Josh Malihabadi

He studied at St Peter’s College in Aggra and later at Tagore’s University. As well as English and Urdu and the other standard subjects of the day he also studied Arabic and Persian. In 1925 he was a translator at Osmania University in Hyderabad but was subsequently exiled for writing against the Nizam of Hyderabad.

Following his exile he became publisher and editor of the Urdu magazine Kaleem (Questioner) in which he openly advocated independence from British rule. His fame soon spread and he became known as Shaayar-e-Inquilaab ("Poet of the Revolution"). His obvious political ideas earned him the friendship of the leaders of the day, especially Jawaharlal Nehru (later to be the first Prime Minister of India).

Following the granting of independence he edited a magazine Aaj-Kal (today and tomorrow) but he became dissatisfied with the status of the Urdu language in India feeling that it was being swamped by Hindi and he emigrated to Pakistan in 1958 against the protests of Nehru.

Josh had a masterful command of Urdu and was quite passionate about its usage. The first collection of his poetry was published in 1921. His books include Shola-o-Shabnam, Junoon-o-Hikmat, Fikr-o-Nishaat, Sunbal-o-Salaasal, Harf-o-Hikaayat, Sarod-o-Kharosh & "Irfaniyat E Josh" (all Urdu titles). He also wrote songs for Shalimar Pictures.

Josh remained in Pakistan until his death on 22nd February 1982 in Islamabad but he was unappy with the lack of status accorded to himself and his views.