Muhammed Sanaullah Sani Dar (25 May, 1912 – 3 November, 1949), also known as Meera Ji, ‘studied the Western literary thoughts and its criticism. He also studied many leading poets of the West to be inspired. His descriptive criticism influenced Urdu literature and particularly his contemporary poets. Had he not been there, many writers and poets would not have left their impressions on Urdu literature’, says Prof Muhammed Hasan Askari (1919-1978), a premier literary critic.
Aside from writing poems, Meera Ji was a translator of outstanding merits, a critic at his best, a literary columnist of his own style, an editor of a literary magazine trying his best to delve deeper into the new taste of literature and a broadcaster of his own. Faiz Ahmed Faiz in his essay, titled, ‘Meera Ji ka fun’ (The Art of Meera Ji) rightly pointed out that ‘ the way Meera Ji has brought the pieces of world literature to us is not mere a translation but an invention.’
Meera Ji was one of a few poets of Urdu who used many pen names in his writings: Sahiri, Bashir Chan, Meera Ji Almaroof Banday Hasan. Noon Meem Rashid gave him a title ‘Adabi Gandhi’ (Literary Gandhi). He co-edited a literary magazine, ‘Adabi Dunya’ from 1938-41. He worked for all India Radio, Dehli during 1942-45. He also edited a literary magazine, Khayal, from 1948-49. He also wrote literary columns, titled, ‘Batain’ (Talks) in the monthly Saqi, Dehli in 1944. His many poetry collections have seen the light of the day: Meera Ji ke Geet (1933), Meera Ji ki Nazmain (1944), Geet hi Geet (1944), Paband Nazmain (1968) and Teen Rang (1968). He also wrote criticism: Mashriq wa Maghrib ke Naghmain (1958) and Is Nazm Main (1944). He also did translation of the work of a Sanskrit poet as Nigar Khana (1950).
According to a research of Dr Jameel Jalibi, he died on 03 November, 1949, at King Edward Hospital, Bombay, and laid to rest at Merry Line graveyard at Bombay. Dr Jalibi ably edited his entire collection of poetry as Kulliyat-e-Meera Ji.
JAWED AHMED KHURSHEED
Karachi