February 2015

Dr. Akhtar Husain Raipuri was a distinguished writer, scholar of Urdu, Hindi and Sanskrit and literary critic who at one time worked closely with Moulvi Abdul Huq in the preparation of a Hindi-English dictionary. Later, he migrated to Pakistan, joined UNESCO and served as its representative in several Asian and African countries. Dr. Raipuri spent three years (1932-1934) as a student at AMU, residing in Aftab Hostel. During this time, he developed a close friendship with Majaz Lucknowi who was his contemporary at Aligarh. Dr. Raipuri died in 1992. The following paragraph is adapted from his autobiography, Gerd-e-Rah (1984, Karachi).
“I and Majaz often went out for a walk in the evening towards the old fort or the Aligarh railway station, the favorite hangouts for young students in my days. One evening, wandering on the station platform, we paused in front of a third-class compartment and were stunned by the sight of a young beautiful, Gugar girl sitting inside. She was wearing a cheap silver ornament round her neck and some nondescript brass ear rings. Her clothes were old and tatty. Yet, she was exceedingly attractive, sitting there like a princess, oblivious to the admiring looks of onlookers she evoked. As the train started to move slowly, she cast a fleeting glance in our direction as if to say “goodbye”.
We left in a haze for our hostel. Later, I asked Majaz to write a poem about her, invoking the epithet, a Gem in Rags. Magaz promised to try even though he had never composed a nazm before. A few weeks later, he brought to me the rough draft of his nazm, Raat our Rail, which is now considered one of his masterpieces. A chance encounter with a Gujar girl launched Majaz on a brilliant career as a lyrical, romantic poet.”