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{{short description|Pakistani academic (1938–2002)}}
{{Short description|Pakistani poet (1931–2002)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer
{{Infobox writer
| name         = Jaun Elia  
| honorific suffix  = [[Pride of Performance|PP]]
| native_name = {{nq|جون ایلیا}}
| name             = Jaun Elia
| image       = Jaun3.jpg
| native_name     = {{nq|جون ایلیا}}
| caption     =  
| native_name_lang =
| pseudonym   =  
| image           = Jaun7.jpg
| occupation   = [[Urdu Poet]], [[scholar]] [[philosopher]]
| caption         =  
| nationality = [[Colonial India]]n (1931–1947)<br />[[India]]n (1947–1957)<br />[[Pakistan]]i (1957–2002)
| pseudonym       = Jaun Elia
| education   = Philosopher, biographer, and scholar
| occupation       = [[Poet]]
| alma_mater   =  
| nationality     = Pakistani
| period       =  
| education       =  
| genre       = [[Ghazal]] [[poetry]]
| alma_mater       =  
| subject     =  
| period           =  
| movement     =  
| genre           = [[Ghazal]]
| notableworks = ''Shayad'', ''Yani'', ''Lekin'', ''Gumman'', ''Goya'', ''Farnod''
| subject         =  
| spouse       = {{marriage|[[Zahida Hina]]|1970|1992|reason=divorced}}
| movement         = [[Progressive Writers Movement]]
| partner     =  
| notableworks     = ''Shayad'', ''Yani'', ''Lekin'', ''Gumman'', ''Goya'', ''Farnood''
| children    = 2
| spouse           = {{marriage|[[Zahida Hina]]|1970|1984|reason=divorced}}
| relatives   =  
| partner         =  
| awards       =
| relatives       = [[Kamal Amrohi]] (cousin)<br/>[[Rais Amrohvi]] (older brother)
| signature    =
| awards           = [[Pride of Performance]] award by the [[President of Pakistan]] in 2000
| website      =  
| portaldisp       =  
| portaldisp   =
| imagesize       =  
| imagesize   =  
| birth_date       = {{birth date|df=yes|1931|12|14}}
| birth_date   = {{birth date|df=yes|1931|12|14}}
| birth_place     = [[Amroha]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh|United Provinces]], [[British India]]
| birth_place   = [[Amroha]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh|United Provinces]], [[British India]]
| death_date       = {{death date and age|df=yes|2002|11|08|1931|12|14}}
| death_date   = {{death date and age|df=yes|2002|11|08|1931|12|14}}
| death_place     = [[Karachi]], [[Sindh]], Pakistan
| death_place   = [[Karachi]], [[Sindh]].
| birth_name      = Syed Hussain Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi
}}
}}
'''Syed Hussain Jaun Asghar Naqvi''',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rekhta.org/poets/jaun-eliya/profile|title=Jaun Eliya – Profile & Biography}}</ref> commonly known as '''Jaun Elia''' ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|جون ایلیا}}}}, 14 December 1931 – 8 November 2002), was an [[Urdu]] poet, philosopher, biographer, and scholar from [[South Asia]] who migrated from independent India to Pakistan. He was the brother of [[Rais Amrohvi]] and Syed Muhammad Taqi, who were journalists and psychoanalysts.  He was fluent in [[Urdu]], [[Arabic]], English, [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Sanskrit]] and [[Hebrew]].{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} One of the most prominent modern Urdu poets, popular for his unconventional ways, he "acquired knowledge of philosophy, logic, Islamic history, the Muslim Sufi tradition, Muslim religious sciences, Western literature, and [[Kabbalah|Kabbala]]."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/462641/urdu-poet-jaun-elia-remembered-on-10th-death-anniversary/|title=Urdu poet Jaun Elia remembered on 10th death anniversary|website=[[The Express Tribune]]|access-date=2016-11-16|date=8 November 2012}}</ref>
'''Syed Hussain Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi{{efn|{{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|سید حسین سبطِ اصغر نقوی}}}}}}''' (14 December 1931 – 8 November 2002), commonly known by his [[Takhallus|pen name]] '''Jaun Elia''',{{efn|{{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|جون ایلیا}}}}}} was a [[Pakistani]] [[poet]].<ref name=BBC>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/urdu/articles/c8dqgznqd1no?at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_link_id=DB72204A-B9C9-11EF-BC8F-C641EBFC933A&at_campaign_type=owned&at_link_type=web_link&at_medium=social&at_link_origin=BBC_URDU&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_format=link&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0MerFBIXL5nIgXsZGw_LSJsmp_H8m6XfInEp58ABMrqdhJmYVyTNsIrSk_aem_5ISmRO9uvicVOdzn-JSP8Q|title=جون ایلیا: اپنے خیالوں میں گم مسافر جسے شاعروں کا شاعر کہا گیا (Jaun Elia, who has been called a poet of poets) (in Urdu language)|date=14 December 2024|url-status=dead|access-date=7 November 2025|archive-date=24 January 2025|website=BBC News اردو |author=Reyhan Fazal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124191724/https://www.bbc.com/urdu/articles/c8dqgznqd1no?at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_link_id=DB72204A-B9C9-11EF-BC8F-C641EBFC933A}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jaun Eliya - Profile & Biography |url=https://www.rekhta.org/poets/jaun-eliya/profile |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=[[Rekhta (website)|Rekhta]] |language=en}}</ref>  


