Urdu poet Jaun Elia remembered on 17th death anniversary

LAHORE (92 News) – The 17th death anniversary of renowned poet, biographer and scholar Jaun Elia is being observed on Friday. Born in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, in 1931, Elia migrated to Pakistan in 1957 and settled in Karachi. He wrote his first Urdu couplet when he was just 8. The famous poetry collections of Jaun Elia include Shayed, Ya’ni, Gumaan, Lekan, and Goya. He also had complete command over Arabic, Persian, and Hebrew. He was a highly skilled translator. For his literary services, he got the Presidential Pride of Performance Award. He died on November 8, 2002, after a protracted illness. Jaun Elia was very particular about language. His diction is rooted in the classical tradition as he touches on new subjects. One of the most prominent modern Pakistani poets, popular for his unconventional ways, he acquired knowledge of philosophy, logic, Islamic history, the Muslim Sufi tradition, Muslim religious sciences and Western literature. Jaun was an acclaimed poet in the local literary circle. His contribution to the Urdu language and literature include translation of various Mautazalite treatises, a book on 12th century Fatimid Revolutionary, Hassan Bin Sabbah and various texts about the Ismaili sect in Islam. His prose and translations of major Ismaili philosophical works can be found at Ismaili Tariqah Board libraries in Karachi. The poet studied philosophy, logic, Islamic history, Muslim Sufi tradition, Muslim religious sciences, Western literature, and Kabbala. He died after a protracted illness on Nov 8, 2002, in Karachi.