Syed Hussain Sibt-e-Asghar Naqvi, (Urdu: سید حسین سبطِ اصغر نقوی) commonly known by his pen-name Jaun Elia (Urdu: جون ایلیا, 14 December 1931 – 8 November 2002), was a Pakistani poet. One of the most prominent modern Urdu poets, popular for his unconventional ways, he “acquired knowledge of philosophy, logic, Islamic history, the Muslim Sufi tradition, Muslim religious sciences, Western literature, and Kabbala“. He was fluent in Urdu, Arabic, Sindhi, English, Persian, Sanskrit and Hebrew.

Early life and family

Jaun Elia was born on 14 December 1931 in Amroha, India into an educated Shia family. His father, Shafiq Hasan Elia, was a scholar of literature and astronomy well-versed in the Arabic, English, Persian, Hebrew and Sanskrit languages, and who corresponded with leading intellectuals like Bertrand Russell. Jaun Elia was the youngest of his siblings. Rais Amrohvi was his elder brother. Indian film director Kamal Amrohi was his first cousin. Another relative in Pakistan is actor Munawar Saeed, famous for his roles as a villain.
Described as a child prodigy, Jaun was initially educated at the Syed-ul-Madaris in Amroha, a madrasa affiliated with the Darul Uloom Deoband.
He married writer Zubaida in the year 1970. They separated in the year 1992.

Writing caree

He began writing poetry when he was 8 but published his first collection, Shayad, when he was 60.

Political view

Partition and migration to Pakistan

Being a communist, Elia opposed the partition of India. However, he eventually migrated to Pakistan in 1957, and decided to live in Karachi.

Communism

In his poems, he supported communism in Pakistan. References to class consciousness are also seen in his poems. He also was described as “An anarchist, a nihilist, and a poet” by dunyanews.tv.

Legacy

Poet Pirzada Qasim said:
Jaun was very particular about language. While his diction is rooted in the classical tradition, he touches on new subjects. He remained in quest of an ideal all his life. Unable to find the ideal eventually, he became angry and frustrated. He felt, perhaps with reason, that he had squandered his talent.
In 2020, Punjabi rapper Kay Kap’s album Rough Rhymes for Tough Times featured a song entitled Bulaava which had couplets from the poem Pehnaayi Ka Makaan written and recited by Jaun Elia.
In 2020, Pakistani rock-fusion band Nishtar Park released a single Purane Aur Naye Sawal which was based on Elia’s ghazal Umr Guzaregi Imtihan Mein Kya.
In 2023, Urdu rapper Talha Anjum’s album Open Letter featured a song entitled Secrets which was strongly influenced by Jaun Elia’s poem Be-dilli Kya Yuhin Din Guzar Jaenge. Talha Anjum’s other works are also heavily influenced by Jaun Elia’s poetry.

Work

Poetry collections

Prose work (mainly translations)

Elia was not just a poet but was also an editor and a translator, especially of old Sufi, Mutazili and Ismaili treatises.
  • Masih-i-Baghdad Hallaj,
  • Jometria,
  • Tawasin, usman
  • Isaghoji,
  • Rahaish-o-Kushaish,
  • Hasan bin Sabah
  • Farnod, Tajrid,
  • Masail-i-Tajrid,
  • Rasail Ikhwan al Safa
Above are some of his translations from Arabic and Persian. Not only did he translate these books but also introduced several new words in the Urdu language.