KARACHI: The Progressive Writers Association and the Irteqa Literary Forum have, in a joint resolution, condoled the death of noted poet Jon Elia.

Son of a linguist and man of letters Allama Shafiq Hasan, Jon was younger brother of poet Raees Amrohvi and philosopher Syed Mohammed Taqi. He thus carried with him the qualities of all the three noted personalities, command over oriental languages, deep study in history and philosophy and immense creativity in poetry. A man of genial nature, he had a wide circle of admirers and was a highly popular poet in the Urdu world.

“Jon Elia was an enlightened person, with a broad vision, humane in his social conduct, tolerant and secular in life. His poetry couched in the classical form was traditionally linked with such stalwarts as Mir and Ghalib.

“Committed to human values, he maintained his personal dignity and did not ever seek favour of the Establishment or write to appease them. His poetry will always be remembered as a major landmark in Urdu literature,” the resolution said. — Hasan Abidi