The name Habib Jalib is a symbol of resistance and defiance. He is known as a revolutionary poet. His poetry has been translated into multiple languages worldwide, and his verses shine like beacons of light.
Habib Jalib has published collections of his poetry in both Urdu and Punjabi, and his works have been printed and widely distributed. In addition to his poetry, he has also written songs and music for films.
This poetry page is dedicated to Habib Jalib, who was born on March 24, 1928, in Midh Ranjha, Hoshiarpur District, Punjab, which was then part of British India. He received his primary education from a village school and continued his studies up to middle school. For religious education, he became a student of Maulana Ghulam Rasool Alampuri.
Habib Jalib’s passion for poetry began at an early age. His first poem was written during his seventh-grade exam when he wrote a verse instead of a sentence while writing a phrase at “امشب”.
وعدہ کیا تھا ائیں گے امشب ضرور وہ
وعدہ شکن کو دیکھیے وقت سحر ہوا
In 1943, he joined the Delhi Anglo-Arabic High School in Mori Gate.
مد تیں ہو گئیں خطا کرتے
شرم آ تی ہے اب دعا کرتے
In 1945, reciting famous poems brought a hopeful future.
In 1945, he filled sacks of chickpeas for the soldiers of the Great War and began practical life with the wages earned.
In 1947, he participated in the Pakistan Movement with the team in Teymourpur, Delhi, and remained actively involved in the movement.
After the formation of Pakistan, he continued to work as a laborer at the Karachi port, and during this time, he also participated under Habib Ahmad Mast-Mianvi’s pseudonym in the ranks of poets.
In 1949, the educational series was restarted, and he enrolled in the Higher Secondary School of Jacob Line in Karachi.
For a short time, he also did proofreading for newspapers like Jhang, Dawn, etc.
دیپ جس کا محلات ہی میں جلے
چند لوگون کی خوشیوں کو لے کے چلے
وہ جو سائے میں ہر مصلحت کے پلے
ایسے دستور کو صبح بے نور کو
میں نہیں مانتا میں نہیں مانتا
In 1952, at Koh-e-Noor Textile Mills in Lyallpur, a famous poetry competition was held. Sa’eed Sahgal, who was present at the event, was delighted and gave the poet a job and a house.
In 1952, Comrade Hyder Buksh Jatoi joined the Hari Movement.
In 1953, for the first time, as a worker of the Hari Movement, he was arrested in Karachi.
Even after the partition, arrangements were made to read poetry in many cities in India.
Habib Jalib got married to his uncle’s daughter on the sixth of Muharram in 1956.
During General Ayub Khan’s government, a ban was imposed on leaving the country.
In 1964, Shahrah-e-Afaq Nizam wrote against the orders of General Ayub Khan.
Habib Jalib was always present with those who stayed with the respected Fatima Jinnah throughout the campaign in all of Punjab.
In 1964, he was accused of attacking the history shelter of Wazir Ali in Lahore in order to distance himself from the political campaign, and he was imprisoned for seven years. Later, he was honorably acquitted by the High Court.
Mian Mahmood Qasoori fought your case.
تم سے پہلے جو اک شخص یہاں تخت نشیں تھا
اسکو بھی اپنے خدا ہونے پر اتنا ہی یقین تھا
In 1970, the first stage of the farmer’s movement in Lahore declared that Yahya Khan and Nurul Amin were breaking the country with their companions. They asked the police to write down my statement. To remain silent after today is treachery, and to stay out of jail is cowardice.
In 1970, from the stage of the farmer’s movement in Lahore, he declared that Yahya Khan and Nurul Amin were breaking the country with their companions. They asked the police to write down my statement. To remain silent after today is treachery, and to stay out of jail is cowardice.
he 1970 elections, Jalib received 1,700 votes.
He was known as the poet of the people and the poet of revolution, but the same people did not vote for him.
In a meeting with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Jalib was arrested for reciting his poem “6 September” in front of him in honour of the Hamid Nizami series.
In 1976, on the third day of the death of his twelve-year-old son, Hyderabad forces surrounded his house and arrested him in the conspiracy case.
Khan Abdul Wali Khan, Mir Ghous Bakhsh Bizenjo, Ataullah Mengal, Khair Bakhsh Marri, and Qasim Zia were also involved in this case.
He was released on bail after 14 months in 1978.
Even during the reign of General Zia-ul-Haq in 1980, the pen did not stop.
In 1982, the Lahore High Court Bar granted honorary membership to Habib Jalib through a special decree, and he was the only non-lawyer member of the bar.
In 1988, during the era of the People’s Party, Habib Jalib’s passport was reinstated through the efforts of Ihtizaz Ahsan.
Iraq, Iran, and Libya offered financial assistance to Habib Jalib, but he did not accept any financial aid from anyone.
On March 13, 1993, at the age of 65, Jalib passed away at Sheikh Zayed Hospital.
He was honored with numerous awards during his life and after his death, including the Graduate Award, the Nigar Award, the Husrat Mohani Award, the Republic Award, and the National Film Award, as well as the Sitara-e-Imtiaz posthumously.
However, the greatest award for him was the title of “Poet of the People,” which was given to him by the people themselves.
ظلمت کو ضیا صرصر کو صبابندے کو خدا کیا لکھنا
پتھر کو گہر دیوار کو در کرگس کو ہما کیا لکھنا
