The Revolutionary Poet of Telangana | Marxist Icon & Voice of the Oppressed
Makhdoom Mohiuddin (1908–1969) — born Abu Sayeed Mohammad Makhdoom Mohiuddin Khudri — was a legendary Urdu poet, a dedicated Marxist, and a fearless political activist who became an enduring icon in the cultural and political landscape of South India, especially Hyderabad. His life seamlessly fused art with revolution, making him one of the most beloved progressive writers of the 20th century. The poetic soul of the Telangana peasants’ revolt, his verses still echo in rallies, folk performances, and the hearts of the downtrodden.
Makhdoom Mohiuddin was born on 4 October 1908 in the village of Tokapalli, Medak district, in the princely state of Hyderabad. His family were hereditary Sufi spiritual guides (Pirs), and he was expected to continue that tradition. This spiritual grounding imbued his poetry with themes of universal love, though he later became a materialist communist.
Education: He moved to Hyderabad for higher studies and earned a Master’s degree in Urdu and an LL.B. from Osmania University. It was during his university years that his political and poetic consciousness awakened.
Alongside Sajjad Zaheer and other literary giants, Makhdoom co-founded the PWA in 1936. The movement aimed to harness literature as a weapon against feudalism, colonialism, and social injustice. His commitment to communism was humanistic at its core: the emancipation of peasants, weavers, and industrial workers.
When the Telangana Rebellion erupted against the oppressive Nizam and feudal zamindars, Makhdoom was not merely a poet chronicling the revolt — he was an active organiser and ideological beacon. His poem “Hyderabad 1946” became a battle anthem for peasant rebels. He walked alongside the oppressed, turning poetry into a call for liberation.
Bisat-e-Raqs (The Dance Floor, 1938) – his first collection, blending early revolutionary ideas with romanticism.
Surkh Savera (The Red Dawn, 1944) – his most celebrated work, solidifying him as the voice of the Deccan’s communist movement. The title symbolises the hoped-for socialist revolution.
Gul-e-Tar (The Fresh Flower, 1961) – continuing themes of love and resistance.
🔹 Iconic Peace Anthem: His immortal poem “Tera Haath Mera Haath, Aman Ka Parcham” (Your hand in my hand, the flag of peace) became a universal song of solidarity, sung across India at rallies and cultural events.
Utho meray saahib, utho, ab waqt-e-safar aa gaya
Shehr-e-Hyderabad ka har dar-o-deewaar hai qabristan
Jin ke haathon mein hai taqdeeron ka iqraar
Un ki aankhon mein hai mazdooron ka istiaara
Yeh shehr-e-khamoshan, yeh haakim, yeh mehkoom
Ek hi sukoon mein hain sab ke sab masjood-o-mabood
Yahan ke gunbad-o-minaar, yahan ke qasr-o-aiwan
Har ek cheez pe hai ek ajab sa sehar taari
Yeh woh shehr hai jahan har subah uthti hai dua ke saath
Aur har shaam dhalti hai kisi nayi baghawat ke saath
Is shehr ke liye har saans lena hai ek jurm
Aur har aah-e-sahargoon hai ek naya alam
Ab is shehr ko apne hi haathon se basana hoga
Aur is ki har khizaan ka mausam badalna hoga
Yeh shehr nahin hai makaan, yeh ek zindaan hai
Jis mein band hain hazaaron ghulam aur un ke sardar
Utho, is zindaan ko ek nayi duniya bana do
Ya phir ise hamesha ke liye mita do
📖 The poem remains a stirring testament to Makhdoom’s revolutionary spirit, frequently recited at leftist gatherings and cultural festivals.
Makhdoom was elected twice to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the People’s Democratic Front (the front for the then-banned Communist Party). In 1969, shortly before his death, he was honoured with the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu for his magnum opus Bisat-e-Raqs.
Makhdoom passed away on 25 August 1969 in Hyderabad. His funeral procession was attended by thousands — workers, poets, peasants, and political comrades — a striking testament to his immense popularity among ordinary people. He remains a cultural icon in Telangana, where his songs are still sung at political rallies, folk performances, and public gatherings.
Legacy: A bridge between classical ghazal traditions and modern revolutionary literature, Makhdoom Mohiuddin is the eternal symbol of the intellectual who stands with the masses, proving that poetry can be the most potent weapon for social change.
Chronology & Milestones
Enduring Legacy: The Voice That Never Dies
Makhdoom Mohiuddin’s poetry remains etched in the cultural memory of Telangana and beyond. From the alleyways of Hyderabad’s old city to university auditoriums and protest marches, his couplets ignite the spirit of resistance. His ability to harmonise romantic lyricism with Marxist critique makes him a unique figure in Urdu literature. The annual remembrance events, leftist cultural programmes, and the constant recitation of “Tera Haath Mera Haath” keep his philosophy alive. Makhdoom is not just a historical figure — he is a living inspiration for artists, activists, and dreamers who believe in a world without exploitation.
In the words of literary critics, “He turned every verse into a bullet and every ghazal into a manifesto.” The revolutionary poet of Telangana still speaks through the voice of the oppressed, assuring them that the red dawn will eventually break.
- Makhdoom Mohiuddin, Bisat-e-Raqs (Sahitya Akademi Award Winner, 1969).
- K. Madhavan, “The Progressive Writers’ Movement in India,” 2015.
- V. Rajeshwar, Makhdoom: Life and Times of a Revolutionary Poet, Hyderabad University Press.
- Archival recording & collection: Makhdoom Mohiuddin – Hyderabad 1946 (Internet Archive).
- “Tera Haath Mera Haath” – widely anthologised in Modern Urdu Poetry (Penguin, 2003).
- Telangana Today: “Remembering Makhdoom: The poet who ignited the peasant struggle” (August 2022).
📌 Note: The poem “Hyderabad 1946” reproduced here is part of Makhdoom’s oral legacy, preserved in historical archives. Image source: Blogger Archives / Makhdoom Mohiuddin digital collection.