== Early life ==
One of the most prominent modern [[Urdu poets]] of {{Transliteration|ur|[[ghazal]]s}} (amatory poems), popular for his unconventional ways, he "acquired knowledge of [[philosophy]], [[logic]], [[Islamic history]], the Muslim [[Sufi]] tradition, Muslim religious sciences, [[Western literature]], and [[Kabbalah|Kabbala]]".<ref name=":0" />  
Jaun Elia was born as Syed '''''Sibt-e-Asghar Naqv'''''i<ref>Iftikhar Alam (9 November 2016), [https://nation.com.pk/09-Nov-2016/jani-kya-aaj-meri-barsi-hai-yani-kya-aaj-mar-gya-tha-main "Jani! kya aaj meri barsi hai–Yani kya aaj mar gya tha main?"], ''Dawn News''. Retrieved 26 October 2019.</ref> on 14 December 1931 in [[Amroha]], [[British India]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/spectrum/society/in-search-of-jaun-elia/641825.html|title=In search of Jaun Elia|work=The Tribune , India}}</ref> His father, Shafiq Elia, was a scholar of literature and astronomy well-versed in the Arabic, English, Persian, Hebrew and Sanskrit languages, and who corresponded with leading intellectuals like [[Bertrand Russell]].<ref>Salman Altaf (5 November 2017), [https://www.dawn.com/news/1367921 "ESSAY: THE ELIA PARADOX"], ''Dawn News''. Retrieved 15 October 2019.</ref> He was the youngest of his siblings. [[Rais Amrohvi]] was his elder brother. Indian film director [[Kamal Amrohi]] was his first cousin.<ref name=Dawn>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1097578 |author=Manzoor Kureshi|title=In the name of father|publisher=[[DAWN (newspaper)|Dawn]]|date=4 April 2014|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref>


Described as a child prodigy, he was initially educated at the ''Syed-ul-Madaris'' in Amroha, a [[madrassah]] associated with the [[Darul Uloom Deoband]], despite his family being [[Shia]].<ref>[https://www.dawn.com/news/65845 "KARACHI: Jon knew how to enthral audience"], ''Dawn News''. Retrieved 26 October 2019.</ref>
He was fluent in [[Urdu]], [[Arabic]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]], [[English language|English]], [[Farsi|Persian]], [[Sanskrit]] and [[Hebrew]].<ref name=BBC/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/462641/urdu-poet-jaun-elia-remembered-on-10th-death-anniversary/|title=Urdu poet Jaun Elia remembered on 10th death anniversary|website=[[The Express Tribune]]|access-date=2016-11-16|date=8 November 2012}}</ref> Elia was also the younger brother of poet [[Rais Amrohvi]].


