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Shayad / شاید
غزلیں۔ ۔ ۔ نظمیں ۔ ۔ ۔ قطعات۔
312 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2007
578 people are currently reading
6215 people want to read
About the author
Jaun Elia
32 books412 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
January 6, 2017
"Ye mujhe chaein kyun nahi parhta
Aik hi shakhs tha jahan mein kia"
Aik hi shakhs tha jahan mein kia"
November 7, 2017
If only Jaun's poetic prowess was as strong as his intellectual depth. Jaun's work is as troubled as his thoughts, his expression loses the poetic rhythm at times owing to the complexity of his thoughts. None of his work is average, it is thoughtful and intelligent but the poetic finesse is not at par with Urdu's many greats. He should have ventured into prose too, could have enlightened many. Shayad is, nevertheless, albeit some short comings a must read for those who love Reekhta for Jaun is unique, has a style which solely belongs to him and above all a remarkable thinker.
October 17, 2020
ان کتابوں نے بڑا ظُلم کیا ہے مجھ پر
ان میں اک رمز ہے جس رمز کا مارا ہوا ذہن
مژدۂ عشرتِ انجام نہیں پا سکتا
زندگی میں کبھی آرام نہیں پا سکتا
-
کس کو فرصت کہ مجھ سے بحث کرے
اور ثابت کرے کہ میرا وجود
زندگی کے لیے ضروری ہے
-
عشق سمجھے تھے جس کو وہ شاید
تھا بس ایک نارسائی کا رشتہ
میرے اور اُس کے درمیان نکلا
عمر بھر کی جُدائی کا رشتہ
-
وہ میرا خیال تھی سو وہ تھی
میں اُس کا خیال تھا سو میں تھا
اب دونوں خیال مر چکے ہیں
۔
خیال و خواب کو اب مل نہیں رہی ہے اماں
نہ اب وہ مستئ دل ہے نہ اب وہ نشۂ جاں
نہ ٹوٹ جائے کہیں سلسلہ تمنا کا
-
گنوائی کس کی تمنا میں زندگی میں نے
وہ کون ہے جسے کبھی دیکھا نہیں میں نے
تیرا خیال تو ہے پر تیرا وجود نہیں
تیرے لیے تو یہ محفل سجائی تھی میں نے
علاج یہ ہے کہ مجبور کر دیا جاؤں
ورنہ یوں تو کسی کی سُنی نہیں ہے میں نے
۔
بے دلی کیا یونہی دن گزر جائیں گے
صرف زندہ رہے ہم تو مر جائیں گے
کتنے دل کش ہو تم، کتنا دل جُو ہوں میں
کیا ستم ہے کہ ہم لوگ مر جائیں گے
-
میرے زمان و ذات کا ہے یہ معاملہ کہ اب
صبحِ فراق بھی نہیں، شامِ وصال بھی نہیں
پہلی ہمارے ذہن میں حُسن کی اک مثال تھی
اب تو ہمارے ذہن میں کوئی مثال بھی نہیں
میں بھی بہت عجیب ہوں، اتنا عجیب ہوں کہ بس
خود کو تباہ کر لیا اور ملال بھی نہیں
۔
خموشی سے ادا ہو رسمِ دُوری
کوئی ہنگامہ کیوں برپا کریں ہم
-
اب فقط عادتوں کی ورزش ہے
رُوح شامل نہیں شکایت میں
زندگی کس طرح بسر ہو گی
دل نہیں لگ رہا مُحبت میں
-
اب مری کوئی زندگی ہی نہیں
اب بھی تُم مری زندگی ہو کیا
کیا کہا عشق جاودانی ہے !
