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Eminent poet Hasan Akbar Kamal passes away at 71

Eminent poet Hasan Akbar Kamal passes away at 71

Kamal penned the lyrics of Vital Signs' famous song 'Hum Hain Pakistani Hum To Jeetain Ge'
Updated 22 Jul, 2017

Eminent poet and writer Hasan Akbar Kamal died here on Friday. He was 71. His wife, a daughter and two sons survive him.

Mr Kamal was born on Feb 14, 1946, in Agra, India. After Independence, he migrated to Pakistan with his family. His father worked for the Railways because of which the family had to shift from one city to another. It made Mr Kamal visit and imbibe various shades of Pakistani culture.

He obtained his master’s degree in English literature and taught at different educational institutions of the country, including Government College Rahim Yar Khan and Government Delhi College, Karachi.

Mr Kamal’s collection of poems Khizan Mera Mausam earned him an Adamjee Adabi award. Sukhan and Khushbu Jaisi Baat are two of his other collections of poems. His work on criticism — Kamal Ke Mazameen — was received with as much appreciation as his poetry collections. He also authored novels for children. They are: Rustam Khan, Chacha Khairu, Mallah Ka Bhoot and Adamkhoron Ka Jazeera.

Some of Kamal’s lyrics were set to music and became extremely popular among music lovers, especially in the ‘90s. Pop band Vital Signs’ famous song ‘Hum Hai Pakistani Hum To Jeetein Ge’ and a poem ‘Khushbu Jaisi Baat’ sung by Tina Sani were penned by him.

Talking to Dawn renowned poet and scholar Prof Sahar Ansari said, “He was a dear friend. I had known him ever since his first collection of poems Sukhan was published. He had a fine critical faculty, and also published a collection of naats. He was a creative, humble man and well-read individual. He taught English at Delhi College for a long time. He had a degree in English literature and was fond of Romantic English poets Wordsworth and Keats. His Urdu poems were regularly published in the literary journal Seep. His death has saddened me.”

TV producer Sahira Kazmi, who worked with Mr Kamal on some projects, said, “He was a very fine person. He wrote quite a few songs for PTV. One of the most popular songs that I did with him was the theme song ‘Hansti Khanakti Hui’ for Dhoop Kinare. Actually I had recorded it first for a show, Rang Tarang, which I used to do. I had sat down with him to discuss its subject. Then when I set out to do Dhoop Kinare, I used it as its theme track. He had written many verses but we couldn’t use them all for a TV programme, so we used two or three. I had requested him to write it in simple Urdu, which he did. He wrote lyrics for some of my other projects as well. He was a kind man.”

Mr Kamal’s funeral prayers will be held after Zuhr at Ancholi’s Shuhada-i-Karbala Imambargah today (Saturday). He will be laid to rest in Wadi-i-Hussain.


Originally published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2017

Comments

BAba Jul 22, 2017 09:10am
Innalillah wa inna lillah e rajahoon. May God bless him in the company of Masoomeen and patience to his flamily.
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syed ahmed Jul 22, 2017 10:11am
Innalillahe wa inna elaih raje oon.
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imran yz Jul 22, 2017 10:27am
inna lillahe wa inna elaihe rajeoon - my sympathies and prayers for the departed soul and his close family and friends. Mr HAK was our English professor at Govt Delhi College, Karachi and an in inspirational personality.
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ASIf Jul 22, 2017 10:27am
A silent hero whom.we Pakistanis never know till their death a proud pakistani he was and we all are proud of him
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Abdul Muhaimin Jul 22, 2017 10:42am
Another legend gone. May his soul rest in peace. I loved his collaboration with Shaheed Junaid Jamshed, his beautiful naat "aye Nabi(sw) ji". Innalillahi Wa-inna ilaihi Rajioun.
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Bilal Jul 22, 2017 10:43am
One of the best teacher at Delhi College. May Allah reward him for his contributions to the society.
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Saad Jul 22, 2017 11:02am
I have been taught by him in Dehli college. He was a great teacher!
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Muhammad Jul 22, 2017 11:10am
Great Teacher and poet
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Nazeer BIyabani Jul 22, 2017 11:52am
I have been his student in Dehli College and was in contact for sometime he was a great teacher and a human being. May his soul rest in peace.
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Karachi wala Jul 22, 2017 01:06pm
He wrote many 'Noha' as well in remrmberance of the martyrs of Karbala.
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Abu HUMZA Jul 22, 2017 01:18pm
Innalillah wa inna lillah e rajahoon, May Allah bless him and forgive him , I had been very fond of his poetry , we have indeed lost a fine gentleman .
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OMAIR DAWOOD Jul 22, 2017 01:38pm
Innalillahe wa inna elaih rajeoon.
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OMAIR DAWOOD Jul 22, 2017 01:39pm
Innalillahe wa inna elaih rajeoon.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jul 22, 2017 02:08pm
INNA LILLA HAY WAA INNA ILLEHEY RAJAYOON.
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Gypsy Jul 22, 2017 02:10pm
Inna Lillahe Wainna Ilehe Rajaoon Professor Hassan Akbar was a great teacher, writer and Poet. He will be dearly missed. May Allah bless his soul
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ikhlas Jul 22, 2017 02:14pm
A great teacher, great poet, and a great man, may Allah increase his darajaat,
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ABS UK Jul 22, 2017 07:04pm
Innalillah wa inna lillah e rajahoon. He was my Teacher at Delhi college and at a private institute (1997), he was a fantastic teacher and great human being, may Allah rest his soul in peace.
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M. Emad Jul 22, 2017 08:06pm
71 is an important number in the life of poet Hasan Akbar Kamal.
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faheem ahmed Jul 23, 2017 07:28am
Sir Hasan Akbar Kamal was my teacher at Govt. Delhi College in 1986 to 1988. His teaching style and notes were easy to remember. May Allah give him place in Jannat ul Firdoz. Ameen.
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Loyal Jul 23, 2017 10:31pm
Great poet, teacher and human being... A true patriot. RIP
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Siddiqui Jul 25, 2017 10:59am
He was really nice man and a good teacher. May Allah bless him with a place in Paradise.
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