Shafa’at Ali Siddiqui is a name synonymous with the grand voice at the Lucknow Station of All India Radio for over four decades. He started his career in British India and grew with the station through its journey of success and the transformation phases of technological advances.
Those were the days when information was ethical in nature and commitment was the prime motto to cater to the audience, the days of commercial interests were still far away. Any information that was broadcast on the radio had no element of doubt in the minds of the audience. This was not only because of the then transparent government policies but individuals like Shafa’at Ali Siddiqui had a vital role in developing that trust and respect.
Shafa’at Ali Siddiqui was an uncompromising administrator in his role but on the intellectual front he was very soft-hearted and a tender writer, a creative composer, an artistic producer, and an engaging presenter whose abilities were par excellence. He used to get involved in the minute details of his assignments to ensure the finesse that was expected from him. He mastered the language of classical Urdu and coped nicely with the projects in English and Hindi as well.
He was a man of high literary credentials with deep-rooted connections in the fields of arts, culture, literature, poetry, music, academics, politics, etc. He never confined his thought process to any limits or restricted himself to any specific genre, his creativity used to flow along the artistic presentations and with the same comfort he used to deal with the most influential political figures of his times. He was one of those rare individuals who earned credibility based on his literary acumen and his powerful voice became a mark of quality and authenticity.
His works were vastly acknowledged, and he was honored with 3 National Awards for his features on ‘Life Sketch of Prophet Muhammad PBUH (1974), Ameer Khusro (1977), and Mahatma Gandhi (1981). He was bestowed with various other State Awards and felicitations during and after his work life. He was an integral part of a number of academic and social bodies and remained instrumental in establishing the credibility of many such platforms.
One of his landmark radio presentations that remained unparalleled for decades was the commentary of the religious congregation of Shi’ite Muslims known as ‘Sham-e-Ghareebaan’ (a post-dusk mourning gathering) on the 10th of Muharram (the first Islamic month) to commemorate the martyrs of Karbala under the leadership of Imam Husain (the grandson of Prophet Muhammad PBUH). Since Lucknow has been a center of Shi’ite Muslims by virtue of their rule in the Avadh region before the British stepped in, the mourning period of Muharram is observed with great devotion and huge participation across the Muslim world in general and Shi’ites in particular.
There is an extensive list of literary greats, poets, singers, musicians, academicians, politicians, and people from various occupations who endorse the camaraderie drawn by Shafa’at Ali Siddiqui between his professional commitments and his literary mission. He was truly a gifted expert who put his voice to the noble cause and created a space for himself and helped in pushing the young talents to achieve what they deserved.
Shafa’at Ali Siddiqui was a person with great regard across faiths and communities and was seen as a symbol of Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, a term used to depict the composite high culture of the central plains of northern India, especially the doab region of Ganges and Yamuna rivers, that is a syncretic fusion of Hindu and Muslim cultural elements. He is credited to engage established and legendary singer Begum Akhtar and great Urdu poets Vaali Aasi and Munawar Rana with the radio, he also roped in the likes of Gopal Das Neeraj to cater to the segment of Hindi poetry. He initiated and promoted the idea of scientific programs to create practical awareness of scientific advances.
His illustrious radio career ended in the year 1987 and he was honored with the title of Program Executive/Producer Emeritus as a token of his untiring and dedicated services to All India Radio. Even after his retirement, he remained associated with All India Radio Doordarshan (State Television) until his last days. He was a guide and mentor to many aspiring professionals who got a name for themselves in the future to come and he always emphasized the quality of work than delivering duties for the sake of it. He was a symbol of sincerity, simplicity, honesty, commitment, dedication, and a progressive approach to his works.
Born to a noble and literary family of Inayat Ali Siddiqui on July 15, 1929, in the legendary town of Sandila, district Hardoi of Avadh region, India, Shafa’at Ali Siddiqui saw a tumultuous period of adolescence and youth owing to challenges that were there due to freedom struggle during his growing years. The sweetness of Urdu has always been there in his family, his elder brother Distinguished Professor Dr. Shuja’at Ali Siddiqui Sandilvi, who was a towering figure at the Urdu Department at Lucknow University, and his nephew Professor Dr. Sa’adat Ali Siddiqui, nick-named as Mujahid-e-Urdu (warrior of Urdu). Currently, the literary traditions in the family of Shafa’at Ali Siddiqui are carried forward by his nephew Professor Dr. Zafar Iqbal living in the United States, and his niece Professor Dr. Parveen Shuja’at at Lucknow, India.
Shafa’at Ali Siddiqui breathed his last heavenly abode on August 01, 2018, at Lucknow and left behind a void that could never be filled. His contributions to the world of radio would always be remembered in high esteem and his literary contributions would always be cherished whenever the traditions of Lucknow were discussed.
I consider myself privileged to have spent time with Shafaat Sahib. I am very proud to recite the following sheyr of the late Raghupati Sahai Firaq Gorakhpuri with an apology to him.
Aane vaalī nasleñ tum par faḳhr kareñgī ham-asro
Jab bhī un ko dhyān aa.egā tum ne ‘Shafaat’ ko dekhā hai
Coming generations will feel proud of you, my friends. When they will realize that you had spent time with Shafa’at.
(Shaheer A. Mirza is an airline professional, historian, commentator, political analyst, and author of the book ‘Mughals of the Dark.’He can be contacted on shaheeramirza@gmail.com)