Being a communist, Elia [[opposition to the partition of India|opposed the partition of India]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jalil |first1=Xari |title=Master of loneliness and frenzy |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/11/05/master-of-loneliness-and-frenzy/ |website=Pakistan Today |date=November 5, 2011}}</ref> Elia once remarked on Pakistan that "this was the mischief of boys from [[Aligarh]]".<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.dawn.com/news/1297169| title = History: The city of lost dreams - Newspaper - DAWN.COM}} </ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Life and politics in South Asia (Part 1) |url=https://www.jamhoor.org/read/2020/4/3/life-and-politics-in-south-asia |website=Jamhoor |date=April 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rekhta.org/poets/jaun-eliya|title=Ghazals of Jaun Eliya {{!}} Rekhta|website=Rekhta|access-date=2016-11-10}}</ref> However, he realized his mistake and accepted Pakistan as his ultimate home , finally migrated to Pakistan in 1957, and decided to live in [[Karachi]]. Poet [[Pirzada Qasim]] said:
== Early life and family ==
{{blockquote|Jaun was very particular about language. While his diction is rooted in the [[classicism|classical]] tradition, he touches on new subjects. He remained in quest of an ideal all his life. Unable to find the ideal eventually, he became angry and frustrated. He felt, perhaps with reason, that he had squandered his talent.<ref>{{cite book | title=Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Urdu Literature (2 Vols. Set) | publisher=Global Vision Publishing | author=Samiuddin, Abida | year=2007 | pages=201 | isbn=9788182201910}}</ref>}}
Jaun Elia was born on 14 December 1931 in [[Amroha]], UP, [[British India]] into an educated [[Shia Islam|Shia]] family. He was the youngest child of Allama Shafiq Hassan Elia.<ref name=BBC/><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=26 August 2018 |title=In search of Jaun Elia |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/in-search-of-jaun-elia-641825 |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=TheNation2>{{Cite news|last=Alam |first=Iftikhar|date=9 November 2016|url-status=dead|title=Jani! kya aaj meri barsi hai–Yani kya aaj mar gya tha main? |url=https://nation.com.pk/09-Nov-2016/jani-kya-aaj-meri-barsi-hai-yani-kya-aaj-mar-gya-tha-main|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026112829/https://nation.com.pk/09-Nov-2016/jani-kya-aaj-meri-barsi-hai-yani-kya-aaj-mar-gya-tha-main|archive-date=26 October 2019|access-date=2025-11-09|newspaper=The Nation newspaper}}</ref> His father was a scholar of literature and astronomy well-versed in the Arabic, English, Persian, Hebrew and Sanskrit languages, and who corresponded with leading intellectuals like [[Bertrand Russell]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Altaf |first=Salman |date=2017-11-05 |title=Essay: The Elia Paradox |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1367921 |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |language=en}}</ref> Jaun Elia was the youngest of his siblings: his brother [[Rais Amrohvi]] was a poet and psychoanalyst while another brother, Syed Mohammed Taqi, was a philosopher and a translator who had translated [[Karl Marx]]'s ''[[Das Kapital]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 November 2002 |title=KARACHI: Jon Elia's death condoled |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/66001/karachi-jon-elia-s-death-condoled |website=Dawn News}}</ref> Indian film director [[Kamal Amrohi]] was his first cousin.<ref name="Dawn">{{cite web |author=Kureshi |first=Manzoor |date=4 April 2014 |title=In the name of father |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1097578 |access-date=26 March 2018 |publisher=[[DAWN (newspaper)|Dawn]]}}</ref> Another relative in Pakistan is actor [[Munawar Saeed]], famous for his roles as a villain.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Suhayb |first=Muhammad |date=22 June 2021 |title=Good to be Bad: The Villains of Pakistani Cinema |url=https://www.youlinmagazine.com/article/good-to-be-bad-the-villains-of-pakistani-cinema/MjAyNg== |access-date=25 March 2023 |website=Youlin Magazine |quote=Related to famous poets like Raees Amrohvi and Jaun Elia, Munawwar Saeed often had trouble with the Punjabi language, and often reverted back to Urdu in his dialogue.}}</ref>


He began writing poetry at the age of 8 but published his first collection, ''Shayad'', when he was 60.<ref>Staff Reporter (15 December 2018), [https://nation.com.pk/15-Dec-2018/jaun-elia-remembered "Jaun Elia remembered"], ''The Nation''. Retrieved 26 October 2019.</ref>
Described as a child prodigy, Jaun was initially educated at the Syed-ul-Madaris in Amroha, a [[madrasa]] affiliated with the [[Darul Uloom Deoband]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2002 |title=KARACHI: Jon knew how to enthral audience |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/65845/karachi-jon-knew-how-to-enthral-audience |website=[[Dawn News]]}}</ref>


He married writer [[Zahida Hina]] in 1970<ref>Gitanjali Dang and Khanabadosh, [https://www.firstpost.com/long-reads/inhabiting-urdu-with-jaun-elia-and-khwaab-tanha-6112181.html "Inhabiting Urdu with Jaun Elia and Khwaab Tanha"], ''FirstPost''. Retrieved 26 October 2019.</ref> and they separated in 1992.<ref>[https://www.dawn.com/news/65845 "KARACHI: Jon knew how to enthral audience"], ''Dawn News''. Retrieved 26 October 2019.</ref>
==Marriage and Children==
He married writer [[Zahida Hina ]] in the year 1970. He met her during the publication of an urdu language magazine ''Insha'' and ended up falling in love with her.<ref name=BBC/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Zahida Hina - Profile & Biography |url=https://www.rekhta.org/authors/zahida-hina-3/profile |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=[[Rekhta (website)|Rekhta]] |language=en}}</ref> They got separated in 1984 and later divorced due to differences in their temperament.<ref name=BBC/>
 
