Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez Jalandhari, the creator of the country’s national anthem was remembered on his death anniversary on Friday. Hafeez Jalandhari was born in Jalandhar, Indian Punjab on January 14, 1900 and died on December 21, 1982 at the age of 82. He was a writer, poet and above all, the creator of the national anthem of Pakistan that was composed by SG Chhagla. Hafeez Jalandhari’s father, Shams-ud-din, was a `Hafiz-e-Quran’. After the partition of India in 1947, Hafeez moved to Lahore and was privileged to be advised by the great Persian poet, Maulana Ghulam Qadir Bilgrami. His dedication, hard work and advice from such a learned person carved his place in the poetic pantheon. From 1922 to 1929, he remained the editor of a few monthly magazines, namely `Nonehal, `Hazar Dastaan’, `Tehzeeb-e-Niswan’ and `Makhzin’. His first collection of poems `Naghma-e-Zar’ was published in 1935. Hafeez Jalandhari actively participated in the Pakistan Movement and used his writings to propagate the cause of Pakistan. In the early period of 1948, he joined the forces for the freedom of Kashmir and got wounded. Hafeez Jalandhari also wrote the Kashmiri anthem `Watan Hamara Azad Kashmir’. He wrote many patriotic songs during the Pak-India war in 1965. His poetry generally deals with romantic, religious, patriotic and natural themes. He chose his themes, images and tunes from the subcontinent and his language is a fine blend of Hindi and Urdu diction, reflecting the composite culture of South Asia. He died on December 21, 1982 at the age of eighty two years. He was buried in Model Town, Lahore but later on his body was re-buried in the tomb near Minar-e-Pakistan.
