Akbar Allahabadi (1846-1921) life, education and poetry

Akbar Allahabadi (1846-1921) was a prominent Urdu poet, playwright, and journalist from India. He was born in Allahabad, and began writing poetry at a young age. He was known for his wit and satire, as well as his use of colloquial language in his poetry. He wrote on a wide range of topics, including politics, social issues, and everyday life.

Akbar Allahabadi was also an active journalist, and he wrote for several newspapers and magazines throughout his career. He was also involved in the Indian independence movement and was a vocal critic of British rule in India.

One of his famous shayari is

"Aap ki khidmat mein hum gae nahi,
kehte hain keh aap ki khidmat mein hum gae nahi".

The English translation of this shayari is "I did not go in your service, people say that I went in your service".

Another famous poem is
"Jab rishta koi dil se dil se hota hai,

tabhi toh woh rishta nibhane ke qabil hota hai"
which means
"When a relationship is from heart to heart,
then only it becomes capable of being nurtured"

Akbar Allahabadi's poetry is known for its simplicity, wit and satire. His poetry continues to be popular and widely read in India and Pakistan to this day.

Akbar Allahabadi's poetry is known for its wit and satire, as well as its use of colloquial language. He wrote on a wide range of topics, including politics, social issues, and everyday life. He was also known for his humorous poetry, and his poetry often dealt with the complexities of human relationships and the ironies of life.

In addition to poetry, Akbar Allahabadi was also a playwright, and he wrote several plays in Urdu. He was also an active journalist, and he wrote for several newspapers and magazines throughout his career.

In his journalism, Akbar Allahabadi was known for his criticism of British rule in India and his support for the Indian independence movement. He was a vocal critic of the British government's policies and actions, and he used his writing to raise awareness about the plight of the Indian people under British rule.

Akbar Allahabadi was also a respected figure in Urdu literary circles, and he was a member of several literary organizations. His poetry continues to be popular and widely read in India and Pakistan to this day.

He passed away on February 10, 1921. His legacy lived on through his poetry, plays and journalism. He will always be remembered for his wit and satire, his simple but powerful language and his contribution to Urdu literature.

Here are some famous verses of Akbar Allahabadi in Urdu with their English translations:

"Har ek baat pe kehte ho tum ke tu kya hai,
Tumhi kaho ke yeh andaz-e-guftugu kya hai"

Translation:
"You say 'what are you' on every matter,
you tell me, what this style of speaking is?"

"Hum ne mohabbat mein chand sitaron se bhi guzara hai,
Tum ne toh sirf chand sitaron se guzara hai"

Translation: "I have gone through many stars in love,
you have only gone through a few"

"Mujh se pehle bhi shaayaron ne shaayari ki hai,
Main toh unki mehfil mein hans ke baitha hoon"

Translation:
"Poets have written poetry before me,
I'm just sitting in their gathering and laughing"

"Aap ki khidmat mein hum gae nahi,
kehte hain keh aap ki khidmat mein hum gae nahi"

Translation: "I did not go in your service, people say that I went in your service"

"Jab rishta koi dil se dil se hota hai,
tabhi toh woh rishta nibhane ke qabil hota hai"

Translation:
"When a relationship is from heart to heart,
then only it becomes capable of being nurtured"

These verses demonstrate his wit, satire, and his use of colloquial language which are the hallmarks of his poetry. They also reflect his ability to write on a wide range of topics and his ability to express deep emotions through simple yet powerful language.

Akbar Allahabadi Poetry

Akbar Allahabadi Poetry

Syed Akbar Hussein, popularly known as Akbar Allahabadi (16 November 1846 – 9 September 1921) was an Indian Urdu poet in the genre of satire.

belonged to a zamindar family of Jagdishpur village from the Gaya district in Bihar.

Akbar received his early education from his father at home. In 1855, his mother moved to Allahabad and settled in Mohalla Chowk. Akbar was admitted to the Jamuna Mission School for English education in 1856, but he abandoned his school education in 1859. However, he continued to study English and read widely.

On leaving school, Akbar joined the Railway Engineering Department as a clerk. While in service, he passed the exam qualifying him as a wakeel (barrister), and subsequently worked as a tehsildar and a munsif, and ultimately, as a sessions court judge. To commemorate his work in judicial services, he was bestowed with the title, Khan Bahadur.

Akbar retired in 1903 and lived on in Allahabad. He died of a fever on September 9, 1921, and was buried in the Himmatganj district of Allahabad.

"Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa" is a popular ghazal, written by Akbar Allahabadi and most prominently sung by Ghulam Ali. Verses from his poetry also found their way into the famous qawwali “Tum Ek Gorakh Dhanda Ho” by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. 

دنیا میں ہوں دنیا کا طلب گار نہیں ہوں

बाज़ार से गुज़रा हूँ ख़रीदार नहीं हूँ

ज़िंदा हूँ मगर ज़ीस्त की लज़्ज़त नहीं बाक़ी

हर-चंद कि हूँ होश में हुश्यार नहीं हूँ

इस ख़ाना-ए-हस्ती से गुज़र जाऊँगा बे-लौस

साया हूँ फ़क़त नक़्श-ब-दीवार नहीं हूँ

अफ़्सुर्दा हूँ इबरत से दवा की नहीं हाजत

ग़म का मुझे ये ज़ोफ़ है बीमार नहीं हूँ

वो गुल हूँ ख़िज़ाँ ने जिसे बर्बाद किया है

उलझूँ किसी दामन से मैं वो ख़ार नहीं हूँ

या रब मुझे महफ़ूज़ रख उस बुत के सितम से

मैं उस की इनायत का तलबगार नहीं हूँ

गो दावा-ए-तक़्वा नहीं दरगाह-ए-ख़ुदा में

बुत जिस से हों ख़ुश ऐसा गुनहगार नहीं हूँ

अफ़्सुर्दगी ओ ज़ोफ़ की कुछ हद नहीं 'अकबर'

काफ़िर के मुक़ाबिल में भी दीं-दार नहीं हूँ

Na Kitabon Se Na College Ke Hai Dar Se Paida
Deen Hota Hai Buzrugon Ki Nazar Se Paida
Rang Chehre  Ka To College Ne Bhi Qaim Rakha
Rang-e-Batin Mein Magar Baap Se Baita Na Mila
Hamari Bataein Hi Bataein Hain Syed Kaam Karta Tha
Na Bhulo Farq Jo Hai Kehne Wale, Karne Wale Mein
Kahe Jo Chahe Koi Mein To ye Kehta Hun Ay Akbar
Khuda Bakhshe Bahut Se Khoobiyan Theen Marne Wale Mein
Akbar Allahabadi

Akbar Allahabadi: Barq e Kaleesa اکبر الٰہ آبادی: برقِ کلیسا

رات اس مس سے کلیسا میں ہوا میں دو چار

ہائے وہ حسن وہ شوخی وہ نزاکت وہ ابھار

زلف پیچاں میں وہ سج دھج کہ بلائیں بھی مرید

قدِ رعنا میں وہ چم خم کہ قیامت بھی شہید

آنکھیں وہ فتنہ دوراں کہ گنہ گار کریں

گال وہ صبح درخشاں کہ ملک پیار کریں

گگرم تقریر جسے سننے کو شعلہ لپکے

دلکش آواز کہ سن کر جسے بلبل جھپکے

دل کشی چال میں ایسی کہ ستارے رک جائیں

سر کشی ناز میں ایسی کہ گورنر جھک جائیں

آتشِ حسن سے تقویٰ کو جلانے والی

بجلیاں لطف تبسم سے گرانے والی

پہلوئے حسن بیاں شوخیء تقریر میں غرق

ٹرکی و مصر و فلسطین کے حالات میں برق

پس گیا لوٹ گیا دل میں سکت ہی نہ رہی

سر تھے تمکین کے جس گت میں وہ گت ہی نہ رہی

ضبط کے عزم کا اس وقت اثر کچھ نہ ہوا

یاحفیظ کا کیا ورد مگر کچھ نہ ہوا

عرض کی میں نے کہ اے گلشن فطرت کی بہار

دولت و عزت و ایماں ترے قدموں پہ نثار

تو اگر عہد وفا باندھ کے میری ہو جائے

ساری دنیا سے قلب کو سیری ہو جائے

شوق کے جوش میں میں نے جو زبان یوں کھولی

ناز و انداز سے تیوری کو چڑھا کر بولی

غیر ممکن ہے مجھے انس مسلمانوں سے

بوئے خوں آتی ہے اس قوم کے افسانوں سے

لن ترانی کی یہ لیتے ہیں نمازی بن کر

حملے سرحد پہ کیا کرتے ہیں غازی بن کر

کوئی بنتا ہے جو مہدی تو بگڑ جاتے ہیں

آگ میں کودتے ہیں توپ سے لڑ جاتے ہیں

گل کھلائیں کوئی میداں میں تو اترا جائیں

پائیں سامان اقامت تو قیامت ڈھائیں

مطمئن ہو کوئی کیوں کر کہ یہ ہیں نیک نہاد

ہے ہنوز ان کی رگوں میں اثر حکم جہاد

دشمن صبر کی نظروں میں لگاوٹ پائی

کامیابی کی دلِ زار نے آہٹ پائی

عرض کی میں نے کہ اے لذت جاں راحت روح

اب زمانے پہ نہیں ہے اثر آدم و نوح

شجر طور کا اس باغ میں پودا ہی نہیں

گیسوئے حور کا اس دور میں سودا ہی نہیں

اب کہاں ذہن میں باقی ہیں براق و رفرف

ٹکٹکی بندھ گئی ہے قوم کی انجن کی طرف

ہم ہیں باقی نہیں اب خالد(رض) جانباز کا رنگ

دل پہ غالب ہے فقط حافظ شیراز کا رنگ

یاں نہ وہ نعرۃء تکبیر نہ وہ جوشِ سپاہ

سب کے سب آپ ہی پڑھتے ہیں سبحان اللہ

جوہر تیغ مجاہد ترے ابرو پہ نثار

نور ایماں کا ترے آئینہ رو پہ نثار

اٹھ گئی صفحہ خاطر سے وہ بحث بد و نیک

دو دلے ہو رہے ہیں کہتے ہیں اللہ کو نیک

موج کوثر کی کہاں اب ہے مرے باغ کی گرد

میں تو تہذیب میں ہوں پیرِ مغاں کا شاگرد

مجھ پہ کچھ وجہہ عتا آپ کو اے جان نہیں

نام ہی نام ہے ورنہ میں مسلمان نہیں

جب کہا صاف یہ میں نے کہ جو ہو صاحب فہم

تو نکالو دلِ نازک سے یہ شبہ وہم

میرے اسلام کو اک قصہء ماضی سمجھو

ہنس کے بولی کہ تو پھر مجھ کو بھی راضی سمجھو

اکبر الٰہ آبادی

 बर्क़-ए-कलीसा

Khuda Se Maang Jo Kuch Maangna hai ae akbar
Ye ho woh dar hai ke zillat nahi sawal ke baad 

Ask the lord for what you need or desire, O Akbar

This is the door where no humiliation after the question.