KARACHI  - One of Pakistan’s revolutionary Urdu poets, Habib Jalib was remembered on his 20th death anniversary on Tuesday.
Born on March 24, 1928, Jalib was a left wing activist and politician, a faithful democrat who opposed martial law, totalitarianism and state oppression. He was a Marxist-Leninist and craved the ideals of communism.
He spent most of his life in jail and rest on streets. He was a progressive thinker and politician who supported restoration of democracy during the period of military rule in Pakistan and had been confined for his views.
He was one of the most popular Awami poet and was very famous due to his ghazals and loud voice of conflict against dictatorship and established order in Pakistan. He was always at forefront of struggle for democracy.
The poetry of Habib Jalib can be divided into two parts, first comprises ghazals composed during the period when jalib had chosen to keep a somewhat low profile. The intensity of his protest became gradually louder in his ghazals and nazams but melody remained indifferent. He bravely confronted first martial law of Ayub Khan.
He wrote his famous poem “Dastoor” which is the landmark in the history of Pakistan’s political struggle and became a glowing symbol of protest literature.  He did not affiliate with any party and preferred to be freelance. He was a progressive contributor of trade union struggle and convocations for democracy. He was also emanating as a champion of women rights and also leading protest marches by women against discriminatory laws. He died on March 12, 1993 at the age of 65 years.