Munir Niazi

Munir Ahmed Niazi, (Punjabi: منیر نیازی ) (9 April 1928 – 26 December 2006) was an Urdu and Punjabi language poet from Pakistan. He also wrote for newspapers, magazines and radio.[1] In 1960, he established a publication institute, Al-Misal. He was later associated with Pakistan Television, Lahore and lived in Lahore till his death.

Munir Niazi
BornMunir Ahmed Niazi
(1928-04-09)9 April 1928
Khanpur, Punjab, British India
Died26 December 2006(2006-12-26) (aged 78)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan Model Town K Block Graveyard
OccupationUrdu poet, Punjabi poet
NationalityPakistani
Alma materGovt. Sadiq Egerton College Bahawalpur
Dayal Singh College, Lahore
Period1960 - 2006 (active years)
GenreUrdu and Punjabi Poetry
Notable awardsSitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award in 2005
Pride of Performance Award in 1992

Early life and career

Munir Ahmed Niazi was born on 9 April 1928, in Khanpur, one of the Pathan villages in Hoshiarpur Punjab, British India.[2] He was initially educated at Khanpur. After the partition of India in 1947, he migrated and settled in Sahiwal, where he passed his matriculation examination.[2][1] He earned an intermediate degree from Sadiq Egerton College, Bahawalpur and a B.A. degree from Dayal Singh College, Lahore, Pakistan.[3][1] Munir Niazi launched a weekly, Seven Colours, from Sahiwal in 1949. Some of his poetry was used in films and these film songs became popular super-hit songs among the Pakistani public which established him as one of the foremost movie songwriters of Pakistan in the 1960s. For example, the film song in film Shaheed (1962), Uss Bewafa Ka Shehar Hai Aur Hum Hain Dosto and many others.[4]

Originally of Pashtun descent, Munir Ahmed used to call himself Punjabi as Punjabi definition is cultural and geographical and most of his poetic expression was done in the Punjabi language.[5]

Poetry that became super-hit film songs
Film songSingersSong lyrics byMusic byFilm and year
"Jis Ne Mere Dil Ko Dard Diya"[6] Mehdi Hassan Munir Niazi Hasan Latif Lilak Susral (1962)
"Jaa Apni Hasraton Pe Aansoo Baha Ke Sau Jaa" Noor Jehan Munir Niazi Hasan Latif Lilak Susral (1962)
"Uss Bewafa Ka Shehar Hai Aur Hum Hain Dosto"[2] Naseem Begum Munir Niazi Rashid Attre Shaheed (1962)
"Kaisay Kaisay Loag Hamare Jee Ko Jalanay Aa Jaatain Hain" Mehdi Hassan Munir Niazi Hasan Latif Lilak Tere Shehar Mein (1965)
"Zinda Rahein Tau Kaya Hai Jau Mar Jaaen Hum Tau Kaya"[2] Naheed Akhtar Munir Niazi M Ashraf Kharidar (1976)

Bibliography

Below are some of his Urdu publications:

  • Taiz Hawa Aur Tanha Phool[2]
  • Jungle Mein Dhanak[2]
  • Dushmanoon Kai Darmiyan Sham
  • Mah-e-Munir[2]

In Punjabi language, he has published:

  • Safar Di Raat[2]
  • Char Chup Cheezan[2]
  • Rasta Dassan Walay Tarey[2]

Effective imagery in his poetry conveys pictures in a few words. He had experimented with poetic forms and had tried to create a new style, rhythm and diction in Urdu poetry. Innocence, mythology, nostalgia, dreams, eroticism, and romance are some of his most common themes. Selected English translations of Munir Niazi's poetical works were edited by Suhail Safdar and published in 1996.[7]

Death and legacy

Munir Niazi died of respiratory illness on 26 December 2006 in Lahore, Pakistan.[2][1]

On his 86th birth anniversary, a book titled 'Munir Niazi Ki Baatain, Yadain' was launched to honor him at the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (Pilac) at Lahore. This book has interviews of the late Munir Niazi and opinion columns about him.[3]

Awards and recognition

Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1992 [1]

Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award by the President of Pakistan in 2005[8]

References
  1. Munir Niazi Pride of Performance Award info on ARY TV News website Published 26 December 2015, Retrieved 30 May 2019
  2. Death anniversary of poets Parveen Shakir and Munir Niazi being observed today Dawn (newspaper), Published 26 Dec 2014, Retrieved 30 May 2019
  3. "A fitting tribute to Munir Niazi". Dawn (newspaper). 10 April 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  4. Munir Niazi hit film song on IMDb website Retrieved 30 May 2019
  5. "7th death anniversary of Munir Niazi today". Rediff.com. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  6. Munir Niazi song on YouTube Published 17 February 2011, Retrieved 30 May 2019
  7. Safdar, Suhail (1996). The Poetical Works of Munir Niazi, Pakistan Writings.
  8. 130 nationals, foreigners to get civil awards Dawn (newspaper), Published 14 August 2004, Retrieved 29 May 2019
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