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Zamin Ali

Syed Mohammad Zamin Ali Naqvi (1893–1955) popularly known as Zamin Ali was an Indian poet, author and educator. He has been referred to as "Baba-e-Urdu" or father of Urdu by Firaq Gorakhpuri and others.

Early life
Zamin Ali was born in Mustafabad village in the Raebareli district of United Provinces on 25 June 1893 in a Shia Syed Zamindar family with a strong literary tradition. He was the youngest son of Majid Syed Wajid Ali. His paternal grandfather, Syed Nauroz Ali, maternal grandfather Ustad Mir Ali Obaid "Naisa", and older brother, Syed Hamid Ali, were well-known Urdu poets. He started composing nazms and ghazals at the age of 13 under the guidance of "Naisa" following the traditions of the Lucknow school of poetry. His early education was at St. John's College, Agra from where he received his High School (10th grade) and, in 1910, his Intermediate (12th grade) degree. He then received his B.A from Ewing Christian College, Allahabad in 1916 followed by an M.A. in Persian from Muir College, Allahabad in 1922. He joined the faculty of Ewing Christian College in 1922 to teach Persian and was appointed lecturer in the Persian department of Allahabad University in 1924. To pursue a literary career and his love for Urdu language and literature, he decided to live in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) and stayed away from his zamindari properties. ==Founding the first Urdu Department in Undivided India==
Founding the first Urdu Department in Undivided India
In 1922, Zamin Ali, as a new faculty member in the Persian department at Allahabad University, proposed that there be separate departments for Urdu as well as Hindi given their cultural importance. At that time, no Urdu department existed at any University in undivided India and Urdu was often parts of departments such as Oriental Studies or Persian. Zamin Ali's proposal was accepted by the Vice Chancellor, Sir Ganganath Jha leading to establishing the Department of Urdu in 1924. He was appointed the head of the department, a position that he held until his death in 1955. He was appointed a reader in 1932 and professor in 1945 Zamin Ali created MA and PhD programs in Urdu. His notable students with literary fame include Syed Ejaz Hussain, Nawab Hussain, Syed Waqar Azeem, Rafiq Husain, Gyan Chand Jain, Masihuzzaman and Fatima Akhtar. that was the flagship annual magazine of the Urdu department and was also the editor of the Urdu section of the Allahabad University's annual magazine. ==Effort on Hindustani as the National Language of India==
Effort on Hindustani as the National Language of India
Zamin was a founding member and Vice-President of the Hindustani Academy that was formed in 1927 to build on Mahatma Gandhi's vision of Hindustani as the national language of India written in both the Nagari and Urdu. At its first meeting in Lucknow on 30 March 1927, the Academy setup Urdu and Hindi survey committees to assess the state of each language's literature. Zamin headed the Urdu survey committee and produced the report, Urdu Zaban-o-Adab. This book summarizes Urdu linguistics and is considered more comprehensive than Sir George Greison's 'Linguistic Survey of India'. Mahatma Gandhi visited Allahabad University on 17 November 1928 and praised the work being done by Zamin and the Academy. that was the flagship publication of the Hindustani Academy from its establishment in 1931 until he gave up his position in 1945. Despite support by Gandhi and Nehru, once it was clear that India was going to be divided, the effort to have Hindustani as language with dual-scripts gave way to Pakistan adopting Urdu in the Urdu-script as its national language and India adopting Hindi in the Nagari script as well as Urdu in the Urdu-script as scheduled official languages. ==Contributions to Urdu Education in Un-divided India==
