Rashid Meer

Rashid Meer (Gujarati: રશીદ મીર) is a Gujarati language ghazal poet, critic, editor and researcher from Gujarat, India. He is a founder editor of Dhabak, a Gujarati ghazal poetry journal. He received his Ph.D for his research Gujarati Ghazal Ni Saundarya Mimansa. His significant works include Saat Suka Pandada (1993), Ghazal Nu Pariprekshya (1995), Thes (1998) and Adhakhula Dhwar (1999). The Indian National Theater, Mumbai conferred him the Shayda Award (2003) for his contribution in the field of Gujarati ghazal poetry.

Meer was born on 1 June 1950 in Thasara, a village in Padal of Kheda district to Kamaluddin Meer and Halima Meer. He completed his S.S.C in 1968 from Sharada Mandir High School, Menpura. He completed Bachelor of Arts in 1973 from Arts and Commerce College, Balasinor and Master of Arts in 1975 from C.B Patel Arts College, Nadiad with Gujarati literature as one of his subjects. He completed his B.Ed in 1980 from Faculty of Education, M.S University and obtained Ph.D for his research Gujarati Ghazal Ni Saundarya Mimansa from the same university. His doctoral guide was Lavkumar Desai, a Gujarati author.

Meer started his career as a teacher at M.E.H Girls High School, Vadodara. He started his writing career in 1968 with influences of Ghalib, Faiz, Jigar Moradabadi and Kalidasa. In the same year, his ghazal came out for first time in Gujarati magazine Jay Jay, published from Mumbai. He serves as an administrator of Muslim Educational Society, Vadodara and writes column Gulchhadi in Gujarat Samachar on every Tuesday. He is a founder editor of Gujarati ghazal poetry journal Dhabak since 1991.

His first ghazal anthology Chitkaar was published in 1987, followed by Saat Suka Pandada (1993), Khali Hathno Vaibhav (1996), Thes (1998), Adhakhula Dhwar (1999), Rubaru (2002) and Laapata ni Shodh (2010).

Criticism

His criticism of ghazal poetry includes;

• Gujarati Ghazalni Saundarya Mimansa (1990; Ph.D theses)
• Ghazal Nu Paripreksha (1995)
• Aapna Ghazalsarjako (1996)
• Ghazal Vivaksha (2000)
• Ghazal Vilokana (2001)
• Ghazal Lok (2008)
• Jigar Muradabadi (2002)
• Faiz Ahmed Faiz (2005)
• Ghazal Vanchana (2015)

Compilation

• Ghazal Nu Shil Ane Saundarya (1988)
• Ghazals From Gujarati (English translation of selected Gujarati ghazals; 1996)
• Ghazal Vimarsh (1998)
• Suralay (2001)
• Diwan-e-Patil (Unpublished works of Patil; 2003)
• Gulchhadi Vol. 1 (2010)