They have three children, Zeryoun Elia, Fainnana and Sohaina Elia<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-11 |title=Jaun Elia: An Enduring Legacy In Urdu Poetry |url=https://thefridaytimes.com/11-Nov-2024/jaun-elia-an-enduring-legacy-in-urdu-poetry |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=The Friday Times |language=en}}</ref>
 
== Writing career ==
He began writing poetry when he was 8 but published his first collection, ''Shayad'', when he was 60.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 December 2018 |title=Jaun Elia remembered |url=https://nation.com.pk/2018/12/15/jaun-elia-remembered/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=[[The Nation (Pakistan)|The Nation]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
== Political views ==
=== Partition and migration to Pakistan ===
Being a communist, Elia [[opposition to the partition of India|opposed the partition of India]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=5 November 2011 |title=Master of loneliness and frenzy {{!}} Pakistan Today |url=https://archive.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/11/05/master-of-loneliness-and-frenzy/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=[[Pakistan Today]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Life and politics in South Asia (Part 1) |url=https://www.jamhoor.org/read/2020/4/3/life-and-politics-in-south-asia |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=Jamhoor |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=All writings of Jaun Eliya |url=https://www.rekhta.org/poets/jaun-eliya/all |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=[[Rekhta (website)|Rekhta]] |language=en}}</ref> However, he eventually migrated to Pakistan in 1956, and decided to live in [[Karachi]].<ref name=BBC/>
 
=== Communism ===
In his poems, he supported [[Socialism in Pakistan|communism in Pakistan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salim |first=Saquib |date=2018-06-29 |title=Jaun Elia: A Communist Poet Who Found Religion and Marxism Compatible |url=https://thewire.in/culture/jaun-elia-a-communist-poet-who-found-religion-and-marxism-compatible |access-date=2021-05-26 |website=The Wire}}</ref> References to [[class consciousness]] are also seen in his poems. He also was described as ''"An [[Anarchism|anarchist]], a [[Nihilism|nihilist]], and a poet"''.<ref name=DunyaNews/>
 
==Death, legacy and popular culture==
Jaun Elia died on 8 November 2002 at age 70 in Karachi, Pakistan.<ref name=RadioPakistan/> Some people that knew him called him a difficult, temperamental and complicated person. He also drank alcohol excessively which then contributed to his health problems.<ref name=BBC/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chakraborty |first1=Debdutta |title=Pakistan's Jaun Elia was more than a tragic poet. He was an atheist, Marxist & philosopher |url=https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/pakistans-jaun-elia-was-more-than-tragic-poet-was-atheist-marxist-philosopher/2346698/ |access-date=3 November 2025 |work=The Print website|date=8 November 2024}}</ref>
 
Poet [[Pirzada Qasim]] said:
{{blockquote|Jaun was very particular about language. While his diction is rooted in the [[classicism|classical]] tradition, he touches on new subjects. He remained in quest of an ideal all his life. Unable to find the ideal eventually, he became angry and frustrated. He felt, perhaps with reason, that he had squandered his talent.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Urdu Literature (2 Vols. Set)| publisher=Global Vision Publishing | author=Samiuddin, Abida|year=2007|pages=201|isbn=9788182201910}}</ref>}}
 
According to [[BBC News]] website:
<blockquote>
Jaun Elia's friend Qamar Razi once said of him, "He was quick to criticize, but he was a true friend, a lost traveler in his thoughts".<ref name=BBC/>
 
Noted Indian poet [[Majrooh Sultanpuri]] called him "the poet of poets"...<ref name=BBC/>
</blockquote>
 
In 2020, Punjabi rapper Kay Kap's album ''Rough Rhymes for Tough Times'' featured a song entitled ''Bulaava'' which had couplets from the poem ''Pehnaayi Ka Makaan'' written and recited by Jaun Elia.<ref>{{Citation |title=Kay Kap (Ft. Jaun Elia) – Bulaava |url=https://genius.com/Kay-kap-bulaava-lyrics |access-date=2022-08-23}}</ref>
 
In 2020, Pakistani rock-fusion band Nishtar Park released a single ''Purane Aur Naye Sawal'' which was based on Elia's ghazal ''Umr Guzaregi Imtihan Mein Kya''.
 