آخری بار مل رہی ہو کیا
۔
کوئی حالت نہیں یہ حالت ہے
یہ تو آشوب ناک صورت ہے
ہم نے جانا تو ہم نے یہ جانا
جو نہیں ہے وہ خوبصورت ہے
خواہشیں دل کا ساتھ چھوڑ گئیں
یہ اذیت بڑی اذیت ہے
۔
غمِ ترکِ مُحبت ، آہ یہ غم
میں اپنی ہر خوشی لوٹا رہا ہوں
۔
یقینِ جاں فزا، خوابِ تمنا
عذابِ روح بن جائے گا اک دن
کبھی میں نے یہ سوچا بھی نہیں تھا
یہ ہو گی خواب کی تعبیر یعنی
کہ میں نے خواب دیکھا ہی نہیں تھا
۔
میں کیا بتاؤں کسی بے وفا کی مجبوری
کبھی خیال جو آیا تو آنکھ بھر آئی
ستم نگاہ کا اپنی ہمیں نہ بھولے گا
یہ کم نہیں کہ تیرے دل میں آگ بھڑکائی
۔
اب جنوں کب کسی کے بس میں ہے
اُس کی خوشبو نفس نفس میں ہے
کیا ہے گر زندگی کا بس نہ چلا
زندگی کب کسی کے بس میں ہے
پا شکستہ پڑا ہوا ہوں مگر
دل کسی نغمۂ جرس میں ہے
۔
اب مرے اشکِ محبت بھی نہیں آپ کو یاد
آپ تو اپنے ہی دامن کی نمی بُھول گئے
اب کوئی مجھ کو دلائے نہ محبت کا یقین
جو مجھے بھول نہ سکتے تھے وہی بھول گئے
۔
یہ مُجھے چین کیوں نہیں پڑتا
ایک ہی شخص تھا جہان میں کیا
۔۔۔
ان میں اک رمز ہے جس رمز کا مارا ہوا ذہن
مژدۂ عشرتِ انجام نہیں پا سکتا
زندگی میں کبھی آرام نہیں پا سکتا
-
کس کو فرصت کہ مجھ سے بحث کرے
اور ثابت کرے کہ میرا وجود
زندگی کے لیے ضروری ہے
-
عشق سمجھے تھے جس کو وہ شاید
تھا بس ایک نارسائی کا رشتہ
میرے اور اُس کے درمیان نکلا
عمر بھر کی جُدائی کا رشتہ
-
وہ میرا خیال تھی سو وہ تھی
میں اُس کا خیال تھا سو میں تھا
اب دونوں خیال مر چکے ہیں
۔
خیال و خواب کو اب مل نہیں رہی ہے اماں
نہ اب وہ مستئ دل ہے نہ اب وہ نشۂ جاں
نہ ٹوٹ جائے کہیں سلسلہ تمنا کا
-
گنوائی کس کی تمنا میں زندگی میں نے
وہ کون ہے جسے کبھی دیکھا نہیں میں نے
تیرا خیال تو ہے پر تیرا وجود نہیں
تیرے لیے تو یہ محفل سجائی تھی میں نے
علاج یہ ہے کہ مجبور کر دیا جاؤں
ورنہ یوں تو کسی کی سُنی نہیں ہے میں نے
۔
بے دلی کیا یونہی دن گزر جائیں گے
صرف زندہ رہے ہم تو مر جائیں گے
کتنے دل کش ہو تم، کتنا دل جُو ہوں میں
کیا ستم ہے کہ ہم لوگ مر جائیں گے
-
میرے زمان و ذات کا ہے یہ معاملہ کہ اب
صبحِ فراق بھی نہیں، شامِ وصال بھی نہیں
پہلی ہمارے ذہن میں حُسن کی اک مثال تھی
اب تو ہمارے ذہن میں کوئی مثال بھی نہیں
میں بھی بہت عجیب ہوں، اتنا عجیب ہوں کہ بس
خود کو تباہ کر لیا اور ملال بھی نہیں
۔
خموشی سے ادا ہو رسمِ دُوری
کوئی ہنگامہ کیوں برپا کریں ہم
-
اب فقط عادتوں کی ورزش ہے
رُوح شامل نہیں شکایت میں
زندگی کس طرح بسر ہو گی
دل نہیں لگ رہا مُحبت میں
-
اب مری کوئی زندگی ہی نہیں
اب بھی تُم مری زندگی ہو کیا
کیا کہا عشق جاودانی ہے !
