Ismail Merathi

Ismail Merathi
اسماعیل میرٹھی
Born
Muhammad Ismail

(1844-11-12)12 November 1844
Meerath, Mughal India
Died1 November 1917
Meerath
Occupations
  • Poet
  • teacher
  • educationist
Years active1868–1917
EraPost-Independence War (1857)
Known forUrdu poems for children
Notable workKulliyat-e-Ismail
SpouseBibi Naeem Al-Nisa
Children5
HonoursKhan Sahib (1912)


Ismail Merathi (1844–1917) was an Indian Urdu poet, schoolteacher, and educationist from the Mughal–British era. His poems for children like Nasihat, Barsaat, Humaari Gaye, Subah Ki Aamad, Sach Kaho, Baarish Ka Pehla Qatra, Pan Chakki, Shafaq, and several others are part of the primary school curriculum in Pakistan.[1] He wrote many Urdu and Persian text books for school-going children.

Early life and education

Merathi was born as Muhammad Ismail on 12 November 1844, in Meerath, Mughal India. He was home-schooled by his father Sheikh Piir Bakhsh. Later, he attended a formal school. He received higher education in Persian from Mirza Rahim Baig, a contemporary of Mirza Ghalib.[2]

In 1868, he was appointed as a Persian teacher in a public school in Saharanpur district. Later, he was transferred to Agra in 1888. In 1899, he retired from the teaching job and returned to his home town Meerath.[3][4][5]

Literary career

Merathi started poetry when the Persian language was dominating both literature and culture in the Indian subcontinent. He initially wrote some Persian ghazals but later shifted to Urdu poetry. Influenced by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan's reforming movement and after reading an Urdu translation of some moral poems in English, he was motivated to write inspiring Urdu poems for kids. His first collection of poems Reza-e-Jawahar was published in 1885, which also included some translations from English poems. He also wrote several school textbooks for 1st to 5th-grade students.[2][3][5]

In 1909, he founded a primary school Madrasa tul Banat for girls in Meerath which has been upgraded since then and now exists as Ismail National Mahila (PG) College Meerut.[5][6]

Style and themes

Merathi uses simple and easy-to-understand words in his poems for children. He expresses moral ideas in plain language and in a realistic tone. He refers to nature (mountains, rivers, dawn, rain, plants, etc.) and pet animals (cat, dog, horse, cow, and others) while conveying a moral message in his poems, thus making them appealing to a child's mind. Truth, hardworking, obedience, positive habits, and strong character are the central values emphasized in his poems.[7][8][3]

Personal life

Merathi was married to Bibi Naeem Al-Nisa, daughter of Sheikh Mehboob Bakhsh, in 1862. Both had three sons and two daughters together.[9][5]

Books

  • Reza-e-Jawahar — Collection of poems published in 1885
  • Kulliyat-e-Ismail — Collection of poems and ghazals published in 1910
  • Urdu Zuban Ka Qayeda — The rule book of Urdu language for beginners
  • Urdu Ki Pehli Kitab — The first-grade textbook of Urdu
  • Urdu Ki Dosri Kitab — The second-grade textbook of Urdu
  • Urdu Ki Teesri Kitab — The third-grade textbook of Urdu
  • Urdu Ki Chauthi Kitab — The fourth-grade textbook of Urdu
  • Urdu Ki Panchvein Kitab — The fifth-grade textbook of Urdu

Honours

Merathi received the title of "Khan Sahib" for his literary and educational contributions from the British Government in 1912.[3][10]

Death

Merathi had chronic bronchitis due to heavy tobacco consumption. On 1 November 1917, he passed away at the age of 73 in Meerath.[8][4][11]

References

  1. ^ Syed, Fabeha (14 November 2021). "Revisiting Ismail Merathi's Nazm, 'Nasihat' This Children's Day". The Quint.
  2. ^ a b Abbas, Dr. Qamar (5 August 2018). "بچوں کی شاعری اور اسمٰعیل میرٹھی". Roznama Jang.
  3. ^ a b c d Sheikh, Tehreem. "اسماعیل میرٹھی". Urdu Notes. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Profile of Ismail Merathi". rekhta. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d Aleem, Dr. Shadab. جدید شاعری کا نقطہ آغاز (2010 ed.). Educational Publishing House, Delhi-6. pp. 13–51. ISBN 978-81-8223-824-4.
  6. ^ "Ismail National Mahila (PG) College". INM(pg)college.org. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  7. ^ Raja, Waseem Hassan (1 October 2017). "اسمعیل میرٹھی بحیثیت موضوعاتی شاعر". Urdu Research Journal (12th).
  8. ^ a b "اسماعیل میرٹھی کی برسی". Urdu e Mualla.
  9. ^ Qadri, Syed Fazalullah (14 July 2021). "مولانا اسماعیل میرٹھی بچوں کے ساتھی..." Sada e Waqt.
  10. ^ Qasmi, Tanveer Khalid. "ادب گرو ادیب ساز مولوی اسماعیل میرٹھی". Qindeel. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  11. ^ "مشہور ادیب اور شاعر مولوی محمد اسماعیل میرٹھی کا یومِ وفات". ARY News. 1 November 2020.