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{{Short description|Pakistani poet}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Rafiuddin 'Raz'
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| pseudonym = Raz
| birth_name = Mirza Rafiuddin Baig
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1938|04|21}}
| birth_place = [[Bihar]], India
| occupation = [[Urdu poet]]
| nationality = Pakistani
| citizenship =
| education = MA, General History.
| alma_mater =
| period = 1988 – Present
| genre = [[Ghazal]]; [[Free verse]]
| subject =
| movement =
| notableworks =
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| relatives =
| awards =
| signature =
| website =
| portaldisp =
}}
'''Mirza Rafiuddin 'Raz' Baig''' ({{langx|ur|مرزا رفیوددیں بیگ}}; born 21 April 1938) is a Pakistani poet. He published his first volume of poetry ''Deeda-e-Khush Khwab'' in 1988 and followed it with ''Beenai'' (Sight), ''Pairahan-e-Fikr'' (The Dress of Thought), ''Roshni Kay Khad-o-Khaal'' (Features of Light) and ''Abhi Darya Main Pani Hai'' (There is Water in the River, Yet),<ref name=ref1>{{cite journal
| last = Shair
| first = Shair Ali
| title = Rafiuddin Raz Number
| journal = Rang-e-Adab
| volume = 1
| issue = 9–10
| pages = 17
| publisher = Rang-e-Adab Publication
| location = [[Karachi]]
}}</ref>

His recent book, ''bar bisat e Ghalib'' (200 ghazals in 200 Ghalib's Misray), was published in November 2021.

==Poetry==

===Style and themes===
Raz is primarily a [[ghazal]] writer.<ref name=ref24>{{cite journal
| last = Shair
| first = Shair Ali
| title = Rafiuddin Raz: Shaksiyat aur Shaa'iri Kay Aa'inay Main
| journal = Rang-e-Adab
| volume = 1
| issue = 9–10
| pages = 196
| publisher = Rang-e-Adab Publication
| location = [[Karachi]]
}}</ref>

===Repeated usage of ''Aa'ina''===
Raz is noted for repeatedly playing with the [[Urdu]] word ''aa'ina'' [mirror in English] in his poetry, and integrating it into his work in different ways. Poet and reviewer Afsar Mahpuri notes in his article, "Rafiuddin Raaz – A dreaming poet," the "focal position and importance" that the mirror has been awarded over time, and presents the following partial list of couplets, containing the word ''aa'ina'', by Raz.<ref name=ref16>{{cite conference
| first = Mahpuri
| last = Afsar
| title = Rafiuddin Raz: Ek Khush Khwab Shaa'ir
| book-title = Rafiuddin Raz: Shaksiyat aur Shaa'iri Kay Aa'inay Main
| pages = 69
| publisher = Rang-e-Adab Publication
| location = [[Karachi]]
}}</ref>

===Critical reception===
Shafeeq Ali Khan calls him "a modern poet in every respect," and stating that "his feelings, emotions, observations and experiences are not traditional – they are, rather, a reflection of his own self and personality."<ref name=ref3>{{cite journal
| last = Shair
| first = Shair Ali
| title = Rafiuddin Raz: Shaksiyat aur Shaa'iri Kay Aa'inay Main
| journal = Rang-e-Adab
| volume = 1
| issue = 9–10
| pages = 10
| publisher = Rang-e-Adab Publication
| location = [[Karachi]]
}}</ref> Mehshar Badaiwani has called his work "a living example" of meaningful poetry, showing Raz's "poetical greatness."<ref name=ref4>{{cite journal
| last = Shair
| first = Shair Ali
| title = Rafiuddin Raz: Shaksiyat aur Shaa'iri Kay Aa'inay Main
| journal = Rang-e-Adab
| volume = 1
| issue = 9–10
| pages = 11
| publisher = Rang-e-Adab Publication
| location = [[Karachi]]
}}</ref>

