Crafting Meaning in Metre: The Literary Craftsmanship of Mazhar Imam

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 10 July 2025 Mazhar Imam, a reflective Urdu poet from Munger, blended tradition with modern thought. His subtle ghazals explored love, memory, and identity, leaving a timeless legacy in Indian literary heritage. Main Points: 1. Mazhar Imam was born in Munger and developed an early love for Urdu and Persian literature. 2. He worked at All India Radio and later with the Ministry of Culture. 3. His poetry blended classical forms with modern themes. 4. He was also a respected critic. 5. His legacy lives on through literary archives and academic discussions ------ Introduction In the vast tapestry of Urdu literature, there are poets who thundered with revolutions, and there are poets who whispered with wisdom. Mazhar Imam was part of the latter, more discreet tradition — a thinker-poet whose inner universe echoed the changing topography of time, loss, love, and selfhood. Born on 12 March 1928 in Munger, Bihar, and passing away in New Delhi on 30 January 2012, Mazhar Imam left behind a treasure trove of poetry, prose, and critical writings that continues to inspire both admirers of literature and scholars of poetics. Early Life and Education: Roots in Munger Mazhar Imam was born in the historic town of Munger, a place renowned for its composite cultural ethos and traditions of scholarship. His father, Maulvi Mohammad Imam, was an Islamic scholar, and this meant that Mazhar was introduced early to the world of classical texts, Persian literature, and philosophical ideas. He developed a keen interest in poetry and language in his early years. He began composing verse during his student life and actively contributed to literary journals. He completed a Master's degree in Urdu from Magadh University, and went on to pursue another Master’s in Persian from the University of Bihar, a rare combination that granted him deep insight into both classical Indo-Persian literary traditions and the evolving forms of modern Urdu. This academic foundation gave his poetry both lyrical grace and intellectual sharpness. Career: The Poet as Journalist and Cultural Voice Mazhar Imam’s professional career saw a transition from a schoolteacher in Muzaffarpur to a distinguished literary and cultural figure in New Delhi. In 1967, he joined All India Radio (AIR) as a scriptwriter and editor, eventually rising to the rank of Director in the News Services Division. His tenure at AIR greatly enriched his understanding of India's multilingual and multicultural literary heritage and brought him into contact with a wide spectrum of thinkers, poets, and artists. After retiring in 1988, Imam remained professionally active as a cultural administrator and academic voice. He collaborated intermittently with the Ministry of Culture, particularly on initiatives exploring Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, a phrase that describes India’s syncretic, inclusive civilisational heritage, which was also a prominent motif in his literary and critical writings. Literary Contributions: The Ghazal Reimagined Mazhar Imam was, above all, a Ghazal poet, but a Ghazal poet with a fresh modernist sensibility. He began writing in the 1940s, a period of immense change in Urdu literature. While many of his contemporaries leaned either towards exaggerated romanticism or forceful progressive realism, Imam forged a path of measured modernism — poetry that reflected, questioned, and participated in the evolving world without abandoning classical structures or emotional subtlety. His notable poetic works include: Zakhm-e-Tamanna (1962) Rishta Goonge Safar Ka (1974) Aati Jati Lahrein (1981) Pichle Mausam Ka Phool (1988) Rakh Se Likhi Gayi Kitaab (1984) Palki Kahkashan (2007) Band Hota Hua Bazaar (1995) Intikhaab-e-Farsi (1959) Jameel Mazhari (1992) Aksar Yaad Aate Hain (1993) Ek Lehar Aati Hui (1997) Nigah-e-Tairana (2007) Tanqeed Numa (2004) These collections comprise Ghazals and Nazms that demonstrate not only emotional depth but also philosophical and psychological exploration. His mature works, particularly Zakhm-e-Tamanna and Palki Kahkashan, are among the most sophisticated examples of post-independence Urdu modernism. Unlike many, Imam’s ghazals did not revolve merely around unfulfilled love or idealised beauty. He explored themes of existence, emotional paradox, urban alienation, and the metaphysics of memory and time. His poetic tone was introspective, philosophical, and deeply humane. Critical