آخری بار مل رہی ہو کیا
۔
کوئی حالت نہیں یہ حالت ہے
یہ تو آشوب ناک صورت ہے
ہم نے جانا تو ہم نے یہ جانا
جو نہیں ہے وہ خوبصورت ہے
خواہشیں دل کا ساتھ چھوڑ گئیں
یہ اذیت بڑی اذیت ہے
۔
غمِ ترکِ مُحبت ، آہ یہ غم
میں اپنی ہر خوشی لوٹا رہا ہوں
۔
یقینِ جاں فزا، خوابِ تمنا
عذابِ روح بن جائے گا اک دن
کبھی میں نے یہ سوچا بھی نہیں تھا
یہ ہو گی خواب کی تعبیر یعنی
کہ میں نے خواب دیکھا ہی نہیں تھا
۔
میں کیا بتاؤں کسی بے وفا کی مجبوری
کبھی خیال جو آیا تو آنکھ بھر آئی
ستم نگاہ کا اپنی ہمیں نہ بھولے گا
یہ کم نہیں کہ تیرے دل میں آگ بھڑکائی
۔
اب جنوں کب کسی کے بس میں ہے
اُس کی خوشبو نفس نفس میں ہے
کیا ہے گر زندگی کا بس نہ چلا
زندگی کب کسی کے بس میں ہے
پا شکستہ پڑا ہوا ہوں مگر
دل کسی نغمۂ جرس میں ہے
۔
اب مرے اشکِ محبت بھی نہیں آپ کو یاد
آپ تو اپنے ہی دامن کی نمی بُھول گئے
اب کوئی مجھ کو دلائے نہ محبت کا یقین
جو مجھے بھول نہ سکتے تھے وہی بھول گئے
۔
یہ مُجھے چین کیوں نہیں پڑتا
ایک ہی شخص تھا جہان میں کیا
۔۔۔
September 2, 2018
The best part of the book are its 'Qat'aas'. Some ghazals are good, however, for me digesting 'Nazm' in this book were a difficult task.
Again off=putting part of Jaun Elia's work for me is futile effort to look different by attacking religion or some religious thoughts. Take an example of these lines:
'Haasil e Kun hai, ye jahan e kharab
Yehi mumkin tha itn ujlat main
Phir banaya khuda ne Aadam ko
Apni Soorat pe, aisi soorat main
Phir aadmi ne ghor kia
Chhipkali ki lateef san'at main
Ae khuda (jo kahin nahin maujood)
Kia likha hai hamari qismat main
Seriously? It might have been cool to say things like that in 1992, when this book was published or in 1970s and 1980s , when these lines were perceived, as in those times such thoughts may have been symbol of so called rebellion or self-imposed bravery by our authors. However, living in 2018, we have seen such rubbish being uttered by every tom, dick and harry on social media, be it bloggers like Bhensa or some wanna be pages, whose rozi rizq come from religion bashing, these thoughts now feel like some expired material. Bashing of religion, religious thought or religious people is a new religion itself now.
I think a good poetry or work of art must have a quality to be relevant in future and Nazms written by Jaun Elia might be inspirational for religion bashing, but with passage of time, when people will learn tolerating differing opinions and ideologies followed by others, such work will have no relevance. I think I won't give further try to poetry of Jaun Elia after this experience.
