Kaifi Azmi is a famous Urdu poet and a lyricist. This great personality was born on Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh in the year 1918. His birth name was Syed Athar Husain Rizvi. Kaifi belonged to a family of Majwan landlords. Kaifi grew up in a liberal environment. He studied at Sultan-ul-Madris seminary, Lucknow. Later he did courses from Allahabad and Lucknow universities.
Kaifi Azmi started his career as a Ghazal writer. The first ghazal that he wrote was 'Itna To Zindagi Mein Kisi Ki Khalal Pade'. At that time he was only 11 years old. When Kaifi reached the age of 19 he actively involved himself in the Communist Party and started writing papers for this party. Thereafter he went to Mumbai. From his early age he started to work for trade-unions and later on became a cultural activist.
Kaifi Azmi formed a revolutionary Urdu poetry group along with Makhdoom and Faiz. The group became very popular and appealed almost 3 generations of Urdu poetry lovers. The poems that he wrote at that time were a perfect combination of romanticism and sympathy for the exploited section of the society. In 1943, his first Jhankar poems collection was published. This collection included Sarmaya and Awara Sajde. Each of his poems reflects his bold character and fearlessness of speaking the truth. He used his writing as a medium to expose the stark reality and tried to bring changes in the social conditions.
Some of his early story-writings include Parvin, Yahudi ki Bet, Id ka Chand and Miss Punjab Mail, however he became more famous for writing lyrics for Pakeezah, Bawarchi, Razia Sultan, Uski Kahani and Hanste Zakhm.
Kaifi wrote a number of poems against religious fundamentalism and communalism. He also advocated for womens rights. Some
of his best-known poems include Makaan, Bahuroopni, Saanp,
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Aurat and Makaan. Some other great artistic creations of Kaifi are Nai Gulistan, Heer Ranjha, and Meri Awaaz Suno. From 1955 to 1975 he was a dominant writer.
The film in which Mr. Azmi gave lyric for the first time was Buzdi (1952). Some of his popular film songs include Kaagaz Ke Phool, Shama, Anupama, Aakhri Khat, Shola Aur Shabnam, Hanste Zakhm Haqeeqat, Arth.
This renowned poet was honored with the Filmfare Award and National Award for dialog writing in M.S. Sathyu's Garm Hawa. He also had shown his acting skill in the film Naseem. Before he died he became a Fellow of the Sahitya Akademi (honor). Besides this, he also received Maharashtra Gaurav Award, Padma Shri, Delhi Government State Award, Yuva Bhartiya Award, Afro-Asian Writers Lotus Award and many others.
Kaifi Azmi had also been the President of IPTA (Indian People's Theater Association) and also worked for PWA (Progressive Writers Association). Kaifi was not only a renowned Urdu poet but also a good human being. He tried his level best to improve the live conditions of his village dwellers and succeeded in his mission. Presently, the village of Mijwan (his birth place) has a maternity ward, 3 schools, a Computer Training Center and is enjoying many other modern facilities.
There is also a road in Mijwan named Kaifi Azmi Road and a highway named Kaifi Azmi Highway. On the other hand, India Government has also given name to the train moving from Azamgarh to Delhi as Kaifiyaat. In Jainpur a Purvanchal University was set up as a tribute to this great personality. There is also a Kaifi Azmi Park (Phoolpur).
His wife's name is Shaukat Azmi and his daughter is famous film actress Shabana Azmi Kaifi Azmi died on 10th May, 2002 in Mumbai after suffering from respiratory and cardiac infection.
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