Work: Beyond the Poet Mazhar Imam was also a literary critic and an astute observer of the evolution of the Urdu Ghazal. His critical work Ghazal Nayi Sadi Mein (The Ghazal in the New Century) remains a landmark in Urdu literary discourse. It analyses how the Ghazal has evolved, embracing new metaphors, socio-political themes, and psychological insights, without severing ties with its classical roots. His essays and interviews reflect his enduring commitment to aesthetics, linguistic integrity, and India’s pluralistic culture. Throughout his body of work, one finds a consistent belief in the resilience of Urdu — not only as a literary language but also as a symbol of India's syncretic identity. Legacy and Death: Quiet Departure, Lasting Influence Mazhar Imam passed away at the age of 84 in Delhi, on 30 January 2012, after a period of illness. His death was mourned widely across literary and academic communities. Poetry International published an obituary recognising him as a vital member of post-independence Urdu literary thought. TwoCircles.net described him as a "noted Urdu poet" whose loss would be keenly felt. In October 2023, Taasir Daily published a reflective tribute titled “Remembering Mazhar Imam through his Timeless Resonance in the Tapestry of Literature and Art”, detailing how his poetry continues to be revisited in academic seminars and literary festivals. The piece observed that his poetic vision remained relevant even among globalisation, conflict, and cultural erasure. Today, his Ghazals and critical writings are preserved and honoured on many notable websites, ensuring that his words reach newer generations of Urdu lovers and scholars. Signature Style: A Poet of Silences and Depths Mazhar Imam was not a poet of slogans or spectacle. His genius lay in restraint, in the fusion of the personal and the philosophical. His verses often reveal themselves slowly, like unfolding mirrors. Critics have described his poetry as “mute yet moving” — capable of saying much by holding back. A striking example of this can be seen in his renowned Ghazal from Palki Kahkashan: Apne Khoe Hue Lamhaat Ko Paayaa Thaa Kabhii Main Ne Kuchh Waqt Tire Saath Guzaaraa Thaa Kabhii (I had once retrieved my lost moments — Once, I spent some time with you.) Aap Ko Mere Ta.Aaruf Kii Zaroorat Kyaa Hai Main Wahii Huuñ Ki Jise Aap Ne Chaahaa Thaa Kabhii (Why do you need an introduction to me? I am the same one you once loved.) Ab Agar Ashk Umandte Haiñ To Pii Jaataa Huuñ Hausla Aap Ke Daaman Ne Badhaayaa Thaa Kabhii (Now when tears surge, I swallow them — Once, your presence had strengthened my resolve.) Ab Usii Giit Kii Lai Soch Rahii Hai Duniyaa Main Ne Jo Giit Tirii Bazm Mein Gaayaa Thaa Kabhii (Now the world seeks the rhythm of that same song Which I had once sung in your gathering.) Merii Ulfat Ne Kiyaa Ghair Ko Maa.Il Varna Main Tirii Anjuman-E-Naaz Mein Tanhaa Thaa Kabhii (My love drew others to you — Though I was once alone in your proud assembly.) Kar Diyaa Aap Kii Qurbat Ne Bahut Duur Mujhe Aap Se Buad Kaa Ehsaas Na Itnaa Thaa Kabhii (Your closeness distanced me too far — Never did I feel such distance even after separation.) Dost Naadaañ Ho To Dushman Se Buraa Hotaa Hai Mujh Ko Apne Dil-E-Naadaañ Pe Bharosaa Thaa Kabhii (A foolish friend can be worse than a foe — I once had faith in my naïve heart.) Final Word: Why Mazhar Imam Still Matters In a world overwhelmed by instant expression and poetic posturing, Mazhar Imam’s work is a reminder of thoughtfulness, form, and feeling. He believed in a poem that listens, pauses, and reflects. His ghazals were encounters — not mere performances — with the self, with history, and with language. As Urdu continues its complex journey in 21st-century India, Imam’s legacy stands like a lighthouse, showing how one can be rooted in tradition and still speak with modernity’s clarity. His verses remain: still, reflective, and luminous. References Imam Azam (2019) “Mazhar Imam” Sahitya Akademi Mohammad Raza Kazmi (1996) “Mazhar Imam Ki Tanqeed Nigari” Takhleeqkar Publishers, Delhi (8 October 2023) “Remembering Mazhar Imam through his Timeless Resonance in the Tapestry of Literature and Art” Taasir Daily ---- Syed Amjad Hussain is an author and Independent research scholar on Sufism and Islam. He is the author of 'Bihar Aur Sufivad', a research book based on the history of Sufism in Bihar. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/crafting-metre-literary-mazhar-imam/d/136132 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism