Writings of a writer are their best introduction to the readers. While reading “Dhoondho Gay Inhain” I realized the beauty of “Khaka Nigaari” of Prof. Kabeer Ahmad Jaisi, former Editor of Tahzeebul Akhlaq, monthly Urdu journal from Aligarh Muslim University which was started by Sir Syed in 1870 and revived by Syed Hamid in 1981. Even though I did not knew Prof. Jaisi for his Khaka Nigaari but his accounts of his seniors, mentors and contemporaries in his book “Dhoondho Gay Inhain” introduced him well at least to me. I never saw Mr. Naseem Quraishi as he died in 1985, way before even I joined AMU, but when I read Prof. Jaisi’s accounts about Mr. Quraishi, I started feeling like I have personally met Mr. Quraishi. Hope someone can write Prof. Jaisi’s account in the same fashion so our next generation can know him and feel him.
My first encounter with Prof. Jaisi’s name was on Tahzeebul Akhlaq cover page as Joint Editor sometime in 1988 when I joined AMU Aligarh in class XI. At that time Prof. Israr Ahmad was Editor of Tahzeebul Akhlaq. When Prof. Israr Ahmad relinquished his responsibility from Tahzeebul Akhlaq, Prof. Jaisi got appointed as Editor in 1991. During my student days at Aligarh, I did not met him in person but definitely knew him by face. I first met him in October 2006 at Tahzibul Akhlaq office and then never got a chance till 2001. During my visit to Aligarh in 2011, I paid a visit to his home in New Sir Syed Nagar and had a brief interaction with him. He was going for Hajj so mostly talked about his forthcoming Hajj trip. I asked him for his personal photo album and he shared with me and I borrowed few pictures to scan for www.aligarhmovement.com This was my last meeting with him. Prof. Zafar ul Islam Islahi’s email delivered the sad news of his death. He died on 7th January 2013 in Aligarh. His Namaz-i- Janazah was performed on 8th January near the University Graveyard and in this Graveyard he was buried. AMU fraternity lost one more luminary from very short lists of luminaries who are still in among our midst.
Prof. Kabeer Ahmad was born on 16th November 1936 in Jais, district Rai Barely of Utter Pradesh, India, the town of Sufi saint poet, Malik Mohammad Jaisi who wrote in “Awadhi” dialect of Hindi in 15th century. He added his hometown’s name to his name and became Kabeer Ahmad Jaisi. His father Zaheer Ahmad was a Overseer with District Board in Azamgarh so young Kabeer Ahmad spend his early life in Azamgarh and completed his primary education from Madarsah Islamiya in Azamgarh, High School and Intermediate from Shibli Inter College Azamgarh. In pursuit of higher education, he joined Aligarh Muslim University in August 1961 in B.A. and completed his B.A. in 1963 with University Gold Medal for standing first in B.A. In 1963.He did his M.A. Persian 1965 and Ph.D. in 1973. He did his Ph.D. under the supervision of the eminent Persian scholar and noted researcher Prof. Nazir Ahamd. He was a resident member of Kashmir House in Sulaiman Hall. Even before joining AMU, he was known to the literary circle of Urdu and Persian and immediately after joing AMU in 1961, he was appointed as Joint Editor of monthly journal, Adeeb published from Jamia Urdu Aligarh. At that time Dr. Ibn-e-Fareed was Editor of Adeeb. He served it in this capacity till 1964. The value of his academic works may be realized by the fact that even his published works of student life was appreciated by many eminent scholars and distinguished authors including Maulvi Abdul Haq, Baba-i- Urdu, Prof. Rasheed Ahmad Siddiqi, Maulana Amin Ahsan Islahi,Dr. Khalilur Rahman Azami, Dr. Ibn-e-Fareed, Maulana Ziauddin Islahi Prof, Sayyed Ihtisham Husain.