In 2023, Urdu rapper [[Talha Anjum]]’s album ''Open Letter'' featured a song entitled ''Secrets'' which was strongly influenced by Jaun Elia’s poem ''Be-dilli Kya Yuhin Din Guzar Jaenge''. Talha Anjum’s other works are also heavily influenced by Jaun Elia’s poetry.
 
===Commemorative postage stamp===
On his death anniversary of 8 November 2013, [[Pakistan Post|Pakistan Post Office]] issued a commemorative postage stamp to honor him for his literary services in its 'Men of Letters' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tareekhepakistan.com/public/index.php/detail/1948|url-status=dead|title=Men of Letters - Jaun Elia|website=Tareekh-e-Pakistan website|date=8 November 2013|archive-date=7 November 2025|access-date=9 November 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251107191655/https://tareekhepakistan.com/public/index.php/detail/1948}}</ref>
 
==Awards and recognition==
*[[Pride of Performance]] award by the [[President of Pakistan]] for his literary services in 2000.<ref name=TheNation>{{cite news|url=https://www.nation.com.pk/09-Nov-2022/renowned-poet-jaun-elia-remembered|url-status=dead|date=9 November 2022|archive-date=6 December 2022|access-date=7 November 2025|title=Renowned poet Jaun Elia remembered|newspaper=The Nation newspaper|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206170840/https://www.nation.com.pk/09-Nov-2022/renowned-poet-jaun-elia-remembered}}</ref><ref name=RadioPakistan>{{cite web|url=https://radio.gov.pk/08-11-2024/death-anniversary-of-jaun-elia-being-observed-today|url-status=dead|date=8 November 2024|archive-date=8 November 2024|access-date=7 November 2025|website=Radio Pakistan website|title=Death anniversary of Jaun Elia observed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241108203620/https://radio.gov.pk/08-11-2024/death-anniversary-of-jaun-elia-being-observed-today}}</ref>


== Works ==
== Works ==
=== Poetry collections ===
=== Poetry collections ===
*''Sukhan Meri Udasee Hai''
*''Sukhan Meri Udasee Hai''
*''Zakham-e-Umeed – زخمِ امید''
*''Zakham-e-Umeed''
*''Mubada''
*''Mubada''
*''Tumharey Aur Mere Darmiyan''
*''Tumharey Aur Mere Darmiyan''
Line 56: Line 92:
*''Jaun Elia Ki Tamam Ghazlain'' (parts I-III)
*''Jaun Elia Ki Tamam Ghazlain'' (parts I-III)
*''Inshaye aur Mazaameen''
*''Inshaye aur Mazaameen''
*''Farnood''
*''Farnood''<ref name=DunyaNews/>
*''Is Rang Ke Tufaan'' اس رنگ کے طوفاں''
*''Shayad''<ref name=DunyaNews/><ref name=RadioPakistan/>
*''Shayad''
*''Firaaq''
*''Lekin''<ref name=DunyaNews/><ref name=RadioPakistan/>
*''Goya''<ref name=RadioPakistan/>
*''Gumaan''<ref name=RadioPakistan/>
*''Ramooz''<ref name=RadioPakistan/>
*''Ya'ni''<ref name=RadioPakistan/>


=== Prose work (mainly translations) ===
=== Prose work (mainly translations) ===
Elia was not just a poet but was also an editor and a translator, especially of old [[Sufi]], [[Mutazili]] and [[Ismaili]] treatises.  
Elia was not just a poet but was also an editor and a translator, especially of old [[Sufi]], [[Mutazili]] and [[Ismaili]] treatises.  
* Masih-i-Baghdad [[Hallaj]],  
* ''Masih-i-Baghdad [[Hallaj]],''
* Jometria,  
* ''Jometria,''
* Tawasin,  
* ''Tawasin, usman''
* Isaghoji,  
* ''Isaghoji,''
* Rahaish-o-Kushaish,  
* ''Rahaish-o-Kushaish,''
* [[Hasan bin Sabah]]  
* ''[[Hasan bin Sabah]]''
* Farnod, Tajrid,  
* ''Farnod, Tajrid,''
* Masail-i-Tajrid,  
* ''Masail-i-Tajrid,''
* Rasail [[Ikhwan al Safa]]  
* ''Rasail [[Ikhwan al Safa]]''
Above are some of his translations from Arabic and Persian. Not only did he translate these books but also introduced several new words in Urdu language.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/307638-Jon-Elia--An-anarchist-a-nihilist-and-a-poet|title=Jaun Elia – An anarchist, a nihilist and a poet – Pakistan – Dunya News|access-date=2016-07-15}}</ref>
Above are some of his translations from Arabic and Persian. Not only did he translate these books but also introduced several new words in the Urdu language.<ref name=DunyaNews>{{Cite web|date=7 November 2016|title=Jaun Elia - An anarchist, annihilist, and a poet - Pakistan |url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/307638-Jaun-Elia--An-anarchist-a-nihilist-and-a-poet |access-date=2025-11-08|website=Dunya News website|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520204153/https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/307638-Jon-Elia--An-anarchist-a-nihilist-and-a-poet}}</ref>
 
