Ghulam Rabbani Taban - Born on February 14th, 1914 in Kaimganj tehsil Uttar Pradesh's Farrukhabad in a pathan zamindar family, he studied in a village school before going to Aligarh for the intermediate and graduating from St. John's College, Agra, where he was the favourite student of Professor Suraj Prasad. Majaaz was his senior in the days when Jazbi and Al Ahmed Saroor were part of the company which, though taking inspiration from poets like Maikash, Jigar and Fani, were nevertheless drawn to the leftist ideology of Josh and Firaq.

In those days Rabbani used to write under the "takhalus'' or pseudonym of Farchat and his verse was naturally in the lighter vein. Once Sarojini Naidu visited the college to preside over the annual mushaira. The mushaira went on the whole night and then suddenly someone imitated the crowing cock. Mrs. Naidu literally rolled over the stage in an uncontrollable fit of laughter. Poetess that she was, she realised the cry meant that it was morning and time to end the mushaira. The mimic was Ghulam Rabbani.

After graduating from college, Rabbani adopted the pseudonym of Taban and his verse became serious, for he was by then fully committed to Marxist ideology. Though he had qualified as a lawyer, his interest in politics grew and his association with the Communist Party, got him into trouble with the British, who sent him to jail. Came Independence and a new Government. But when it too cracked down on the communists, Taban was in jail again in 1949. Things changed when he joined Maktab-e-Jamia in Delhi and a number of awards came his way for his contribution to the progressive movement and Urdu literature. But fame had hardly any effect on his personality and he continued to remain a charming man all his life.

Rabbani's Delhi was an altogether different one. He mixed with progressive "shairs'' and intellectuals, brought the roof down at mushairas, enjoyed coffee and looked after Maktab-e-Jamia as its general manager, until his retirement in 1975.

After that he re-entered journalism, wrote books and went out for long walks.

Azra Rizvi and Naheed Taban, two of Taban's three daughters, still stay at Zakir Nagar in South Delhi. His youngest daughter Sehba married to the son of the late Communist leader, M. Farooqui and is now associated with women's rights in the Capital. She has inherited progressive views from her father -- and three brothers -- but Sehba doesn't wear her ideals on her sleeve.
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Ghulam Rabbani Taban - Born on February 14th, 1914 in Kaimganj tehsil Uttar Pradesh's Farrukhabad in a pathan zamindar family, he studied in a village school before going to Aligarh for the intermediate and graduating from St. John's College, Agra, where he was the favourite student of Professor Suraj Prasad. Majaaz was his senior in the days when Jazbi and Al Ahmed Saroor were part of the company which, though taking inspiration from poets like Maikash, Jigar and Fani, were nevertheless drawn... (read more)