for his severe bouts of depression and despair which forms the core of his writings but landed him in a mental asylum thrice. “He gave the world of Urdu poetry his lifeblood and his willingness to spread the cheer around is what he must be remembered for,” said Prof Mujtaba Hussain.