NewsIP readers, are by now familiar with Maulana Hasrat Mohani. A poet extraordinaire, a revolutionary who coined the radical and now ubiquitous exhortation ‘ Inqalab Zindabad’, a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and a Maulana who was also a Krishna bhakt. Such personalities are difficult to find today. Possibly, only in mother India, could such a luminary be born and more importantly, nurtured in its lap. When the world, including sadly India, is getting increasingly fractured and jingoistic, Maulana’s writings show us the light which can guide us out of the quagmire. The sheer energy of his entreaties is unpatrolled. Today’ generation may not really be able to comprehend the contributions of such forces in making India actually India. They cannot be blamed.
There is no conscious effort even by the so called liberals to highlight his works and contribution equally in the freedom movement and literature. His intellectualism was never the kind which was isolationist or highbrow. That’s what makes his words so popular even today, whenever one gets an opportunity to hear them. His works represented the very essence of Patriotism, Freedom of Mind, Inclusion and Plurality. Factors sorely missed today the world over. This weekend readers, we wish to draw your kind attention to one of the finest Ghazals written by the Maulana, which is not as popular as ‘Chupke Chupke’ is.
The Ghazal which the readers will find very interesting is ‘Roshan Jamal e yaar se hai anjuman tamam’. One has to just hear it once to fall in love with it. The ‘Lafz’ (words) used are indeed unique. The power comes out very strongly and forcefully. The starting stanzas: Roshan jamaal-e-yaar se hai anjuman tamaam, Dehka hua hai aatish-e-gul se chaman tamaam, Hairat ghuroor-e-husn se, shokhi se izteraab, Dil ne bhi tere seekh liye hain chalan tamaam, Allah re! jism-e-yaar ki khoobi, ke khud ba khud, Rangeeniyon mein doob gaya pairaahan tamaam, Dil khoon ho chuka hai, jigar ho chuka hai khaak, Baaqi hoon mein mujhe bhi kar ai! tegh zan tamaam, Dekho to chashm-e-yaar ki jaadoo nigaahiyaan, Behosh ik nazar mein hui anjuman tamaam, English Translation: Illuminates, her graceful beauty, the gathering, aplenty, A lone fiery bloom, up in flames, the garden aplenty, Obfuscates, thy beauteous charm, wiles at the wink of an eye, The heart has too, learnt the ways, of chicanery aplenty, Hallelujah! Her material form, so wretchedly beautiful, Flares up, a palette, a million hues, her raiment, aplenty, My desolate heart lies wasted, my spirits lifeless and cold, Relieve me, with the sword, like my shackles aplenty, Behold! The captivating gaze, of her bottomless eyes, In a moment, knocked out cold, the gathering, aplenty, The Ghazal goes on in similar hues.Readers will acclaim the lyrics not merely for the descriptive value but for their raw energy. The carefully chosen words have the power of a knockout punch! The description of the beloved is very expansive yet the words are not quite romantic. Yet the transcending nature of the Ghazal slowly dawns upon the listener drowning him in a pool of shimmering effervescence. The poet’s mastery over the words is apparent but the usage chosen is really uncommon. This a must hear Ghazal sung wonderfully by numerous artists – Mehndi Hasan, Jagjit Singh and Abida Parveen.
The myriad writings of Maulana Hasrat Mohani may have been somewhat forgotten in the hurly burly of today’s life. Nonetheless, their existential nature makes them so so alive. And they are indeed in close proximity. One needs to only put out a willing hand and feel their gossamer embrace. …… By Sidhartha Mukherjee