Contributions to Urdu Education in Un-divided India
After founding the first Urdu department at a University, Zamin Ali spear-headed the design of curricula and writing of textbooks for all levels of Urdu education as well as Urdu-medium education in other subjects across un-divided India. This led to him being called Baba-e-Urdu (Father of Urdu) and Khizr-e-raah Urdu (Guide of Urdu) by Firaq Gorakhpuri and others for four decades. His contributions to Urdu education were recognized by the Indian Government by issuing a postal stamp in his honor on 25 June 1980. Twenty million stamps, denominated at 30 paisa, showing a picture of Zamin Ali were printed. The first day cover illustration is a view of the Muir Central College Building of Allahabad University. His contributions to Urdu were also recognized by the British Government by awarding him the civilian version of the M.B.E medal (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 1946. Zamin served as chairman or member of various boards of education including the United Provinces Board of High School & Intermediate Education and the Rajputana Board of Education that covered Rajputana and Central India as well as current day Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. He also served on Urdu studies boards at several Universities including Agra University and Allahabad University. He took leadership in ensuring that Marsiya and Qasida were considered art forms and extracts of works by Mir Anees and Dabeer were included in textbooks. As a result of Zamin's efforts, Urdu went from being a language used by authors and the general population to Urdu literature and language being systematized and formally taught. Urdu departments formed at 55 Indian Universities and Urdu started being taught in thousands of schools across India. ==Contributions to Urdu Poetry==
Contributions to Urdu Poetry
Zamin's poetry followed the traditions of Lucknow School of Poetry in the lineage of Munir Shikohabadi, Nasikh and Naisa. festival in New Delhi on 14 Dec 2024. According to Javed Akhtar, Zamin's poetry is an authentic exemplar of the poetry of his times of the highest order. It addresses sensitive topics with grace and creates layers of meaning through use of both persian closures as well as day to day language. In addition to being a good poet himself, Zamin organized and chaired major mushairas of his time. He held a monthy Mushaira at Kashan-e-Adab, his home, in Allahabad. Well-known poets would stay at the Mahman Khana (Guest house) at Kashan-e-Adab for 10–12 days in Zamin's hospitality to participate. These included Hafeez Jalandhari, Roosh Siddiqi, Saail Dehlvi, Kaifi Azmi, Hadi Machlishahri, Safi Lakhnavi, Bekhud Mohani, Mahshar Lakhnavi, Jigar Moradabadi, Firaq Gorakhpuri, and Josh Malihabadi. Mushairas run by Zamin were open to all to promote Urdu language and literature. The Mehman Khana run by Zamin was open to all Urdu scholars. This included several students at Allahabad University whose lodging, food and medical expenses were borne by Zamin. It also included people coming to Allahabad for medical treatment. Zamin encouraged them recite their patriotic poetry that was banned by the British government at this Mushaira. With the assistance of Firaq Gorakhpuri, Zamin organized an All India Mushaira to celebrate the Golden jubilee of Allahabad University in 1937 in which poets from all over India participated. ==Acclaim for Zamin==
Acclaim for Zamin
Zamin Ali received a number of positive comments on his life's work from national leaders, as well as poets. ==Selected poetry by Zamin==
Selected poetry by Zamin
