Maulana Hasrat Mohani (b. 1875 Unnao, d. 1951 Lucknow) (Urdu: مولانا حسرت موہانی) was a Romantic Poet of Urdu language, journalist, politician, parliamentarian and a fearless freedom fighter of Indian Sub-continent.

The real name of Maulana was Syed Fazl-ul-Hasan. Hasrat was his pen name which he used in the Urdu poetry. Similarly the word Mohani refers to the native place of Mohan where he was born.

Short biography

The real name of Hasrat Mohani was Syed Fazl-ul-Hasan. He was born in 1875 at Mohan (town) in the Unnao district of United Province in British India. Since he was a poet of Urdu, he had opted the pen name of Hasrat Mohani in Urdu shayri.

Hasrat Mohani was not just a maverick when it came to publicly championing the radical thinking of Tilak. He also wrote verses expressing deep love for Krishna,^[1] and often went to Mathura to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami.

Career

Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a brilliant and hardworking student as well as a topper in his first state level exams. Later, he studied in Aligarh Muslim University, where some of his colleagues wereMaulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar and Maulana Shaukat Ali. His teachers in poetry were Tasleem Lucknawi and Naseem Dehlvi.

Acedamic

A few of his books are Kulliyat-e-Hasrat Mohani (en. Collection of Hasrat Mohani’s poetry), Sharh-e-Kalam-e-Ghalib (en. Explanation of Ghalib’s poetry), Nukaat-e-Sukhan (en. Important aspects of poetry), Mushahidaat-e-Zindaan (en. Observations in Prison), etc. A very popular ghazal Chupke Chupke Raat Din sung by Ghulam Ali, was penned by him. He was also featured in the filmNikaah of 1982.^[2] The famous slogan of Indian freedom fighters Inquilab Zindabad was coined by Hasrat Mohani himself.

Political

In 1921 Ram Prasad Bismil attended Ahmedabad Congress along with many volunteers from Shahjahanpur and occupied a place on the dias. A senior congressman Prem Krishna Khanna and revolutionary Ashfaqulla Khan was also with him. Bismil played an active role in the Congress with Maulana Hasrat Mohani and got the most debated proposal of Poorn Swaraj passed in the General Body meeting of Congress. Mohandas K. Gandhi, who was not in the favour of this proposal became quite helpless before the overwhelming demand of youths. It was another victory of Bismil against the Liberal Group of Congress.^[3] He returned to Shahjahanpur and mobilised the youths of United Province for non-cooperation with the Government. The people of U.P. were so much influenced by the furious speeches and verses of Bismil that they became hostile against British Raj.

Struggle for Indian independence

Hasrat Mohani participated in the struggle for Indian Independence (end of British Raj); and was jailed for many years by British authorities. He was the first person in Indian History who demanded ‘Complete Independence’ (Azadi-e-Kaamil) in 1921 as he presided over an annual session of All India Muslim League. He was not only a practising Muslim but also a strong supporter of the communist philosophy, as he could see that the British could be defeated by following its principles.

Communist movement

He was among the founders of the Communist Party of India. He was also imprisoned for promoting anti-British ideas, especially for publishing an article against British policies in Egypt, in his magazine ‘Urdu-e-Mualla’. Afterwards, unlike some Urdu poets like Josh Malihabadi and Nasir Kazmi, and many Muslim leaders, he chose to live in India rather than move to Pakistan after independence (1947)in order to represent left over Indian Muslims on various platforms. In recognition for his efforts, he was made a member of the constituent assembly which drafted the Indian constitution. But unlike other members, he never signed it since he saw hypocrisy towards Muslim minorities in it (he was a Muslim himself).

Critical appreciations

According to Akhtar Payami: Hasrat’s poetic genius has been acclaimed by many writers and critics. In the not too distant past (beginning and the first half of the 20th century), Hasrat Mohani,Jigar Moradabadi and Asghar formed a constellation of emerging poets in a crucial period of India’s history. Major political developments were taking place in the subcontinent and the sun was about to set on the British Empire. As conscious members of society, poets and writers do not remain indifferent to the changes in their socio-political milieu. Not only India but the whole world was in a state of flux.

Death and legacy

Maulana Hasrat Mohani died on 13 May 1951 in Lucknow, India.

Hasrat Mohani Memorial Society was founded by Maulana Nusrat Mohani in 1951. In Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, Hasrat Mohani Memorial Library and Hall Trust, Karachi have been established by Hasrat Mohani Memorial Society (Regd.) Every year, on his death anniversary, a memorial meeting is conducted by this Trust as well as many other organisations in India and Pakistan. AlsoHasrat Mohani Colony, at Korangi Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, was named after Maulana Hasrat Mohani.