Real Name – Syed Shah Mohammad Hasan
Pen name – Bismil Azimabadi
Birth and Death - 1901 - 1978
Alias – Shah Jhabbu
Father – Syed Shah Aal Hasan (Barrister at Law)
Grandfather (Paternal) – Syed Shah Hasan
Grandfather (Maternal) – Syed Shah Habeeb ur Rahman (aka Shah Mubarak Kakvi and pen name Mubarak Azeemabadi)
His Paternal ancestors migrated from Chandpura to Khusrupur (Nawada, distt. Patna, Bihar) which is now in Nalanda. From there they further migrated to Patna and settled in the locality of Lodikatra. From his Paternal side his ancestry traces back to Hazrat Makhdum Shah whose tomb is situated in Chandpur, Nalanda.
His maternal ancestry was no less illustrious. They migrated to India from Mashhad Muqaddas (Iran) and after brief stay in various places finally settled in Kako (Distt. Gaya, Bihar), which is now in District Jahanabad in Bihar. His maternal grandfather, Syed Shah Habeeb ur Rahman (aka Shah Mubarak Kakvi), finally settled in Azimabad (Patna)
Waints (talk) 09:42, 29 May 2012 (UTC)Syed Babar Imam, Kashana Kothi, Patna
His maternal Grandfather and maternal Uncle (Khan Bahadur Syed Shah Tahiuddin aka Shah Kamaal, pen name Kamaal Azimabadi) were poets of renown and were students of Wahid Allahabadi. Initially education was conducted at home and was later admitted in school. He had completed a few years in school, when elder brother, Shah Nabi Hasan, died childless after a few years of marriage and the whole responsibility of the household fell on his young shoulders, and he could not study any more after school. But the heritage of literature was in his blood and it bloomed on its own accord. The legacy of Mubarak Azimabadi and Kamaal Azimabadi lived on.
As he was raised in an ambience of poetry and literature he was molded in to it automatically since childhood. He had committed to memory several works of contemporary and old masters. The period he lived in was one of the most glorious periods of Azimabad, there was not a single educated house in the city which did not have a poet in its household. Mushaira’s (Poetry narration gatherings) used to be held almost every week with overwhelming attendances. The desire to write couplets and ghazal was strong in Bismil. With that purpose in mind he joined the literary circle of Shaad Azimabadi (another forgotten master). At the time of Shaad’s death Bismil was quite young and yet the spirit of Shaad did not fail to inspire him. When the burden of the household fell on his shoulder after the death of his brother, Bismil had to cut down his indulgence in Urdu Poetry. Wrote less but whatever he wrote was heart warming.
Hum to Bismil hee rahey khair hui Ishq mein jaan chali jaati hai
The hand whose pen wrote these lines, finally departed from this life on 20th day of June in the year 1967.
Kaisey rowey nah marg-e-bismil par AaKhir dil khol kar Azimabad waaley
Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna is a popular ghazal of Bismil though it is incorrectly associated with Ram Prasad Bismil. Both are different personalities. Pandit Ram Prasad was born in UP and had various Takhallus (penname), Bismil, Ram, Agyaat, but never Azimabadi as he had no connection with Azimabad (Patna). Bismil was born in Azimabad and hence the Azimabadi in his takhallus. The fact remains that the said ghazal was composed by Bismil Azimabadi of Bihar and the correction (islaah) was done by his ustaad (teacher) Shaad Azimabadi.
The real name of Bismil Azimabadi was Syed Shah Mohammad Hasan, aka jhabbu, penname Bismil. He was born in Khusrupur. The year of his birth is unclear as some have stated it as 1900 while others insist on 1902. While Bismil himself, in his sort autobiography (which Mohammad Ali published in his “YaraaN e Maikadah) says:
“Destiny brought me into this world into a happy and fortunate family and t he year of birth was the first year of the 20th Century. I was just 1 year old when, in 1902, my father passed away”
Bismil is associated with a family of social standing and stature. His lineage goes back 33 generations to Hazrat Ali RH. Bismil’s father, Syed Shah Aal Hasan, was a Barrister at Law which he obtained at a young age of 21 in England. He returned to Patna in 1894. He started practicing law in Azimabad, but unfortunately after just 8 years of professional life he passed away on 31 January 1902. He was buried in Safipur in Patna. He was survived by 3 sons. The eldest son was Shah Wali Hasan who passed away at an early age of 14 years. The second son was Shah Nabi Hasan (alias Nabbu) who passed away in his 28th year. The youngest was Syed Shah Mohammad Hasan who was later known as Bismil Azimabadi.
