What do you think?
Rate this book
Lekin / لیکن
- GenresPoetry
250 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2010
About the author
Jaun Elia
33 books418 followersJaun Elia was a notable Pakistani Urdu poet. He was widely praised for his unique style of writing. He was the brother of renowned journalist and psychoanalyst Rais Amrohvi and journalist and world-renowned philosopher Syed Muhammad Taqi. He was husband of famous columnist Zahida Hina. He was a man of letters, well versed in Arabic, English, Persian, Sanskrit and Hebrew.
Jaun Elia was born on December 14, 1931 in an illustrious family of Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. He was the youngest of his siblings. His father, Allama Shafiq Hasan Elia, was deeply involved in art and literature and also an astrologer and a poet. This literary environment modeled him along the same lines, and he wrote his first Urdu couplet when he was just 8.
Jaun was very sensitive in his early teen age. His preoccupations in those days were his imaginary beloved character, Sophia, and his anger at the English occupiers of India. He used to do dramatic presentations of the early Muslim period, and hence his knowledge of Muslim history was recognized by many. According to him, his early poetry reflected the dialogue nature of stage drama.
A close relation of Elia's, Syed Mumtaz Saeed, recalled that Elia also went to Syed-ul-Madaris in Amroha, a Madressah (Koranic school). "Jaun had a way with languages. He could learn them effortlessly. Apart from Arabic and Persian that he had learnt at the Madressah, he acquired great proficiency in English and a smattering of Hebrew."
During his youth, the united India was involved in a Muslim-Hindu feud, which led to the partition of the country on religious lines once British rule ended. Being a Communist, Elia was averse to the idea, but finally accepted it as a compromise. Elia migrated to Pakistan in 1957, and made Karachi his home. Before long, he became popular in the literary circles of the city. His poetry, which bears ample testimony to his wide-ranging reading habits, won him acclaim and approbation. Poet Pirzada Qasim said: "Jaun was very particular about language. While his diction is rooted in the classical tradition, he touches on new subjects. He remained in quest of an ideal all his life. Unable to find the ideal eventually, he became angry and frustrated. He felt, perhaps with reason, that he had squandered his talent." He was a prolific writer, but could not be convinced to publish his work. His first poetry collection Shayad (an Urdu word which means "Maybe") was published in 1991, when he was 60. The poetry presented in this collection added Jaun Elia's name in the Urdu literary canon forever. Jaun Elia's preface in this collection provided deep insights into his works and the culture within which he was expressing his ideas. The preface can also be considered as one of the finest examples of modern Urdu prose. It covered his intellectual evolution in different periods of time, and his philosophy of poetry, science, religion, etc. The second collection of his poetry Ya'ani was published posthumously in 2003 . Afterwords Jaun's trustworthy companion Khalid Ansari has compiled and published his three consecutive collections, “Gumaan” (an Urdu word which means "Illusion") in 2004, “Lekin” 2006 and “Goya” 2008, one more collection ‘Kyon’ is now under processing.
An eminent Urdu literary critic, Dr. Muhammad Ali Siddiqui has called Jaun Elia one of the three most eminent ghazal poets of Urdu of the second half of the twentieth century.
Jaun Elia was an unabashed open anarchist and nihilist in generally a conservative and religious society. His elder brother, Rais Amrohvi, himself a poet and influential intellectual, was brutally murdered , and ever after his death, Jaun was conscious about what he would say in public.
Jaun was also involved in translation, editing and other activities. He briefly worked as an editor with Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board (ITREB), in
Jaun Elia was born on December 14, 1931 in an illustrious family of Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. He was the youngest of his siblings. His father, Allama Shafiq Hasan Elia, was deeply involved in art and literature and also an astrologer and a poet. This literary environment modeled him along the same lines, and he wrote his first Urdu couplet when he was just 8.
Jaun was very sensitive in his early teen age. His preoccupations in those days were his imaginary beloved character, Sophia, and his anger at the English occupiers of India. He used to do dramatic presentations of the early Muslim period, and hence his knowledge of Muslim history was recognized by many. According to him, his early poetry reflected the dialogue nature of stage drama.
A close relation of Elia's, Syed Mumtaz Saeed, recalled that Elia also went to Syed-ul-Madaris in Amroha, a Madressah (Koranic school). "Jaun had a way with languages. He could learn them effortlessly. Apart from Arabic and Persian that he had learnt at the Madressah, he acquired great proficiency in English and a smattering of Hebrew."
