Gauhar Raza


Gauhar Raza is an Indian engineer, science communicator, Urdu poet, social activist and documentary filmmaker. He is known for his films like Jung-e-Azadi, on India's First War of Independence, and Inqilab on Bhagat Singh. He was also the honorary director of Jahangirabad Media Institute.

Early life and education

He was born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India on 17 August 1956. His family moved to Aligarh in 1958. His father Wizarat Husain was a freedom fighter, communist party member and renowned educationist and science teacher at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. His mother, a social worker, was also intensely involved in freedom struggle and had worked with Indira Gandhi in Allahabad.
He completed a BSc in engineering at Aligarh Muslim University in 1977 and an MTech in Power Apparatus and Systems at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in 1979. He was a member of the Students' Federation of India when he studied at AMU. During the Emergency, he was the SFI Secretary of Western Uttar Pradesh.

Career

In 1979 he joined Eicher Goodearth Ltd., a multinational company, as an electrical engineer and worked there for 3 years. He solved some major design problems that the company was facing and within a short time he rose to Executive-Engineer level. In 1982 he joined the National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies as a scientist and he continues to work there.

Poetry

Gauhar Raza's poetry collection Jazbon Ki Lau Tez Karon has been noted for its frankness of tone and social concerns. In his most famous poem, "Main Chahta hoon", he express his helplessness to write a romantic poem in days of darkness. He also wrote lyrics for a Hindi film, Say Salaam India, released in 2007.

Personal life

He is married to the activist Shabnam Hashmi, sister of the murdered theatre activist Safdar Hashmi. The couple have a son, Sahir Raza, and a daughter, Seher. He identifies as an atheist.

Works

Plague, Media and People, NITADS, 1996 Confluence of Science and Peoples' Knowledge at the Sangam, NISTADS, 1996 A Delicate Space Ship, Youth for Disarmament, Delhi, 1998Jazbon Ki Lau Tez Karo, Raj Kamal, Delhi, 1999Walk the Sky, A play on violence against women, V-Day, Delhi, 2001Science Crafts and Knowledge: Understanding of Science Among Artisans in India and South Africa: a Cross-cultural Endeavour, Protea Book House, Pretoria, 2002 edited along with Hester du PlessisHIV/AIDS Public Understanding and Attitude, NYKS, 2007

Awards