==Themes==
 
His poetry is known for love and the unending pain of separation. He expressed the pain and sorrow in a distinct way that anyone could get influenced by his poetry. We get the flow of pain that his counterparts are lacking.
Jaun Elia was nihilist and anarchist as well he had a distinguished philosophy of love in his poetry. According to him, the highest level of love is in actual the Beginning of separation from lover.
As he says :
{You are coming very close to me,
Have you decided to leave?}
بہت نزدیک آتی جا رہی ہو ۔۔بچھڑنے کا ارادہ کرلیا کیا؟
And also :
{What did you say? Love is eternal! کیا کہا محبت جاودانی ہے؟آخری بار مل رہی ہو کیا؟
Is this last meeting of us? }
He also wrote poetry about love, philosophy of love life, but he is well known as a poet of pain.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
 
=== Politics ===
Jaun Elia was a communist who, in his poems, supported [[Socialism in Pakistan|communism in Pakistan]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Salim|first=Saquib|date=2018-06-29|title=Jaun Elia: A Communist Poet Who Found Religion and Marxism Compatible|url=https://thewire.in/culture/jaun-elia-a-communist-poet-who-found-religion-and-marxism-compatible|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-26|website=The Wire}}</ref> References to class consciousness are also seen in his poems.
 
==In media==
 
In 2020, Punjabi rapper Kay Kap's album "Rough Rhymes for Tough Times" featured a song entitled ''Bulaava'' which had couplets from the poem 'Pehnaayi Ka Makaan' written & recited by Jaun Elia.<ref>"https://genius.com/Kay-kap-bulaava-lyrics". Retrieved 20 December 2020.</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Rais Amrohvi]]
* [[Rais Amrohvi]]
* [[Rahat Indori]]
* [[Munawwar Rana]]


== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" />
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
=== Bibliography ===
* {{Cite book |last=Iqbal |first=Neha |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/detail/jaun-eliya-hayat-aur-shayari-neha-iqbal-ebooks |title=Jaun Eliya Hayat Aur Shayari |year=2019 |isbn= |location=Amroha |language=ur}}
* {{Cite book |last=Syed |first=Naseem |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/detail/jaun-eliya-khush-guzran-guzar-gaye-ebooks |title=Jaun Eliya-khush Guzran Guzar Gaye |publisher=Academy Bazyaft |year=2011 |location=Karachi |language=ur}}
* {{Cite book |last=Khan |first=Rahat Raees |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pJmFEAAAQBAJ |title=Qurbat-e-Tanhai, Unheard Jaun Elia |date=25 August 2022 |publisher=Bluerose Publishers |location=Noida |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sikandar |first=Irshad Khan |title=Jaun Elia Ka Jin |publisher=Rajpal and Sons |publication-date=7 March 2023 |language=hi}}
* {{Cite book |last=Imam |first=Ameer |title=Koi Rehta Hai Aasmaan Mein Kya |publisher=Rekhta Publications |year=2023 |location=Delhi |language=hi}}
* {{Cite book |last=Firozabadi |first=Muntazir |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/759255851/Jaun-Elia-Ek-Ajab-Ghazab-Shayar-%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95-%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AC-%E0%A4%97-%E0%A4%9C-%E0%A4%AC-%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B0-Hindi |title=Jaun Elia: Ek Ajab-Ghazab Shayar |publisher=Hind Yugm |year=2019 |isbn=9789384419998 |edition=3rd |location=Noida |language=hi}}
* {{Cite book |last=Elia |first=Jaun |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RQVNEAAAQBAJ |title=Lekin |date=2021-11-09 |publisher=Vani Prakashan |isbn=978-93-90678-58-7 |editor-last=Vishwas |editor-first=Dr. Kumar |editor-link=Kumar Vishwas |language=hi}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pulltogether/s_jon_eilya.shtml BBC Urdu's collection of writings on Jaun Elia] {{in lang|ur}}
* [https://www.nawadiraat.org/poets/jaun-elia Collection of writings on Jaun Elia] {{in lang|ur}}
* [https://poetistic.com/writers/jaun-elia Jaun Elia sher/ghazal/nazm collection]