Shan ul Haq Haqqi has written that, "Rafiuddin Raz's poetry contains both beauty off thought and beauty of style... [and is] successful throughout the body of [[Urdu poetry]],"<ref name=ref2>{{cite journal
| last = Shair
| first = Shair Ali
| title = Rafiuddin Raz: Shaksiyat aur Shaa'iri Kay Aa'inay Main
| journal = Rang-e-Adab
| volume = 1
| issue = 9–10
| pages = 9
| publisher = Rang-e-Adab Publication
| location = [[Karachi]]
}}</ref> while [[Aslam Farrukhi]] claims that "Poetry, itself, has picked Raz for its expression."<ref name="ref4"/> Similarly, Athar Hashmi speaks of finding "the features of life" in Raaz's work,<ref name="ref3"/> and [[Shabnam Romani]] of his "uniqueness", and his "eloquent [use of] language and civilized tones," saying that, "the ''raz'' (secret) is that Raz's poetry is new!"<ref name="ref4"/>

Raz's [[ghazal]] has received widespread applause: Professor Najmi Siddiqui calls it "a fragrant puff of air that, having touched the fertile shores of classical tradition, gives life and lesson to the reader"<ref name="ref3"/> and Mushaffiq Khwaja finds it "a custodian of the highest traditions of [[Urdu]] [[ghazal]]" which has "not only adhered to tradition, but taken it forward."<ref name="ref4"/> Similarly, Hafeez Taib has praised him for opening "new horizons" for the [[ghazal]], and saying that "his verses seem to beat with one's own pulse."<ref name="ref4"/>

===Comparison to classical poets===
Raz is often compared to different [[Urdu poetry]] greats, including [[Ghalib]], Meer and [[Yagana Changezi|Yagana]]. In his article, ''Afkaar ki Taazgi'' [The Freshness of Thoughts], modern-day poet Afsar Mahpuri draws a parallel between Raz and classical, [[ghazal]] poet, [[Yagana Changezi|Yagana]], saying that "some of Raz's verses are close to Yagana's voice" because he "has not begun his poetry with romantic exaggerations, in which countless poets waste their lives."<ref name=ref15>{{cite conference
| first = Mahpuri
| last = Afsar
| title = Afkaar Ki Taazgi (The Freshness of Thoughts)
| book-title = Rafiuddin Raz: Shaksiyat aur Shaa'iri Kay Aa'inay Main
| pages = 77
| publisher = Rang-e-Adab Publication
| location = [[Karachi]]
}}</ref>

Dr. Rasheed Nisaar, on the other hand, compares Raz to Persian-language poet Bedil and one of Urdu poetry's greatest philosophers, Ghalib, saying that Raz "possesses the same style of thought and beauty of narration as Bedil and Ghalib."<ref name=ref17>{{cite journal
| last = Shair
| first = Shair Ali
| title = Rafiuddin Raz: Shaksiyat aur Shaa'iri Kay Aa'inay Main
| journal = Rang-e-Adab
| volume = 1
| issue = 9–10
| pages = 15
| publisher = Rang-e-Adab Publication
| location = [[Karachi]]
}}</ref>

==Honours==
A book entitled ''Rafiuddin Raz: Shaksiyat aur Fan'' [Rafiuddin Raz: Personality and Art] was written by Naima Parveen, under the supervision of Sohaila Farooqi, and published as part of a study for a [[Master of Arts]] degree in [[Urdu]] in the Urdu Department of [[Karachi University]].<ref name=ref23>Pg. 42, ''Rang-e-Adab'', Rafiuddin Raaz Number.</ref>

In early 2010, the poet Zia Khan 'Zia' published a selection of Raz's poetry, titled ''Jamal-e-Hurf-e-Raz'' [The Beauty of Raz's Word]. It contained 125 of Raz's ''ghazalyat'', as well as a lengthy essay on the finer points of Raz's poetry.{{Citation needed|date= October 2012}}

In January 2013, critic Gohar Malsiani published a 624-page critical analysis of Raz poetry, titled "Sukhan Ka Chiragh" (The light of Poetry). It discusses in detail the finer points of Raz poetry.

