Ali Arshad Mir ( pa, ; January 1, 1951 – October 16, 2008) was an epicPunjabi poet and writer, sometimes described as the "
Homer
Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...
of Punjab". His works have been translated into languages such as
Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu" '' English. In the 1970s, his ''International Anthem'' brought him recognition. His lines, ''girti hui dewaroo koo aik dhaka aur do'' ( ur, ) are a popular slogan in the Punjab and around the world. His work includes dozens of poems that depict the socio-economic condition of society's oppressed people. They also highlight the sacrifices of the subcontinent's resistance movements.
Personal life
Ali Arshad was born in a Muslim family in a Chishtian district, 250 km away from
Lahore
Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city ...
,
Punjab, Pakistan
Punjab (; , ) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in central-eastern region of the country, Punjab is the second-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the largest province by population. It shares land borders with the ...
. He completed his
M.A.
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
in
Punjabi language
Punjabi (; ; , ), sometimes spelled Panjabi, is an Indo-Aryan language of the Punjab region of Pakistan and India. It has approximately 113 million native speakers.
Punjabi is the most widely-spoken first language in Pakistan, with 80.5 ...
, and was appointed as an Associate
Professor
Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professors ...
in Government M.A.O College Lahore. Later, he joined Government Degree College Depalpur, Okara as its Principal. He also worked with Mazdoor Kissan Party. He was a dervish, down to earth and straightforward man who would never go for flattery for any favours or for compromises. That’s why he was transferred 26 times during his educational career as an educationist. He was also a great activist who always raised a voice for rights of workers and those pushed to the margins of society
Major works
Mir Sahab wrote his first work of poetry at the age of 16 and was considered an "Inqilabi", or profound poet, from a very early age. He dedicated his life to the depiction of the suffering of the underprivileged. His poems are considered a source of inspiration for oppressed people. In the 1970s, he wrote the revolutionary international anthem, "Girti hui deewaro ko aik dhaka aur do", which remains a popular slogan used in rebellions. In the same era, he wrote a Pakistani
shadow play
Shadow play, also known as shadow puppetry, is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment which uses flat articulated cut-out figures (shadow puppets) which are held between a source of light and a translucent screen or scrim. The cut-o ...
, ''Ravi Sy Bias Tak''. He compiled the posthumous work of Ustad Daman and named it ''Daman Daye Moti''.
Kaifi Azmi translated Mir's poems to
Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu" '' epic poem
An epic poem, or simply an epic, is a lengthy narrative poem typically about the extraordinary deeds of extraordinary characters who, in dealings with gods or other superhuman forces, gave shape to the mortal universe for their descendants.
...
"Gawathi Katha di War".
Legacy
Mir Sahab died in October 2008. His last words were "nazam kuj chair baad samny ay gee" and he rests in
Bahawalnagar
Bahawalnagar (Punjabi, ur, ), is the capital city of Bahawalnagar District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city of Bahawalnagar is the headquarter of the district and tehsil as well.
Punjab, Pakistan
Punjab (; , ) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in central-eastern region of the country, Punjab is the second-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the largest province by population. It shares land borders with the ...
.
His literary work was published posthumously. His book ''Ik Katha De War'' consists of autobiographical notes about his life, beliefs and teachings. The play ''Ravi Sy Bias Tak'' is included in the syllabus of
National College of Arts
The National College of Arts (colloquially known as NCA) is a public university located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Overview
National College of Arts - A Federal Chartered Institute is the oldest art school in Pakistan and the second oldest i ...
.
Every year, the Mir Foundation organizes Punjabi Mela, an event that consists of poets and people associated with Punjabi literature paying Mir tribute by organizing his works. In 2018, First
Dalit
Dalit (from sa, दलित, dalita meaning "broken/scattered"), also previously known as untouchable, is the lowest stratum of the castes in India. Dalits were excluded from the four-fold varna system of Hinduism and were seen as forming ...
Mela was organized by Mir foundation and MNS University of Agriculture which depicted hardship, life and culture of lower caste Hindus residing in Pakistan, it had several events and dramatized plays based on works of prominent writers like
Munshi Premchand
Dhanpat Rai Srivastava (31 July 1880 – 8 October 1936), better known by his pen name Premchand (), was an Indian writer famous for his modern Hindustani literature. Premchand was a pioneer of Hindi and Urdu social fiction. He was one of ...
. The festival has a lot to offer including literary sessions, performances, stalls and last but not the least food-for-thought conversations by various speakers. The festival also has several books and handicrafts stalls promoting cultural diversity and education.Mir Punjabi Festival Kicks off /ref>