Makhdoom Mohiuddin

Makhdoom Mohiuddin
Born	(1908-02-04)4 February 1908 Medak, Hyderabad State
Died	Hyderabad
Occupation	Urdu Poet
Nationality	Indian
Period	Pre and Post Independent India
Genre	Ghazal
Subject	Revolution
Signature	File:Author of the Urdu Poet Makhdoom Mohiuddin.jpg

Makhdoom Mohiuddin (Urdu: مخدوم محی الدین, Telugu : మఖ్దూం మొహియుద్దీన్) or Abu Sayeed Mohammad Makhdoom Mohiuddin Huzri (4 February 1908 – 25 August 1969) was an Urdu poet and Marxist political activist of India. He was a distinguished revolutionary Urdu poet. He founded the Progressive Writers Union in Hyderabad and was active with the Comrades Association and the Communist Party of India, and at the forefront of the 1946–1947 Telangana Rebellion against the Nizam of the erstwhile Hyderabad state.

Early life

Mohiuddin was born in the village of Andole in Medak district, Hyderabad State.

He got his school and religious education in his village and later on moved to Hyderabad city for higher education, where he received his Bachelors and Masters Degree. He settled down in Hyderabad after completing his higher education and got involved in the fight for "Free India" against British rule. He earned a masters degree in 1936 from Osmania University.

Career

Makhdoom started working as a lecturer at the City College in 1934 and taught Urdu literature. He became an Urdu language poet of incredible versatility. He was the founder of Communist Party in Andhra Pradesh state of India. Therefore he is also called as "Freedom Fighter" of India and has also rallied against the then monarchy of the Princely State of Hyderabad to merge with India. The then ruler of Hyderbad, Mir Osman Ali Khan (Nizam) had ordered to kill him for awakening people for freedom and get rid of the Nawab or the princely rule.

He is best known for his collection of poems entitled Bisat-e-Raqs (The Dance Floor), for which he was awarded the 1969 Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu. His published works include an essay "Tagore" and his Poetry, a play, Hosh ke Nakhun (Unravelling), an adaptation of Shaw's Widowers' Houses, and a collection of prose essays. Bisat-e-Raqs is a complete collection of Makhdoom's verse including his two earlier collections Surkh Savera (The Red Dawn) 1944, and Gul-e-Tar (The Dewdrenched Rose) 1961

He is known as Shayar-e-Inquilab' ('Poet of the Revolution'). His ghazals and lyrics have been used in many Hindi films. Among his notable are the romantic ghazals:Ek Chameli Ke Mandve Taley, Aap Ki Yaad Aati Rahi Raat Bhar and Phir Chhidi Raat, Baat Phoolon Ki.

He was also a member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council for 5 years and the most popular political leader across India. He had travelled almost all European countries that exist under the umbrella of Russia and also visited China. He also met Yuri Gagarin when he visited Moscow and wrote a poem on him.

Personal life

Makhdoom had a mixed childhood. His father died when he was just six years of age and his mother got married to another man. His paternal uncle took over his guardianship and ensured that he gets the best education and treated him fairly. Makhdoom was very kind to children and loved them a lot, since he got orphaned at very young age probably he very well knew the feelings of a child.

He got married to Rabia Begum and had three children with her. The eldest among his children is daughter Zakia Begum followed by two sons. The first son is Nusrath Mohiuddin, an ex-employee of State Bank of Hyderabad, a well-known poet, a member of CPI, secretary of Insaf Tehreek. The second son is Zafar Mohiuddin, works for Singareni Coal mines, Hyderabad.

On 4 and 5 February 2008, a slew of programmes were organised in Hyderabad to mark his birth centenary celebrations in which writers like Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya Vibhuti Narain Rai, scientists like P. M. Bhargava and Vice-Chancellor of University of Hyderabad Syed E. Hasnain participated.

Bibliography

His collection of poems and ghazals is titled "Besat E Raqs" and can be obtained at any book shop in Hyderabad.

Awards

• Sahitya academi Award for Urdu poetry – 1969

External links

• Makhdoom Mohiuddin at the Internet Movie Database
• A poet remembered, The Hindu, 29 January 2003
• Makhdoom a people’s poet: Abid Hussain, The Hindu, 8 February 2008
• The forgotten romantic, The Hindu 5 February 2008
• Writers to hold rally on Urdu poet The Times of India
• Documentary about Makhdoom on YouTube
• Makhdoom Mohiuddin's biography
• Birth centenary of Makhdoom Mohiuddin