Raz has been the subject of various poetic tributes, including ''"Abhi Darya Main Pani Hai" aur Rafiuddin Raz'' ["There is Water in the River, Yet" and Rafiuddin Raz] by Sohail Ghazipuri, ''Pairahan-e-Akfaar'' [The Dress of Thoughts] by Dr. Abdul Manaan Tarzi, ''Kharaj-e-Tehseen'' (The Gift of Praise) by Khwaja Manzar Hassan Manzar,<ref name=ref18>{{cite journal
| last = Manzar
| first = Khwaja Manzar Hassan
| title = Kharaj-e-Tesheen
| journal = Rafiuddin Raz: Shaksiyat Aur Shaa'iri Kay Aa'inay Main
| volume = 1
| issue = 9–10
| pages = 380
| publisher = Rang-e-Adab Publication
| location = [[Karachi]]
}}</ref> ''Azeez Dost, Rafiuddin Raz ki Nazar'' [For a Special Friend, Rafiuddin Raz] by Maqbool Naksh,<ref name=ref19>{{cite journal
| last = Naqsh
| first = Maqbool
| title = Azeez Dost, Rafiuddin Raz Kay Liye
| journal = Rafiuddin Raz: Shaksiyat Aur Shaa'iri Kay Aa'inay Main
| volume = 1
| issue = 9–10
| pages = 382
| publisher = Rang-e-Adab Publication
| location = [[Karachi]]
}}</ref> ''Baleegh Andaaz'' [Sophisticated Style] and ''Roshni Kay Khad-o-Khaal Ka Shaa'ir'' [The Poet of "Features of Light] by Sadeeq Fatahpuri,<ref name=refee>{{cite journal
| last = Fatahpuri
| first = Saddeeq
| title = Baleegh Andaaz
| journal = Rafiuddin Raz: Shaksiyat Aur Shaa'iri Kay Aa'inay Main
| volume = 1
| issue = 9–10
| pages = 383
| publisher = Rang-e-Adab Publication
| location = [[Karachi]]
}}</ref><ref name=ref20>{{cite journal
| last = Fatahpuri
| first = Saddeeq
| title = Roshni Kay Khad-o-Khaal Ka Shaa'ir
| journal = Rafiuddin Raz: Shaksiyat Aur Shaa'iri Kay Aa'inay Main
| volume = 1
| issue = 9–10
| pages = 386
| publisher = Rang-e-Adab Publication
| location = [[Karachi]]
}}</ref> and ''Rafiuddin Raz Kay Liye'' [For Rafiuddin Raz] by Junaid Azar.<ref name=ref26>{{cite journal
| last = Azar
| first = Junaid
| title = Rafiuddin Raaz Kay Liye
| journal = Rafiuddin Raz: Shaksiyat Aur Shaa'iri Kay Aa'inay Main
| volume = 1
| issue = 9–10
| pages = 396
| publisher = Rang-e-Adab Publication
| location = [[Karachi]]
}}</ref>

==Personal life==

===Childhood===
Raz was born in [[Begusarai District|Begusarai]], India.<ref name="ref1"/> His father Fariduddin Baig's family belonged to [[Darbhanga District|Darbhanga]], and his mother Hajra's to [[Begusarai District|Begusarai]], both districts of the state [[Bihar]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Parveen |first=Naima |title=Rafiuddin Raz: Shaksiyat Aur Fun |year=2009}}</ref>{{full citation needed|date=September 2018}}

He attended BPHE School, Begusarai before switching to the Muslim High School Lehrya Sarai but, after his parents separated in 1945, was sent to live with his father's elder brother, Hameeduddin Baig.<ref name=":0" /> Unfortunately for him, Hameeduddin was not interested in educating him, and Raz had to work as a conductor and, subsequently, driver, in Hameeduddin's transport company. He continued, however, to persist in juggling his studies alongside the job, and finally passed his Inter-Commerce Exams from Quiad-e-Azam College, Dhaka.<ref name=":0" />

