Wednesday marked the 40th death anniversary of Urdu poet Mustafa Zaidi. He is remembered as one of the few progressive Urdu poets of the 20th century. His work and literary accomplishments remain popular and relevant today. Zaidi was born on October 16, 1930 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh (UP), India to Syed Lakhte Hasnain and Binte Haider. Mustafa Zaidi received his early education at home from a Maulvi Saheb and a local madrassa in Allahabad.
Zaidi migrated to Pakistan in 1951 and completed his Master’s degree in English Literature in 1953 from Government College, Lahore. Mustafa Zaidi took up a job as a professor in Islamia College, Karachi and Peshawar University before joining the Government of Pakistan, after successfully entering Civil Service of Pakistan cadre in 1954.
During his career, he received the prestigious Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam civil award for outstanding service. He attended a Muffield Foundation training in London and returned to Pakistan in 1969 to take up what would be his last post as Secretary (Bunyadi Jamhooriat).
Mustafa Zaidi’s first poetry book, ‘Zangeerein/Roshni’, (chains /light) was published in Allahabad, India in 1949 under the pseudonym ‘Tegh Allahabadi’ (Sword of Allahabad), when he was just nineteen. Compilations and books commemorating Mustafa Zaidi such as ‘Ek tha Raja’ and ‘Mustafa Zaidi Ki Kahani (Hamid Baig)’ were also published. Mustafa Zaidi died on October 12, 1970 at the age of 39.
