Obaidullah Aleem

Biography

Obaidullah Aleem was a poet whose verses carried a quiet strength, marked by simplicity, elegance, and deep emotion. His ghazals touched people because they felt direct and heartfelt, without unnecessary ornamentation. In an age of complex literary experiments, he stood out for speaking to the heart in plain but powerful words.

Born in Bhopal in 1939, Aleem moved to Pakistan after Partition and settled in Karachi. He studied literature at Karachi University, where his passion for poetry began to shape into a serious pursuit. Early on, he was influenced by classical poets like Mir and Ghalib, but he crafted a voice of his own—modern, subtle, and deeply lyrical.

Aleem’s first poetry collection, Chand Chehra Sitara Ankhhen, published in 1974, won him instant acclaim and the Adamjee Literary Award. The book’s success placed him among the notable poets of his generation. He later published Virhan Ka Shahr and Sharh-e-Gham, collections that further cemented his reputation as a poet of depth and clarity.

His poetry often carried themes of love, longing, loss, and existential reflection. But what set him apart was the directness of his diction. He avoided heavy symbolism, preferring words that ordinary readers could connect with immediately. Many of his ghazals are still recited in mushairas and shared widely for their emotional resonance.

Beyond poetry, Aleem worked as a broadcaster with Radio Pakistan and later with Pakistan Television (PTV). He was admired for his voice, his thoughtful presentation, and his cultural programs that introduced audiences to literature and the arts.

In his personal life, he lived quietly, devoted to both his family and his art. He never sought the spotlight, yet his words earned him a lasting place in Urdu poetry. He passed away suddenly from a heart attack in 1998 at the age of 58, a loss that was deeply felt in literary circles.

Obaidullah Aleem may not have left behind a vast volume of work, but what he did write was timeless. His ghazals are remembered for their sincerity, their clarity, and their ability to capture profound emotions in the simplest of words.

He remains a reminder that true poetry does not need grandeur—it needs honesty.