Bismil was just 1 year old when his father passed away and a mountain of grief and anxiety fell upon his mother. The three sons were sent to stay with Maternal Grandfather, Syed Shah Mubarak Kakvi, and Maternal Uncle, Syed Shah Mohiuddin. Their Grandfather and Uncle took the responsibility of bringing them up. The initial education of Bismil was conducted at home as was the norm in those days. Bismil’s childhood was spent in Khusrupur and Azimabad. Bismil’s mother left nothing to chances as far as the upbringing of her sons was concerned. Bismil got further training from his maternal and paternal grandfathers. Syed Shah Mubarak Kakvi had great sympathy for his grandsons who had lost their father at an early age, and appointed a tutor Moinuddin who taught Arabic, Farsi and Urdu to Bismil. The elders thought that apart from conventional languages it was also necessary to learn English. Approximately at the age of 10years he, along with his elder brother Nabi Hasan, reached Calcutta where they were admitted in an English school. A close relative of his late Father, Syed Shah Sultan Ahmad Khusrupuri, was a professor in the Veterinary College (was promoted to Principal and then to Director) was resident in Calcutta and it was with him that the 2 brothers stayed and got education under his guardianship. After this their mother called them back to Patna. Their eldest brother had passed away in early childhood and the responsibilities of the household was increasing with every passing day. Bismil’s elder brother, Syed Shah Nabi Hasan, got married but within a few years of marriage he passed away childless. Bismil was left all alone. The responsibilities of the household fell on his shoulder and he had to cancel his plans for further education and assume his new role as the master of the house. In his words:
“Now the entire working of my household was solely in the hands of managers and staff and in such an environment how is possible to raise a child of a zamindar family? Whatever was possible was accorded me. The sense of responsibility and maturity that came to me was a mere co-incidence.”
Bismil’s father were 3 brothers. Bismil’s father was the eldest, second was Syed Shah Mazhar Hasan and the third was Syed Shah Ameer Hasan. Bismil was married to Haseena Khatoon, the youngest daughter of Syed Shah Mazhar Hasan. Bismil had 5 sons: • Syed Shah Hasan Naseem • Syed Shah Mehdi Hasan • Syed Shah Akhtar Hasan • Syed Shah Hamid Hasan • Syed Shah Jamal Hasan And 3 daughters: • Humaira Khatoon • Shamima Khatoon • Aamna Khatoon
When Bismil came into this world all around him literary revolution was underway. Ghazal and couplets and poets ruled all social gathering. And it would be surprising if Bismil would not have been influenced by such an ambience. And the other great reason was that his maternal grandfather, Syed Shah Habeebur Rahman Mubarak and maternal uncle Syed Shah Mohiuddin Kamaal were not just men of standing and riches but they were also well known for their etiquettes, mannerism and their general rapport with other people in the society. They were also counted among senior poets. They also undertook poets in their wings and took care of their intellectual development. They were huge connoisseurs of art. In this period, mushairas or poetic gatherings were much the norm. In these gatherings Waheed Allahabadi, Shaad Azimabadi, and other heavyweights of the poetic field were regular face and the whole of Azimabad used to echo with their Ghazals. Growing up in these times, Ghazal and Poetry influenced Bismil in a very monumental way. He started writing couplets from a very early age. He was so deeply influenced that he memorized the works of various senior poets. Deep study and the company of talented poets honed Bismil’s talent to a perfection. Bismil developed is own style which was different from all the poets of his time. It had an individuality of its own.
In the beginning, Bismil used to show his Ghazals to Mubarak Azimabadi who used to correct it for him. Mubarak Azimabadi was also known as the torch bearer of Daagh and hence Bismil’s poetry also carried the flavor of Daagh’s poetry. So later, Bismil took Daagh for his teacher and became his favorite pupil. Now, since Daagh’s poetry was greatly influenced by mysticism (Sufism), therefore, the same colors can also be found in Bismil’s poetry.