Again off=putting part of Jaun Elia's work for me is futile effort to look different by attacking religion or some religious thoughts. Take an example of these lines:
'Haasil e Kun hai, ye jahan e kharab
Yehi mumkin tha itn ujlat main
Phir banaya khuda ne Aadam ko
Apni Soorat pe, aisi soorat main
Phir aadmi ne ghor kia
Chhipkali ki lateef san'at main
Ae khuda (jo kahin nahin maujood)
Kia likha hai hamari qismat main
Seriously? It might have been cool to say things like that in 1992, when this book was published or in 1970s and 1980s , when these lines were perceived, as in those times such thoughts may have been symbol of so called rebellion or self-imposed bravery by our authors. However, living in 2018, we have seen such rubbish being uttered by every tom, dick and harry on social media, be it bloggers like Bhensa or some wanna be pages, whose rozi rizq come from religion bashing, these thoughts now feel like some expired material. Bashing of religion, religious thought or religious people is a new religion itself now.
I think a good poetry or work of art must have a quality to be relevant in future and Nazms written by Jaun Elia might be inspirational for religion bashing, but with passage of time, when people will learn tolerating differing opinions and ideologies followed by others, such work will have no relevance. I think I won't give further try to poetry of Jaun Elia after this experience.
January 30, 2021
Jaun is an utmost unique shayar..
Want to read
November 30, 2015[image error]
June 28, 2009
The name, the preface, the nazms, the ghazals, the qataat, everything is perfect!
February 8, 2020
Such a great collection of urdu poetries ,nazams and ghazals . Ahhh i love it 💘 and after reading this book i want to read everything written by the Author Jaun Elia .
September 9, 2022
Mind blowing very good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 22, 2013i want to read everything written by author poet joun ellia
September 29, 2018
I want to read this book..
January 29, 2019
Awesome
March 30, 2019
was listening to an audio version ... quite addictive actually.
June 25, 2019
کس کو فرصت کہ مجھ سے بحث کرے
اور ثابت کرے کہ میرا وجود۔۔
زندگی کے لیے ضروری ہے
اور ثابت کرے کہ میرا وجود۔۔
زندگی کے لیے ضروری ہے
Currently reading
March 8, 2020see
March 17, 2020
علم کے جاہ و جلال ، کائنات کی نظم و نسق اور ان کے درمیان انسان
تینوں کے سحرکن امتزاج پر ایسی شاعری سامنے آتی ہے
تینوں کے سحرکن امتزاج پر ایسی شاعری سامنے آتی ہے
May 8, 2020
میرے مرنے پہ لاکھ روئیں گے
میرے رونے پہ کوئی مرتا ہے کیا؟
میرے رونے پہ کوئی مرتا ہے کیا؟
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
October 8, 2020its good
May 20, 2021
Kya kahe jaun ke bare mein naf piyale se baan nadi tkk ki baat keh dali hai jaani ne bade hi krine k sath. Bahut umda kitab hai jarur padhe.
Currently reading
November 10, 2021best book all the time
Want to read
November 22, 2021123
December 24, 2021
I think amazing
Read
March 4, 2022Poet
March 5, 2022
جون ایلیا صاحب کی کتاب بہت اچھی ہے، سلیس زبان ہے، روانی ہے، اپنے آپ میں بے مثال ہے، خاص طور پر "شاید"
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Read
March 9, 2022nice bpook
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March 10, 2022
i’ll never ever get over jaun’s shayad. i can read it over & over again without being bored. LORD I LOVE HIS POETRY SO MUCH.
March 16, 2022
Nice read.
"कितने ज़ालिम हैं ये जो कहते हैं
तोड़ लो फूल, फूल छोड़ो मत
बागबान हम तो इस खयाल के हैं
देख लो फूल, फूल तोड़ो मत"
"कितने ज़ालिम हैं ये जो कहते हैं
तोड़ लो फूल, फूल छोड़ो मत
बागबान हम तो इस खयाल के हैं
देख लो फूल, फूल तोड़ो मत"
Want to read
March 17, 2022Sir can i odear this book plzz
March 19, 2022
I want to read hon elias shayad
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