{{Pride of Performance for Arts}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:Urdu-language Pakistani writers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Pride of Performance]]

Latest revision as of 22:07, 3 March 2026


Jaun Elia

PP
Native name
جون ایلیا
BornSyed Hussain Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi
(1931-12-14)14 December 1931
Amroha, United Provinces, British India
Died8 November 2002(2002-11-08) (aged 70)
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Pen nameJaun Elia
OccupationPoet
NationalityPakistani
GenreGhazal
Literary movementProgressive Writers Movement
Notable worksShayad, Yani, Lekin, Gumman, Goya, Farnood
Notable awardsPride of Performance award by the President of Pakistan in 2000
Spouse
​
(
m. 1970; div. 1984)
RelativesKamal Amrohi (cousin)
Rais Amrohvi (older brother)

Syed Hussain Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi[lower-alpha 1] (14 December 1931 – 8 November 2002), commonly known by his pen name Jaun Elia,[lower-alpha 2] was a Pakistani poet.[1][2]

One of the most prominent modern Urdu poets of ghazals (amatory poems), popular for his unconventional ways, he "acquired knowledge of philosophy, logic, Islamic history, the Muslim Sufi tradition, Muslim religious sciences, Western literature, and Kabbala".[3]

He was fluent in Urdu, Arabic, Sindhi, English, Persian, Sanskrit and Hebrew.[1][3] Elia was also the younger brother of poet Rais Amrohvi.

Early life and family[edit | edit source]

Jaun Elia was born on 14 December 1931 in Amroha, UP, British India into an educated Shia family. He was the youngest child of Allama Shafiq Hassan Elia.[1][4][5] His father was a scholar of literature and astronomy well-versed in the Arabic, English, Persian, Hebrew and Sanskrit languages, and who corresponded with leading intellectuals like Bertrand Russell.[6] Jaun Elia was the youngest of his siblings: his brother Rais Amrohvi was a poet and psychoanalyst while another brother, Syed Mohammed Taqi, was a philosopher and a translator who had translated Karl Marx's Das Kapital.[7] Indian film director Kamal Amrohi was his first cousin.[8] Another relative in Pakistan is actor Munawar Saeed, famous for his roles as a villain.[9]

Described as a child prodigy, Jaun was initially educated at the Syed-ul-Madaris in Amroha, a madrasa affiliated with the Darul Uloom Deoband.[10]

Marriage and Children[edit | edit source]

He married writer Zahida Hina in the year 1970. He met her during the publication of an urdu language magazine Insha and ended up falling in love with her.[1][11] They got separated in 1984 and later divorced due to differences in their temperament.[1]

They have three children, Zeryoun Elia, Fainnana and Sohaina Elia[12]

Writing career[edit | edit source]

He began writing poetry when he was 8 but published his first collection, Shayad, when he was 60.[13]

Political views[edit | edit source]

Partition and migration to Pakistan[edit | edit source]

Being a communist, Elia opposed the partition of India.[14][15][16] However, he eventually migrated to Pakistan in 1956, and decided to live in Karachi.[1]

Communism[edit | edit source]

In his poems, he supported communism in Pakistan.[17] References to class consciousness are also seen in his poems. He also was described as "An anarchist, a nihilist, and a poet".[18]

Death, legacy and popular culture[edit | edit source]

Jaun Elia died on 8 November 2002 at age 70 in Karachi, Pakistan.[19] Some people that knew him called him a difficult, temperamental and complicated person. He also drank alcohol excessively which then contributed to his health problems.[1][20]

Poet Pirzada Qasim said:

Jaun was very particular about language. While his diction is rooted in the classical tradition, he touches on new subjects. He remained in quest of an ideal all his life. Unable to find the ideal eventually, he became angry and frustrated. He felt, perhaps with reason, that he had squandered his talent.[21]

According to BBC News website:

Jaun Elia's friend Qamar Razi once said of him, "He was quick to criticize, but he was a true friend, a lost traveler in his thoughts".[1]

Noted Indian poet Majrooh Sultanpuri called him "the poet of poets"...[1]

In 2020, Punjabi rapper Kay Kap's album Rough Rhymes for Tough Times featured a song entitled Bulaava which had couplets from the poem Pehnaayi Ka Makaan written and recited by Jaun Elia.[22]

In 2020, Pakistani rock-fusion band Nishtar Park released a single Purane Aur Naye Sawal which was based on Elia's ghazal Umr Guzaregi Imtihan Mein Kya.

