The Revolutionary Poet of Telangana
Makhdoom Mohiuddin (1908-1969) or Abu Sayeed Mohammad Makhdoom Mohiuddin Khudri was a renowned Urdu poet, a dedicated Marxist, and a political activist who became an iconic figure in the cultural and political landscape of South India, particularly Hyderabad. His life and work are a testament to his unwavering commitment to social justice, workers' rights, and the power of art as a tool for revolution.Makhdoom Mohiuddin was the poetic soul of the Telangana peasants' revolt. His life was a seamless fusion of art and activism, making him one of the most significant and beloved progressive writers of the 20th century.
Spiritual Upbringing: His family were Sufi Pirs (spiritual guides), and he was expected to follow this tradition. This early exposure to Sufi philosophy, with its themes of universal love and inner realization, would later deeply influence his poetry, even as he moved towards Marxist materialism.
Education: He moved to Hyderabad for higher education and earned a Master's degree in Urdu and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Osmania University. It was during his university days that his political and poetic consciousness began to take shape.
Founding Member of the Progressive Writers' Association (PWA): In 1936, along with other literary giants like Sajjad Zaheer, he played a key role in founding the PWA. This movement aimed to make literature socially relevant and to use it as a weapon against feudalism, colonialism, and social injustice.
Commitment to Communism: He joined the Communist Party of India and became one of its most prominent faces in the Hyderabad state. His communism was not just political but deeply humanistic, focused on the emancipation of the most oppressed—the peasants, weavers, and industrial workers.
Role in the Telangana Armed Struggle: When the Telangana Armed Struggle (1946-1951) erupted against the oppressive rule of the Nizam and the feudal zamindari system, Makhdoom was at the forefront. He wasn't just a poet who wrote about the struggle; he was an active organizer and a source of ideological inspiration for the peasant rebels. His poem "Hyderabad 1946" became an anthem for this movement.
Romanticism: Alongside his political verse, he was a master of the ghazal, writing some of the most beautiful and enduring love poetry in Urdu. This dual identity—the fiery revolutionary and the sensitive lover—is a defining feature of his work.
Accessibility: He wrote for the masses. His language was direct, powerful, and resonated with the common people, unlike the more complex and Persianized Urdu of his predecessors.
Surkh Savera (The Red Dawn, 1944): This is his most celebrated work, a collection that firmly established him as the voice of the communist movement in the Deccan. The title itself is a metaphor for the hoped-for socialist revolution.
Gul-e-Tar (The Fresh Flower, 1961): Another collection that continued his themes of love and revolution.
Perhaps his most famous individual poem is the iconic "Tera Haath Mera Haath, Aman Ka Parcham" (Your hand in my hand, the flag of peace), which was set to music and became a universal song of peace and solidarity in India.
Death: He passed away on August 25, 1969, in Hyderabad. His funeral procession was attended by thousands, a testament to his immense popularity among the common people.
Bridge Between Eras: He successfully bridged the gap between the old world of Urdu poetry and the new, modern, politically charged literature.
Inspiration: He remains a symbol of the intellectual who actively participates in the people's struggle, proving that poetry can indeed be a potent force for social change.
His stature in Urdu literature and progressive circles is high; he is remembered and celebrated in literary, leftist, and cultural spheres
Early Life and Education
Birth and Family: He was born on October 4, 1908, in the village of Tokapalli, part of the Medak district in the princely state of Hyderabad. He was named Abu Sayeed Mohammad Makhdoom Mohiuddin.Spiritual Upbringing: His family were Sufi Pirs (spiritual guides), and he was expected to follow this tradition. This early exposure to Sufi philosophy, with its themes of universal love and inner realization, would later deeply influence his poetry, even as he moved towards Marxist materialism.
Education: He moved to Hyderabad for higher education and earned a Master's degree in Urdu and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Osmania University. It was during his university days that his political and poetic consciousness began to take shape.
Political Awakening and Ideology
Makhdoom's time at Osmania University was transformative. He was deeply influenced by the global rise of socialist thought and the progressive movements in literature.Founding Member of the Progressive Writers' Association (PWA): In 1936, along with other literary giants like Sajjad Zaheer, he played a key role in founding the PWA. This movement aimed to make literature socially relevant and to use it as a weapon against feudalism, colonialism, and social injustice.
Commitment to Communism: He joined the Communist Party of India and became one of its most prominent faces in the Hyderabad state. His communism was not just political but deeply humanistic, focused on the emancipation of the most oppressed—the peasants, weavers, and industrial workers.
Role in the Telangana Armed Struggle: When the Telangana Armed Struggle (1946-1951) erupted against the oppressive rule of the Nizam and the feudal zamindari system, Makhdoom was at the forefront. He wasn't just a poet who wrote about the struggle; he was an active organizer and a source of ideological inspiration for the peasant rebels. His poem "Hyderabad 1946" became an anthem for this movement.
Literary Career and Major Works
Makhdoom's poetry is a unique blend of revolutionary fervor and sublime romanticism. He is often called the "Poet of Revolution" (Inqilab Shaair).Key Characteristics of his Poetry
Revolutionary Themes: His poems are filled with calls for workers' rights, critiques of feudalism, and visions of a classless society.Romanticism: Alongside his political verse, he was a master of the ghazal, writing some of the most beautiful and enduring love poetry in Urdu. This dual identity—the fiery revolutionary and the sensitive lover—is a defining feature of his work.
Accessibility: He wrote for the masses. His language was direct, powerful, and resonated with the common people, unlike the more complex and Persianized Urdu of his predecessors.
Major Publications
Bisat-e-Raqs (The Dance Floor, 1938): His first collection of poetry. It contained the seeds of his revolutionary ideas, blended with romantic and progressive themes.Surkh Savera (The Red Dawn, 1944): This is his most celebrated work, a collection that firmly established him as the voice of the communist movement in the Deccan. The title itself is a metaphor for the hoped-for socialist revolution.
Gul-e-Tar (The Fresh Flower, 1961): Another collection that continued his themes of love and revolution.
Perhaps his most famous individual poem is the iconic "Tera Haath Mera Haath, Aman Ka Parcham" (Your hand in my hand, the flag of peace), which was set to music and became a universal song of peace and solidarity in India.
Life in Independent India and Legacy
Post-Independence Politics: After the annexation of Hyderabad by India in 1948, he continued his political work. He was elected twice to the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh from the People's Democratic Front, a front for the then-banned Communist Party.Death: He passed away on August 25, 1969, in Hyderabad. His funeral procession was attended by thousands, a testament to his immense popularity among the common people.
Enduring Legacy
Cultural Icon: In Hyderabad and Telangana, Makhdoom is a revered cultural icon. His songs and poems are still sung at political rallies, cultural events, and by folk artists.Bridge Between Eras: He successfully bridged the gap between the old world of Urdu poetry and the new, modern, politically charged literature.
Inspiration: He remains a symbol of the intellectual who actively participates in the people's struggle, proving that poetry can indeed be a potent force for social change.
Recognition & Awards
In 1969, shortly before his death, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu for Bisat-e-Raqs.His stature in Urdu literature and progressive circles is high; he is remembered and celebrated in literary, leftist, and cultural spheres
Hyderabad 1946
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
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
https://archive.org/details/makhdoom-mohiuddin-hyderabad-1946.01/Makhdoom Mohiuddin Hyderabad 1946.02.jpg
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