KAIFI AZMI

Jan. 14, 2020

Google released a doodle on the occassion of 101 birth anniversary of the Indian Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi.

About:

  • Sayyid Athar Hussein Rizvi, known as Kaifi Azmi, (1919 – 2002) was an Indian Urdu poet.

  • Kaifi Azmi published his first collection of poems, Jhankar in 1943 and became a member of the influential Progressive Writers' Association that used writing to achieve socioeconomic reforms.

  • He is known for bringing Urdu literature into the film industry. His legendary works such as Pakeezah’s soundtrack Chalte Chalte and Koi Yeh Kaise Bataye from Arth have gone down as notable contributions in Urdu language and Hindi language.

  • Aurat is Azmi's one of the earliest works where he spoke on women empowerment and equality.

  • Awards and honours:
    • He was the recipient of Padma Shri, Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu for his collection Awaara Sajde, President's Award for national integration and Sahitya Akademi Fellowship for lifetime achievement.

    • The government has also inaugurated a train named "Kaifiyat Express" which runs from his hometown Azamgarh to Old Delhi.