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Syed Mohammad Jafri

1905 - 1976

Prominent satirist and humorist, renowned for his witty critiques of corruption and societal norms.

Prominent satirist and humorist, renowned for his witty critiques of corruption and societal norms.

Profile of Syed Mohammad Jafri

Pen Name : 'Syed'

Real Name : Syed Mohammad Jafri

Born : 27 Dec 1905 | Bharatpur, Rajasthan

Died : 07 Jan 1976 | Karachi, Sindh

A front-rank humorist and satirist, Sayed Mohammed Jafri came from a respectable, educated family, His father, Mohammed Ali was the Principal of Government College, Lahore. He was a friend and contemporary of Dr Sir Mohammed Iqbal. The boy poet passed his Munshi Fazil examination at the age of 14, and matriculation at the age of 17. He did his B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry from Islamia College, Lahore. But he soon changed over from science to arts, and did his M.A.; M.O.L. in Persian from Oriental College, Lahore. Pitras Bukhari, the famous humorist, was one of his teachers at Government College, Lahore. Jafri had also received training in painting and fine arts from Mayo College of Arts, Lahore. His interest in fine arts is reflected in his poem: Abstract Art. 

He started his service in the Department of Education but later joined the Department of Publicity and Information, from where he retired in 1966.

Jafri uses satire not only as a means of entertainment but also as an instrument of social and political reformation. His satire, though sharp and effective, is free from rancour and personal animus. Corruption in public and private life, in elections, in politics, and in the international arena is the favourite target of his attack. And in this respect, he hasn't spared even the international agency like the UNO:

U.N.O. can feel the ache of nations big and small,
 Unrivalled is its genius for making promises tall

U.N.O. ke pet mein saare jahan ka dard hai,
Waada-e-farda pe tarkhane ke fun mein fard hai.

Even in a predominantly humorous poem like the "Sweepers Strike," there is an undertone of satire against the trade union tactics. Jafri's famous book of humorous verse, Shokhi-e-Tahreer, was published posthumously by his sons.

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