In 2023, Urdu rapper Talha Anjum’s album Open Letter featured a song entitled Secrets which was strongly influenced by Jaun Elia’s poem Be-dilli Kya Yuhin Din Guzar Jaenge. Talha Anjum’s other works are also heavily influenced by Jaun Elia’s poetry.

Commemorative postage stamp[edit | edit source]

On his death anniversary of 8 November 2013, Pakistan Post Office issued a commemorative postage stamp to honor him for his literary services in its 'Men of Letters' series.[23]

Awards and recognition[edit | edit source]

Works[edit | edit source]

Poetry collections[edit | edit source]

  • Sukhan Meri Udasee Hai
  • Zakham-e-Umeed
  • Mubada
  • Tumharey Aur Mere Darmiyan
  • Daricha Haye Kheyal
  • Qitaat
  • Jaun Elia Ki Tamam Ghazlain (parts I-III)
  • Inshaye aur Mazaameen
  • Farnood[18]
  • Shayad[18][19]
  • Firaaq
  • Lekin[18][19]
  • Goya[19]
  • Gumaan[19]
  • Ramooz[19]
  • Ya'ni[19]

Prose work (mainly translations)[edit | edit source]

Elia was not just a poet but was also an editor and a translator, especially of old Sufi, Mutazili and Ismaili treatises.

Above are some of his translations from Arabic and Persian. Not only did he translate these books but also introduced several new words in the Urdu language.[18]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.
  2. ↑ Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Reyhan Fazal (14 December 2024). "جون ایلیا: اپنے خیالوں میں گم مسافر جسے شاعروں کا شاعر کہا گیا (Jaun Elia, who has been called a poet of poets) (in Urdu language)". BBC News اردو. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  2. ↑ "Jaun Eliya - Profile & Biography". Rekhta. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Urdu poet Jaun Elia remembered on 10th death anniversary". The Express Tribune. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "In search of Jaun Elia". The Tribune. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  5. ↑ Alam, Iftikhar (9 November 2016). "Jani! kya aaj meri barsi hai–Yani kya aaj mar gya tha main?". The Nation newspaper. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  6. ↑ Altaf, Salman (5 November 2017). "Essay: The Elia Paradox". Dawn. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  7. ↑ "KARACHI: Jon Elia's death condoled". Dawn News. 11 November 2002.
  8. ↑ Kureshi, Manzoor (4 April 2014). "In the name of father". Dawn. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  9. ↑ Suhayb, Muhammad (22 June 2021). "Good to be Bad: The Villains of Pakistani Cinema". Youlin Magazine. Retrieved 25 March 2023. Related to famous poets like Raees Amrohvi and Jaun Elia, Munawwar Saeed often had trouble with the Punjabi language, and often reverted back to Urdu in his dialogue.
  10. ↑ "KARACHI: Jon knew how to enthral audience". Dawn News. 10 November 2002.
  11. ↑ "Zahida Hina - Profile & Biography". Rekhta. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  12. ↑ "Jaun Elia: An Enduring Legacy In Urdu Poetry". The Friday Times. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  13. ↑ "Jaun Elia remembered". The Nation. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  14. ↑ "Master of loneliness and frenzy | Pakistan Today". Pakistan Today. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  15. ↑ "Life and politics in South Asia (Part 1)". Jamhoor. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  16. ↑ "All writings of Jaun Eliya". Rekhta. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  17. ↑ Salim, Saquib (29 June 2018). "Jaun Elia: A Communist Poet Who Found Religion and Marxism Compatible". The Wire. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 "Jaun Elia - An anarchist, annihilist, and a poet - Pakistan". Dunya News website. 7 November 2016. Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 19.7 "Death anniversary of Jaun Elia observed". Radio Pakistan website. 8 November 2024. Archived from the original on 8 November 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  20. ↑ Chakraborty, Debdutta (8 November 2024). "Pakistan's Jaun Elia was more than a tragic poet. He was an atheist, Marxist & philosopher". The Print website. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  21. ↑ Samiuddin, Abida (2007). Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Urdu Literature (2 Vols. Set). Global Vision Publishing. p. 201. ISBN 9788182201910.
  22. ↑ Kay Kap (Ft. Jaun Elia) – Bulaava, retrieved 23 August 2022
  23. ↑ "Men of Letters - Jaun Elia". Tareekh-e-Pakistan website. 8 November 2013. Archived from the original on 7 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  24. ↑ "Renowned poet Jaun Elia remembered". The Nation newspaper. 9 November 2022. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2025.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

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