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Firaq Gorakhpuri
Introduction:
On his 102nd birth anniversary, let’s pay tribute to one of the most influential contemporary Urdu poets from India, Firaq Gorakhpuri. One of the most popular contemporaries of the likes of Muhammad Iqbal, Yagana Changezi, Jigar Moradabadi and Josh Malihabadi, Firaq Gorakhpuri established himself among peers as a poet with the richness of his language, the depth of his thoughts and the complexity of his emotions. Born on 28 August 1896 in Gorakhpur, Firaq Gorakhpuri was one of the greatest poets of modern Urdu literature. He died on 3 March 1982 in New Delhi.
Early Life and Struggles
Firaq Gorakhpuri was born on 28 August 1896 in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, British India. He was born into a zamindar family and received his early education in India. However, he struggled to make a name for himself as a writer and critic. He was part of the Progressive Writers’ Movement and wrote extensively on the Partition of India. He is considered one of the most notable Urdu poets of the 20th century.
Success and Second Marriage
After a few years of great literary success, Firaq’s personal life took a turn for the worse. In 1944, his first wife died, leaving him to care for their four young children. He remarried in 1948, but his second wife also passed away soon after, leaving him with six children to raise. Despite these personal tragedies, Firaq’s literary output never faltered. In fact, he wrote some of his most powerful poetry in the years following his second wife’s death.
Achievement and Travel
Gorakhpuri’s work reflects his travels to various places in India. In his works, he has drawn on the rich cultural heritage of India. He also visited various other countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia. Gorakhpuri’s work is also characterised by his exploration of the relationship between language, thought, and reality.
Accolades and Reputation
Firaq Gorakhpuri was an Urdu poet who is considered one of the most notable writers of his time. He was highly respected by his peers and published extensively during his lifetime. He was also one of the first Indian poets to write in Urdu about the Partition of India. Gorakhpuri was awarded several prestigious awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Bhushan.
Death and Legacy
Firaq Gorakhpuri died on 3 March 1982. He was cremated at the Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi. The Government of India honoured him with the fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 1975. After his death, his son, Aftab Gorakhpuri, established the Firaq Gorakhpuri Trust to publish and propagate his father’s works.
Conclusion:
He was a controversial figure, and an alcoholic. He married a Hindu woman by the name of Sharda, who he wrote about in many of his ghazals. She died in 1969, after which Firaq spent most of his time confined to home at Bhopal or New Delhi due to declining health. In 1983 Gorakhpuri’s autobiography came out posthumously under the title ‘Mere Bachpan Ke Din’. His literary work is influenced from Khalil Gibran and Pablo Neruda. Some critics say that it was not until Iqbal where Urdu poetry saw such depth and grandeur as that written by Firaq Gorakhpuri.
