Shamim Hanfi

Shamim Hanfi (born 17 November 1938) is an Urdu critic, dramatist and a proponent of modernist movement in Urdu literature.[1][2] His books on modernism include Jadidiyet ki falsafiyana asaas and Nai sheri rawayet. Both the books have been published together under the title Jadeediyet aur Nai Shairi.

Shamim Hanfi
Born (1938-11-17) 17 November 1938
OccupationUrdu author, critic and dramatist
Academic background
Alma materAllahabad University, Aligarh Muslim University
Academic work
Notable worksJadidiyet ki falsafiyana asaas, Nayi sheri Riwayat

Hanfi presently resides in New Delhi and serves as patron to many literary societies and organisations like Ghalib Academy, Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu Hind, Ghalib Institute and Rekhta.

Early life

Shamim Hanfi was born in Sultanpur[1][2] to Mohd. Yaseen Siddiqui, an advocate, and Begum Zaibunnisa. He was the eldest of six siblings. Yaseen was also a literary enthusiast and introduced Hanfi to Tagore, Dostoyevsky, Dickens and others, quite early in life.

Education

Hanfi did his schooling from Sultanpur.[1] He learnt Persian from Maulvi Mugheesuddin and his interest in Urdu literature was the result of his father's perseverance and close proximity to his Urdu, History and English teacher Syed Moinuddin Qadri (translator of many notable English literary works himself).

While in intermediate Hanfi translated in Urdu, the Persian play Aakhiri Yaadgaar-e-Nadir Shah of Persian playwright Saeed Nafisi. He shifted to Allahabad for higher studies.[1][2] At Allahabad University he came in contact with Firaq Gorukhpuri, Dr. Aijaz Hussain, Prof. Ehtesham Hussain, Prof. S.C. Deb who left an indelible impact upon his sensibilities. Hanfi completed his D Phil from Allahabad University in 1966. He was also the first regular student of D.Lit in Aligarh Muslim University, which he completed in 1976.

Professional life

Hanfi served as a faculty in AMU for seven years before joining Jamia Millia Islamia.[3] He remains connected to the institution in the capacity of Professor Emeritus.

He also served as the member of AMU court in 2010.[4]

Literary views

Hanfi's poetry makes the poet a part of the emotional landscape that he paints:

"Sooruj dheere dheere pighla
Phir taaroN mein dhalne laga
Mere andar ka san'naata
Jaag ke aankhein malne laga
Neelay surkh safed sunehray
Ek ek karke doob gaye
Samton ki har pagdandi pe
Kaala rang pighalnay laga.."

Hanfi is also a great advocate of bonhomie between Hindi and Urdu[5][6] and travels the world over for the purpose. He is of the opinion that a curriculum should be designed where both Hindi and Urdu should be taught together. This, as per him, will bridge the gap between the two languages and also revive the mutual tradition of both the languages. Hanfi also emphasise the need to protect both languages from religious extremism and politics.

Hanfi also wrote a book on Manto titled Manto Haqiqat se Afsaane Tak. According to him, Manto addresses cosmic realities in the framework of ground realities. In other words, he, like all great artists, observed earthly phenomena but then, through a creative touch, elevated it onto an altogether higher plain.

His Miraji aur unka Nigarkhaana sheds light on one of the most eminent poet Mohammad Sanaullah Sani dar (Miraji) who was the contemporary of Faiz and Rashid but never got his due.[7] Hanfi is of the opinion that the spirit of 20th century could not be understood without acknowledging the work of Faiz, Rashid and Miraji. He points out that Miraji achieved many things including altering the geography of Urdu Poetry, since the "jungle" played a key role in his poetry.

Hanfi is of the opinion that intellectual extremism [8] had crept into writers in their endeavor to get closer to power centres.

gollark: Ugh, BEE my wireless network connection right now to a significant degree.
gollark: *Do* they actually affect your life very directly compared to, say, your owner as a slave though?
gollark: Also the experimental osmarks.net™ oconomy™, which works by having our millions of palaiologistic neural networks™ bid for server time.
gollark: Yes, praise the unfathomable machinations of the economy.
gollark: I consider the idea of job security somewhat bee anyway.

References
  1. Urdu scholar Shamim Hanfi awarded with Jnangarima Manad Alankaran award
  2. "Literature cannot be divided by geography"
  3. Litfest Delhi 2015
  4. New AMU Court elected, anti-VC camp among the losers
  5. Hindi-Urdu need to be protected from religion and politics: Shamim Hanfi
  6. Shamim Hanfi – On Urdu and Hindi
  7. The poet overlooked — Miraji
  8. Quality prose rendition, speeches kick off international Urdu moot
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