===1951 onwards===
In 1951, when riots were taking place in the aftermath of the [[Partition of India]], Raz migrated to [[Dhaka]], then a part of [[East Pakistan]], and declared himself a Pakistani.<ref name=":0" />

After the proclamation of [[Bangladesh]], Raz was a prisoner of war from 1971 to 1973.<ref name=":0" /> He migrated to [[Karachi]] as soon as he was released, but found himself facing much poverty. He switched between several jobs in an attempt to earn, from tutoring kids to working as a government employee. He eventually started a business with his commanding officer, Colonel Aakil Abbas Rizvi, and established himself as a self-made and financially stable man.<ref name=":0" />

He married Noshaba Khatoon in 1964, and has six children – two daughters named Naheed Anjum and Ambreen, and four sons named Tariq, Rehan, Saqib, and Waqiuddin – with her.{{Citation needed|date= October 2012}} Currently, Raz holds a master's degree in General History, and has said that, more than anything else, it {{Vague|date=October 2012}} was an act meant to provide "moral support" to his children.<ref name=":0" />

==Books==
{| class=wikitable
|-
!Title
!Translated title
!Year published
|-
|''Deeda-e-Khush Khwab''|| ||1988
|-
|''Beenai''|| Sight ||1997
|-
|''Pairahan-e-Fikr''|| The Dress of Thought||2002
|-
|''Roshni Kay Khad-o-Khaal''||Features of Light||2005
|-
|''Abhi Darya Main Pani Hai''||There is Water in the River||2006
|-
|''Itni Tamazat Kis Liye''||For What, this Blazing Heat?||2007
|-
|''Jo ik din aaeena dekha''||azmain||2008
|-
|''Suqrat say shaikh chilli tuk''||Inshayee||2010
|-
|''Aabshare sukhan''||Rubiyat ka mujmoa||2010
|-
|''Itni Tamazat Kis Liye''||For What, this Blazing Heat?||2007
|-
|''Jo ik din aaeena dekha''||azmain||2008
|-
|''Suqrat say shaikh chilli tuk''||Inshayee||2010
|-
|''Saaz o raaz''||Rubiyat ka mujmoa||2010
|-
|''Dil Aaina Hua''||Spiritual Poetry|| 2011
|-
|''Doha Phulwari''||Collect|| 2011
|-
|''Ik Kon o Makan aur''|| || 2012
|-
|''Baat say baat''||Inshaiye|| 2015
|-
|''Qataat album''|| || 2015
|-
|''Sukhan Sarmaya''||Kulyat|| 2015
|-
|''Dar e Aaina''||Ghazaliat|| 2016
|-
|''Dil Ka Nakhlistan''||Hyko collection|| 2017
|-
|''Tajdeed e Muhabbat''|| || 2012
|-
|''sukhandan e Raaz''||poetry collection|| 2021
|-
|''Insha e Raaz''||Inshayeh|| 2020
|-
|''Wadi e Ghazal''||87 ghazals in 87 metre|| 2019
|-
|''Bar Bisat e Ghalib''||200 ghazals in 200 Ghalib's Misray|| 2021
|-
|''Abhi Kapray Badan Per Hain''||Collection of Ghazals||2022
|-
|''Gulzar-e-Sukhan''||Selected Ghazals||2024
|-
|''Kulyat-e-Hamd o Naat''||All religious poetry in one||2024
|}
* {{small|(Source:<ref name="ref1"/>)}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raz, Rafiuddin}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Poets from Bihar]]
[[Category:Urdu-language Pakistani poets]]
[[Category:Pakistani poets]]
[[Category:Pakistani people of Bihari descent]]

Rafiuddin Raz - Revision history

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