Topic: Urdu Source: pp 32–34 of Ghazaliyat-e-Zamin He wrote the nazm Faryaad-e-Urdu at a time when English was becoming increasingly dominant. Here are a few selected couplets that appear in the introduction written by Fatima Hasan. Several of these were read by Ali Fazal at the Jashn-e-Rekhta festival on 15 December 2024 . aap se faryaad karne aai hai Urdu zabaaN gar munaasib ho to hazrat sun leiN uski daastaaN आप से फ़रियाद करने आई है उर्दू ज़बान गर मुनासिब हो तो हज़रत सुन लें उसकी दास्ताँ yaad haiN vo bhi jab aashiq zamaana tha mira bachche bachche ki zabaaN par bhi fasaana tha mira याद है वो भी जब आशिक जमाना था मेरा बच्चे-बच्चे की ज़बां पर भी फ़साना था मेरा is sire se us sire tak mulk meN phaili thi maiN jis ka kul hindostaaN majnuuN tha aur Laila thi maiN इस सिरे से उस सिरे तक मुल्क में फैली थी मैं जिस का कुल हिंदोस्तां मजनूं था और लैला थी मैं mujh pe marte the musalmaaN mujh pe hindu the nisaar faarsi bhi jheNpti thi dekh kar mera singaar मुझ पे मरते थे मुसलमान, मुझ पे हिंदू थे निसार फ़ारसी भी झेनपती थी देख कर मेरा सिंगार aap angrezi ka aaKhir kyon tatabboh kiijiye aur ilzaam-e-jahaalat apne sar kyoN liijiye आप अंग्रेजी का आख़िर क्यों ततब्बो कीजिये और इल्ज़ाम-ए-जहालत अपने सर क्यों लीजिए ik behn hindi hai meri jiska ab chamka hai bhaag hashr tak qaayam rahe parmaatma iska suhaag एक बहन हिंदी है मेरी जिसका अब चमका है भाग हश्र तक कायम रहे परमात्मा इसका सुहाग Ghair mulki lafz-jaari jo zabaanoN meiN nahiiN isse to hindi ke aasaaN lafz behtar haiN kahiiN ग़ैर मुल्की लफ़्ज़-जारी जो ज़बानों में नहीं इससे तो हिंदी के आसान लफ्ज बेहतर हैं कहीं Topic: Zindagi Source: Page 49 of Ghazaliyat-e-Zamin jumbish hi ko zamaane meiN kahte haiN zindagi hai maut ek naam sukuun aur qaraar ka जुम्बिश ही को ज़माने में कहते हैं ज़िन्दगी है मौत एक नाम सुकून और क़रार का Topic: Eschewing communal strife Source:Page 7 of Ghazaliyat-e-Zamin sun ke dair-o-haram ke jhagRoN ko ham ne donoN ko hi salaam kiyaa सुन के दैर-ओ-हरम के झगड़ों को हम ने दोनों को ही सलाम किया Topic: On Mahatama Gandhi's death Source:Page 35 of Ghazaliyat-e-Zamin bazm-e-aalam ho kyon tiira-o-taar shama-e-insaaniyat khamosh hai aaj बज़्म-ए-आलम हो क्यों तीरा-ओ-तार शमा-ए-इंसानियत खामोश है आज Topic: Ishq Source:Page 86 of Ghazaliyat-e-Zamin ishq hi vo marz hai k duniya meN jis ka baRhna bhi na-gavaar nahiiN इश्क़ ही वो मर्ज़ है दुनिया में जिस का बढ़ना भी नागावार नहीं Source:Page 56 of Ghazaliyat-e-Zamin dard-e-firaaq, daaGh-e-jigar, aah-e-na-rasaa shikva nahiiN hai, ishq ne jo kuch diya, diya दर्द-ए-फ़िराक़, दाग़-ए-जिगर, आह-ए-ना-रसा शिकवा नहीं है, इश्क ने जो कुछ दिया, दिया Source:Page 77 of Ghazaliyat-e-Zamin umr bhar duuNga duayeN ishq-e-Khush anjaam ko dil mira dil ho gaya Gham aashna hone ke baad उमर भर दूंगा दुआएं इश्क-ए-खुश अंजाम को दिल मेरा दिल हो गया गम आशना होने के बाद Source:Page 106 of Ghazaliyat-e-Zamin tamaam umr kaTi apni yaas-o-hirmaaN meN qafas meN chain na aaraam tha gulistaaN meN तमाम उमर कटी अपनी यास-ओ-हिरमान में कफ़स में चैन न आराम था गुलिस्तां में Topic: Motivational Source:Page 155 of Ghazaliyat-e-Zamin riyaazat ka milega phal tujhe bhi Gham na kha Zamin tiri shaaKh-e-tamanna bhi kisi din baarwar hogi रियाज़त का मिलेगा फ़ल तुझे भी ग़म न खा ज़मीन तेरी शाख-ए-तमन्ना भी किसी दिन बारवर होगी ==Selected Ghazals celebrating Zamin==
Selected Ghazals celebrating Zamin
Aziz on Zamin Source: Prof. Zamin Ali The Educator HameiN bhi yaad rakhein jab likheiN tareekh gulshan ki, Ki humne bhi lutaya hai chaman mein aashiyaN apna हमें भी याद रखें जब लिखें तारीख गुलशन की, कि हमने भी लुटाया है चमन में आशियां अपना Remember me when you write the history of the garden For I too did spread in the garden the largesse of my nest Bismil Allahabadi on Zamin Source: Ghazaliyat-e-Zamin ilm se zı̄-vaqār thā 'zamin' shahar kı̄ yādgār thā 'zamin' koı̄ dekhe zabāñ-e-urdu par dil se, jaañ se, nisār thā 'zamin' kahte haiñ sabse ye, havā-e-adab ek taaza bahār thā 'zamin' qaul hai ye durust 'bismil' kā bā.is-e-iftiḳhār thā 'zamin' इल्म से ज़ि-वकार था 'ज़ामिन' शहर की यादगार था 'ज़ामिन' कोई देखे ज़बान-ए-उर्दू पर दिल से, जान से, निसार था 'ज़ामिन' कहते हैं सबसे ये, हवा-ए-अदब एक ताज़ा बहार था 'ज़ामिन' क़ौल है ये दुरुस्त 'बिस्मिल' का बैइस-ए-इफ़्तिहार था 'ज़ामिन' ==References==
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