Jamiluddin Aali


Nawabzada Mirza Jamiluddin Ahmed Khan , better known as Jamiluddin Aali PP, HI or Aaliji, was a Pakistani poet, critic, playwright, essayist, columnist, and scholar.

Early life and career

Nawabzada Mirza Jamiluddin Ahmad Khan was born to a literary family in Delhi, India on 20 January 1925. His father Amiruddin Ahmed Khan was Nawab of Loharu and his mother Syeda Jamila Baigum was a direct descendant of Khwaja Mir Dard and was the fourth wife of Amiruddin Khan. Aali earned a BA in Economics from Anglo Arabic College, Delhi in 1944.
In 1947 after the partition of India, Aali migrated to Karachi, Pakistan on 13 August 1947 with his family and started his career as an assistant in the Ministry of Commerce. In 1951, he passed the CSS examination and joined the Pakistan Taxation Service. He was also the Officer on Special Duty at President House from 1959 to 1963. Aali joined the National Bank of Pakistan in 1967 and remained its vice president until his retirement in 1988. In 1971, he obtained an FEL and LLB degrees from University of Karachi.
Jamiluddin Aali was also a former member of the Pakistan Peoples Party and was compelled to contest the 1977 National Assembly elections from NA-191, but lost to Munawwar Hasan of Jamaat-e-Islami. In 1997, Aali was elected as the member of the Senate for a six-year term with support of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
Jamiluddin Aali was never very clear or comfortable with answering the question as to why he drifted briefly into politics. Was it due to his impulsive behavior for fame and recognition? He would usually evade this question.
Aali started composing poetry at an early age and wrote many books as well as songs. He wrote the song "Jeevay Jeevay Pakistan" during the 1965 Indo-Pak war which became highly popular. The song was sung by Shahnaz Begum with music arranged by Sohail Rana and was originally released on 14 August 1971 by PTV. During International Women's Year, Aali wrote the song "Hum Maain, Hum Behnain, Hum Baitiyan". He wrote the song "Jo Nam Wohi Pehchan, Pakistan" at the request of former Pakistani President Ghulam Ishaq Khan in 1986. He also wrote the song "Mera Inam Pakistan" by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Personal life

Jamiluddin Aali was married in 1944 to Tayyba Bano. He had three sons and two daughters.

Death

Aali was suffering from diabetes and respiratory illness and was admitted to a hospital in Karachi. He died of a heart attack on 23 November 2015 in Karachi.
His Namaz-I-Janazah was held in the mosque "Tooba" in DHA, Karachi. He was laid to rest in an army graveyard Bizerta Lines, Karachi on 23 November 2015.

Literary work and activities

Jamiluddin Aali took over as honorary secretary of the Anjuman-i Taraqqi-i Urdu in 1962 after the death of Baba-e-Urdu Maulvi Abdul Haq and played a key role there for many years, along with Farman Fatehpuri, to ensure that the association survives and grows.
Aali could also be given credit for playing a major role at the Urdu Lughat Board when this 22-volume Urdu dictionary was being developed in Pakistan.
Ballads collection
Couplets collection
Aali showed his real potential and creativity in his dohas.
Travel literature