During his youth, the united India was involved in a Muslim-Hindu feud, which led to the partition of the country on religious lines once British rule ended. Being a Communist, Elia was averse to the idea, but finally accepted it as a compromise. Elia migrated to Pakistan in 1957, and made Karachi his home. Before long, he became popular in the literary circles of the city. His poetry, which bears ample testimony to his wide-ranging reading habits, won him acclaim and approbation. Poet Pirzada Qasim said: "Jaun was very particular about language. While his diction is rooted in the classical tradition, he touches on new subjects. He remained in quest of an ideal all his life. Unable to find the ideal eventually, he became angry and frustrated. He felt, perhaps with reason, that he had squandered his talent." He was a prolific writer, but could not be convinced to publish his work. His first poetry collection Shayad (an Urdu word which means "Maybe") was published in 1991, when he was 60. The poetry presented in this collection added Jaun Elia's name in the Urdu literary canon forever. Jaun Elia's preface in this collection provided deep insights into his works and the culture within which he was expressing his ideas. The preface can also be considered as one of the finest examples of modern Urdu prose. It covered his intellectual evolution in different periods of time, and his philosophy of poetry, science, religion, etc. The second collection of his poetry Ya'ani was published posthumously in 2003 . Afterwords Jaun's trustworthy companion Khalid Ansari has compiled and published his three consecutive collections, “Gumaan” (an Urdu word which means "Illusion") in 2004, “Lekin” 2006 and “Goya” 2008, one more collection ‘Kyon’ is now under processing.
An eminent Urdu literary critic, Dr. Muhammad Ali Siddiqui has called Jaun Elia one of the three most eminent ghazal poets of Urdu of the second half of the twentieth century.
Jaun Elia was an unabashed open anarchist and nihilist in generally a conservative and religious society. His elder brother, Rais Amrohvi, himself a poet and influential intellectual, was brutally murdered , and ever after his death, Jaun was conscious about what he would say in public.
Jaun was also involved in translation, editing and other activities. He briefly worked as an editor with Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board (ITREB), in
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 28, 2020
ہر کسی سے بچھڑ گیا ہوں میں
کون دل میں مرا ملال رکھے
شہرِ ہستی کا اجنبی ہوں میں
کون آخر مرا خیال رکھے
۔
روزوشب اب یونہی گزرتے ہیں
کوئی قصہ ہو جان و جاناں کا
کربِ بے ماجرائی سہتا ہوں
کچھ تو ہو ماجرا دل و جاں کا
۔
وصل کے سلسلے تو کیا اب تو
ہجر کے سلسلے ہیں بے معنی
کوئی رشتہ ہی جب کسی سے نہیں
دل کے سارے گلے ہیں بے معنی
۔
تم کو جہانِ شوق و تمنا میں کیا ملا
ہم بھی ملے تو درہم و برہم ملے تمہیں
۔
آخری بار آہ کر لی ہے
میں نے خود سے نباہ کر لی ہے
اور تو کچھ نہیں کیا میں نے
اپنی حالت تباہ کر لی ہے
۔
دو جہاں سے گزر گیا پھر بھی
میں خود کو رہا عمر بھر در پیش
اُس کی دیدار کی اُمید کہاں
جبکہ ہے دید کو نظر در پیش
۔
تمہارے بعد کوئی خاص فرق تو نہ ہوا
جُزیں قدر کے وہ پہلی سی زندگی نہ رہی
نکال ڈالئیے دل سے ہماری یادوں کو
یقین کیجئیے ہم میں وہ بات ہی نہ رہی
جہاں فروز تھا یادش بخیر اپنا جنوں
پھر اُس کے بعد کسی شے میں دل کشی نہ رہی
۔
اک لمحے کو تیر کرنے میں
میں نے ایک زندگی گنوائی ہے
تُو ہے آخر کہاں کہ آج مُجھے
بے طرح اپنی یاد آئی ہے
جانِ جاں تُجھ سے دُوبدو ہو کر
میں نے آج خود سے شکست کھائی ہے
عشق میرے گُماں میں یارا
دل کی ایک زور آزمائی ہے
اُس میں رہ کر بھی میں نہیں اُس میں
جانیے دل میں کیا سمائی ہے
۔
اب نہیں دل میں وہ سوزِ انتظار
زندگی شاید گزاری جا چکی
اے متاعِ روزگارِ عاشقاں!
