Ali Jawad Zaidi

Syed Ali Jawad Zaidi (Urdu: سید علی جواد زیدی ) (10 March 1916 – 6 December 2004) was an Indian Urdu poet, scholar, and author of over 80 books in several languages. He was also an Indian independence activist, lawyer and later, a civil servant, but is best known for his work in Urdu literature.

He was an authority on marsiyago poetry of Uttar Pradesh, including the poets Mir Anis and Mirza Ghalib, and wrote on both poetry and prose, including research and analytical works.

He has received several awards for his contributions to literature and other fields.

Zaidi was born in the village Karhan, Uttar Pradesh, then in Azamgarh district (now Mau district) in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the eldest of six children in a zamindar family of Mohammadabad-Gohna, Azamgarh. He was born at his maternal grandfather's home in Karhan. Belonging to a Saiyid family and being the eldest son in his family, he was sent to the local Arabic madarsa to gain education and proficiency in Islamic theology and religious matters.

When Zaidi was 11 years old, his father died. His early formal education took place in Mahmudabad, the princely state. He then graduated from Government Jubilee College, Lucknow and an LLB from Lucknow University).

During his graduation and later while doing his LLB, he came into contact with leaders of the Indian independence movement, which he joined in the late 1930s. He wrote revolutionary poetry while he led the student's movement along with other student leaders such as Shankar Dayal Sharma, who later went on to become the President of India. His poetry drew praise from Sarojini Naidu, and he was subsequently elected as the Secretary-General of the All India Student’s Federation. He remained the Secretary-General of the All India Students Federation during the Quit India Movement (1942) launched by Mahatma Gandhi.

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