Actually, his academic life is extended over about 57 years. He started to contribute articles and compile books during his student life in Shibli College. His first article (Tamiri Afsane) was published in the Shibli College Magazine of 1955.His first book ( Nuqush-i-Fani) was printed from Idarah Farogh-i-Urdu, Lucknow in 1958.His poetic collection (Sehra Sehra) appeared in 1969. In his poetry, he used his pen name “Saba Jaisi”. From his student life at AMU Aligarh he was involved in Teaching and research. One of his mentors in Aligarh, Mr. Naseem Quraishi who served as a faculty in Dept of Urdu in AMU, assigned him few classes in Jamia Urdu. In 1969, he applied for a faculty position in Dept of Persian at AMU Aligarh but could not make it. At this juncture his teacher Prof Ale Ahmad Suroor provided him an opportunity to work with him in Anujuan Taraqqi Urdu (Hind). He Worked as Literary Assistant of Prof. Aale Ahmad Suroor for a while and then worked as Publication Incharge on Anjuman till he joined Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi as a faculty in 1973. During this time from 1969 to 1973, he wrote many articles for “Urdu Adab” and Fikro-Nazar. For a while he also served as Editor of monthly journal “Conference Gazette, Aligarh” which is a mouth-peace of All India Muslim Educational Conference founded by Sir Syed in 1886 at Aligarh. He edited the Conference Gazette from February 1973 till he was appointed as a Lecturer in September 1974 in Department of Persian, Jamia Millia Islamia New Delhi. He served in Jamia Millia Islami from 20th October 1974 to 30th October 1980. In 1980, he was appointed as Reader at “Iqbal Institute” of Kashmir University Srinagar. His teacher and Mentor, Prof. Ale Ahmad Suroor was Director of Iqbal Institute since its inception. Prof. Suroor was retired from AMU in 1973. From 1974 to 1979, Prof. Suroor served as “Iqbal Chair” Professor and from 1979 to 1985 as Founding Director of Iqbal Institute. Dr. Kabeer Ahmad Jaisi served there till 1983 and then joined as his Alma Mater as Reader, Iranian Studies Department of Islamic Studies. In 1988, he was promoted as a Professor. He served as Chairman of Department of Islamic Studies and Director, Institute of Islamic Studies from 1989 to 1992. Being as a Chairman, he also served as Editor Majalla-i- Islamiya (1989-1992), Editor Bulletin of the Institute of Islamic Studies (1989-1992) and Member A.M.U. Court Aligarh (1991-1992). He was a Member Editorial Board Fikr-O-Nazar Aligarh from 1989 to Nov 1996 and Member Editorial Board “Bayaz” Delhi from 1992 till his last breath. He was retired from University services in 1996 and was living in Aligarh.
Prof. Jaisi has to his credit 26 books and more than 200 articles. His books are Naqoosh e Fani, Sahra Sahra, Bazgasht, Tarikhi wa Ilmi Maqaley(Translation), Tarikh-e Adabiyat-e-Tajikistan, Azri, Mohammad Iqbal, Allama Iqbal Musleh-e- Qurn-e-Akhir, Zabiullah Safa (Life and Works), Ineaks, Sovieti-Tajiki Adabiyat ke bani, Jadid Tajiki Shora, Chand Iran Shanas, Irani Tasawwuf, Maulana Abdus Salam Nadvi Ki Yad men, Maulana Abdus Salam Nadvi, Makateeb wa Ashar-e-Maulana Abdus Salam Nadvi, Darse Farsi(Edt.), Masnavi Naheed-o-Akhtar(in Persian), Iran ki chand Aham Tafsirain Vol.1., Iran ki chand Aham Tafsirain Vol.2, Hafiz –Shakhs Aur Shaair, Dhoondho Gay Inhain, Shams-e-Kabir(Edt.), Jawedan Mizrab and Hind-Irani Adabiyat.
His book Dhoondho Gay Inhain includes “Khakey” on Maulvi Chiraagh Ali, Nawab Ishaq Khan, Pandit Habibur Rahman Shashtri, Prof. Khalilur Rahman Azmi, Naseem Quraishi, Prof. Mushirul Haq, Maulana Mohammad Taqi Ameeni, Dr Mumtaz Ali Khan, Prof. Ale Ahmad Suroor, Prof. Nazir Ahmad, Prof. Masood Hussain Khan and Dr Moin Ahsan Jazbi. He also included some of the letters of Prof. Rasheed Ahmad Siddiqi which the later wrote to him. Prof. Jaisi also gave the accounts of undivided Sulaiman Hall.
In recognition of his academic works of high standard, several awards was conferred on him and these included U.P. Urdu Academy Award for his books Sahra Sahra (1972), Baz Gasht (1975), Tarikh-e Adabiyat-e-Tajikistan(1977), Allama Iqbal Musleh-e- Qurn-e-Akhir (1982) and Chand Iran Shinas(1993), Naqoosh (Lahore) Award (1986), Soviet Land Nehru Award (1989), Mir Award (1993), Certificate of Merit (By President of India in1994), Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad Ghalib Award(For Persian Research and criticism in 2004) and Iranian Government SADI Award in 2008. One of his disciple, Dr. Shababuddin Azami (Head, Dept. of Urdu, Shibli National College, Azamgarh) compiled 2 books, Kabir Ahmad Jaisi ki Ilmi wa Adbi Khidmat & Kabir Ahmad Jaisi- Shibli College ka yek Mayah-i- Naz Farzand. Dr. Azmi developed his academic activities under the able guidance of Prof.Jaisi.
In the last part of his life, he has been mainly working on the Persian commentaries of the Holy Quran. His last book is the third volume of Iran ki Chand Aham Farsi Tafsirain, published from Qirtas, Karachi in 2010. His last article( Mithaq-i- Tur: Tafasir aur Tafsir-i- Sir Sayyed ke Tanazur mein) appeared in the October,2012 Special issue of Tahzibul Akhlaq on Sir Sayyed.
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