عشق کی بازی تو ہاری جا چُکی
۔
دل میں ایک آگ ہے سو ہے لیکن
کوئی معنی نہیں مُحبت کے
نشہ چڑھنے لگا اُداسی کا
پھول مہکے ہیں شامِ فرقت کے
۔
تری صورت کو دیکھ کر مری جان
خودبخود دل میں پیار اُٹھتا ہے
کون ہے جس کو جاں عزیز نہیں؟
لے ترا جانثار اُٹھتا ہے
کربِ تنہائی ہے وہ شے کہ خدا
آدمی کو پُکار اُٹھتا ہے
۔
لمحے لمحے کی نارسائی ہے
زندگی حالتِ جُدائی ہے
اب یہ صورت ہے جانِ جاں کہ تجھے
بھولنے میں مری بُھلائی ہے
۔
کہتے ہیں انتہائی عشق جِسے
ایک فقط کھیل ہے مُروت کا
زندگی کی غزل تمام ہوئی
قافیہ رہ گیا مُحبت کا
۔
مدتوں اُن کے تصور میں گزاریں راتیں
مدتوں اُن کی توجہ سے گریزاں بھی رہے
ایک سایہ مرا مسیحا تھا
کون جانے وہ کون تھا، کیا تھا
ایک ہی اپنا ملنے والا تھا
ایسا بچھڑا کہ پھر ملا ہی نہیں
کون دل میں مرا ملال رکھے
شہرِ ہستی کا اجنبی ہوں میں
کون آخر مرا خیال رکھے
۔
روزوشب اب یونہی گزرتے ہیں
کوئی قصہ ہو جان و جاناں کا
کربِ بے ماجرائی سہتا ہوں
کچھ تو ہو ماجرا دل و جاں کا
۔
وصل کے سلسلے تو کیا اب تو
ہجر کے سلسلے ہیں بے معنی
کوئی رشتہ ہی جب کسی سے نہیں
دل کے سارے گلے ہیں بے معنی
۔
تم کو جہانِ شوق و تمنا میں کیا ملا
ہم بھی ملے تو درہم و برہم ملے تمہیں
۔
آخری بار آہ کر لی ہے
میں نے خود سے نباہ کر لی ہے
اور تو کچھ نہیں کیا میں نے
اپنی حالت تباہ کر لی ہے
۔
دو جہاں سے گزر گیا پھر بھی
میں خود کو رہا عمر بھر در پیش
اُس کی دیدار کی اُمید کہاں
جبکہ ہے دید کو نظر در پیش
۔
تمہارے بعد کوئی خاص فرق تو نہ ہوا
جُزیں قدر کے وہ پہلی سی زندگی نہ رہی
نکال ڈالئیے دل سے ہماری یادوں کو
یقین کیجئیے ہم میں وہ بات ہی نہ رہی
جہاں فروز تھا یادش بخیر اپنا جنوں
پھر اُس کے بعد کسی شے میں دل کشی نہ رہی
۔
اک لمحے کو تیر کرنے میں
میں نے ایک زندگی گنوائی ہے
تُو ہے آخر کہاں کہ آج مُجھے
بے طرح اپنی یاد آئی ہے
جانِ جاں تُجھ سے دُوبدو ہو کر
میں نے آج خود سے شکست کھائی ہے
عشق میرے گُماں میں یارا
دل کی ایک زور آزمائی ہے
اُس میں رہ کر بھی میں نہیں اُس میں
جانیے دل میں کیا سمائی ہے
۔
اب نہیں دل میں وہ سوزِ انتظار
زندگی شاید گزاری جا چکی
اے متاعِ روزگارِ عاشقاں!
عشق کی بازی تو ہاری جا چُکی
۔
دل میں ایک آگ ہے سو ہے لیکن
کوئی معنی نہیں مُحبت کے
نشہ چڑھنے لگا اُداسی کا
پھول مہکے ہیں شامِ فرقت کے
۔
تری صورت کو دیکھ کر مری جان
خودبخود دل میں پیار اُٹھتا ہے
کون ہے جس کو جاں عزیز نہیں؟
لے ترا جانثار اُٹھتا ہے
کربِ تنہائی ہے وہ شے کہ خدا
آدمی کو پُکار اُٹھتا ہے
۔
لمحے لمحے کی نارسائی ہے
زندگی حالتِ جُدائی ہے
اب یہ صورت ہے جانِ جاں کہ تجھے
بھولنے میں مری بُھلائی ہے
۔
کہتے ہیں انتہائی عشق جِسے
ایک فقط کھیل ہے مُروت کا
زندگی کی غزل تمام ہوئی
قافیہ رہ گیا مُحبت کا
۔
مدتوں اُن کے تصور میں گزاریں راتیں
مدتوں اُن کی توجہ سے گریزاں بھی رہے
ایک سایہ مرا مسیحا تھا
کون جانے وہ کون تھا، کیا تھا
ایک ہی اپنا ملنے والا تھا
ایسا بچھڑا کہ پھر ملا ہی نہیں
Currently Reading
January 29, 2012very nice books
March 15, 2021
It covers all aspects of the brutal and cordial life. He wrote what people experienced and became a voice to many hearts that have gone in vain and some undefined tranquility. Jaun Elia is a significant remark on Urdu Literature
May 25, 2019
میں آس کی بستی میں گیا تھا سو یہ پایا
جو بھی ہے اسے اپنے سہاروں سے گلہ ہے
جو بھی ہے اسے اپنے سہاروں سے گلہ ہے
July 12, 2019
Excellent Book Ever
Read
January 24, 2022i want to read only
April 25, 2023
Had He ...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2024
Poetry flow is nice, could find a couple relatable pieces.
May 31, 2015
Amazing book
January 4, 2018
ایلیا جون کچھ نہیں کرتا...
صرف خوشبو میں رنگ بھرتا ہے
― جون ایلیا
The above couplet is adequate for potraying john’s art.
It’s an honor to admire elia and i am blessed with same.
صرف خوشبو میں رنگ بھرتا ہے
― جون ایلیا
The above couplet is adequate for potraying john’s art.
It’s an honor to admire elia and i am blessed with same.
November 1, 2020
Nice book
Currently Reading
February 20, 2017Good and nyc
April 8, 2018
nice book
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews