Najm Afandi- Forgotten Marsiya Writer

Najm Afandi

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

“Sha'ir hoo jinka Najm woh hain wajah-e-kainaat

Mumkin hai ta-abad mera naam-o-nishaan rahe”

(Najm is poet of those for whom exists the universe,

My name may last until existence of the universe)

Najam Afandi had composed the above couplet with the hope that his contribution to Karbala literature will be acknowledged by Imamis for a long time. Ironically, he remains unsung despite being a great Shair-e-Ahlebait of Indian sub-continent. Imamis who play an active role in observance of Muharram ceremonies never think of organizing a seminar on his life and works nor encourage recital of his marsiyas during majalis. The apathy towards him is quite appalling in view of his family’s great contribution to Azadari and his own status as a Marsiya-Writer. Najm was born in Agra in1893. He shifted to Hyderabad Deccan later from where he went to Pakistan in 60s where he breathed his last in 1975.

 On his death , Shair-E-Inquilab Josh Malihabadi had remarked”I held Najm's verses and poetry in great esteem which has no match, with his death Urdu is desolate."Najm’s  father Bazm Afandi was also a great marsiya writer but his work is no longer available. Najm married once and had 7 children, the eldest one being his only son,  Sohail Afandi who was an internationally acclaimed Zakir-e-Ahlebait and died in Hyderabad Deccan last year. Najm’s grandson Asghar Afandi is also a religious scholar and speaker of international repute. He is settled in Hyderabad Deccan. Imamis should draw inspiration from Dr. Taqi Abdi who has done extensive research on Najm and tried to preserve his work. He deserves appreciation in view of the fact that he is a pathologist by profession yet he takes off his time from his busy schedule to conduct research on forgotten Shair-E-Ahlebait and marsiya writers.   (References available on request.Photo Courtesy-Google Images)