Bismil Azimabadi was a poet but he was from a Zamindar family and he had a commanding posture. He was fair with a full head of dark hairs. He sported a small beard and there was mole of his nose. He had big eyes, a straight nose and a high forehead. He was fond of clothes and took particular care in dressing. Usually he favored wearing a black sherwani with a black boat-shaped cap on his head, pump shoes on his feet and a walking-stick in hand. He was extremely fond of Paan and Huqqa.
Bismil life was punctuated by spells of sorrows and pain with brief intervals of happiness, which helped shape his psyche. It brought a lightness of spirit in his attitude. His circle of acquaintance used to benefit from his good natured and humorous composure. But he never settled for crudity or wantonness in his humour, no matter how informal the company. A very close friend and relative, Syed Shah Jaafar Hussain, has given a brief introduction of Bismil character. He says: “His lively nature was such that it brings happiness in others, but on no occasion has anyone seen Bismil indulging in loud, boisterous laughter. He was not only affected by his own sorrows, but the sorrows of others also vastly affected him that one could easily witness the pain reflected on his face. But I can’t remember him wailing even when in the worst of disasters. He was ever mindful of the etiquette of the society.”
Bismil also studied Homeopathy and he used to give free medicines to the ailing patients. If someone was not able to come to him for treatment, rich or poor, he used to venture on his own to see him and provide medicines.
Bismil’s Father, in his lifetime, had constructed a beautiful house in beautiful area in Hardaspur Bigha (which is a few kms from Patna). He was a landlord (zamindar) of this village and a lot of cultivation was done on his land. Some times Bismil’s father used to come here for his vacation and stay a few days. When Bismil and his brother returned from Calcutta, their mother took them to live in this house in Hardaspur Bigha. They stayed there till 1945 and he was very attached to Hardaspur Bigha. He wrote an essay titled “ParindoN ke Shauqeen”, in which he has drawn a beautiful and awe-inspiring picture of Hardaspur Bigha.
n Hardaspur Bigha, Bismal came to closely identify with nature. The long stay there made him fall in love with nature and its immense beauty. Spending his days in the heartwarming ambience, flourishing fields on river banks, colorful and aromatic flowers and the swirling clouds gave him immense peace and inner calm which was to be found nowhere else.
Bismil was also very closely associated with Khusrupur where he was popularly known as Jhabbu Bhai (Brother Jhabbu) and he was greatly respected. He was always present there on any occasion of happiness or mourning and participated in both equally. The people of Khusrupur were very fond of Bismil and used to consult him on important matters. He was popular among all classes, rich or poor, old or young.
In 1947, India was independent but the country was rife with communal tension, riots and random acts of violence. The whole of India was engulfed in the fire that burnt brighter still. This affected Bismil in a very profound way and his demeanor changed in a dramatic way. As long as his health allowed him, he continued to socialize by visiting his friends and relatives, and he remained a popular invitee in all literary sittings in the city. He was always in forefronts in all mushairas in Azimabad.
Bismil's interests remained the same, he was a huge fan or artistry and his whole house was adorned with painting of popular and amateur artists. His bedroom and living room always had fresh flowers and he also had various international breeds of dogs and he was pretty fond of them too.
Bismil wrote extensively, but a majority of his writings have been lost forever. But, Syed Shah Mehdi Hasan and Syed Shah Hadi Hasan, arranged and sequenced the ones that survived and compiled them in a book “Hikayat-e-Hasti” and it was published by Bihar Urdu Academy. Most of his surviving work is available in this book.
Bismil’s eldest daughter passed away in his lifetime and this greatly affected him. It broke him down. His health deteriorated with every passing day. His wife on the other hand was ailing since a long time. His mental peace and calm was shattered. In 1976, he was suffered a stroke which paralyzed him. He continued to struggle with life for another 2 years and by then his mental faculties started breaking down. He could neither talk nor listen or understand by then. By this time he had stopped recognizing people. And finally on 20 June 1978 he passed away and according to his will he was buried in the village Kurtha, beside his mother. His wife followed him after 6 months.
