Wahshat

Raza Ali, who wrote under the pen name Wahshat Raza Ali Kalkatvi, was born in Hooghly in 1881. From his youth, he showed a natural inclination toward poetry and pursued his studies at Madrasa-i-Aliya in Kolkata. His poetic training came under the guidance of Abul Qasim Muhammad Shams, son of a noted Urdu poet, which gave him a strong foundation in classical tradition.

He began his professional career at the Imperial Record Department in Calcutta, serving as Chief Maulvi for Persian records. Later, he became a professor of Urdu and Persian at Islamia College when it was established in 1926. He also taught at Lady Brabourne College, introducing Urdu and Persian literature to women students, which was a significant step in literary education at the time.

In 1931, he was conferred the title of Khan Bahadur for his services. Alongside his teaching career, he played a vital role in promoting Urdu poetry by organizing an annual mushaira in Kolkata, which attracted poets from across the subcontinent. His gatherings became important cultural events, keeping the poetic tradition vibrant in Bengal.

Wahshat authored several collections, including Diwan-e-Wahshat in 1910 and Taraana-e-Wahshat in 1950. His posthumous works include Makateeb-e-Wahshat and Nuqoosh-o-Aasaar, which preserve his correspondence and reflections. He also prepared compilations of earlier poets and contributed to educational materials in Hindustani.

One of his couplets reflects his lyrical simplicity and emotional insight:

“zalim ki to aadat hai satata hi rahega

apni bhi tabiyat hai behalti hi rahegi”

This verse shows the inevitability of suffering but also the human tendency to seek comfort and consolation.

After the Partition, Wahshat migrated to Dhaka, where he spent his last years. He passed away in 1956. Though his name is not always placed alongside the most famous Urdu poets, his influence on Bengal’s Urdu literary culture and his efforts as an educator and poet remain noteworthy.