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Albert Einstein had said about Mahatma Gandhi – Generations to come, will scarce believe, that such a man as this one, ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth. Well, India owns its freedom to this saint politician, who was cast more in the typical Indian notion of a Sanyasi Raja, though he never claimed to be either.
Today’s generation may be having a faint, if at all, acquaintance with Indian freedom fighters and the mould they were cast in. Many of these patriots, may have had a singular passion of getting India free from the British Rule, but they were also persons possessing hugely variegated skills sets. Like Einstein has said, many of us marvel at these personae and their accomplishments in diverse fields. They (one can say now on both sides of the border) were accomplished lawyers, agriculturists, civil service resignees, teachers, educationists, ex-army men, and yes even from native royalty & career politicians.Surprisingly amongst them were some poets too. One such luminary was Syed Fazl–ul-Hasan (1 January 1875 – 13 May 1951). This name may not immediately be recalled by many. But the moment we mention the opening couplets of a Ghazal, made famous in the subcontinent, by non-other than the famed singer Ghulam Ali, we will instantly be all praise for the writer. The famous Ghazal is – Chupke Chupke Raat Din Aanso BahanaYaad hai.
Syed Fazl–ul-Hasan was born in 1875 at Mohan, a town in the Unnao district of United Provinces, (today’s Uttar Pradesh,) in British India. His ancestors migrated from Nishapur, in Iran. ‘Hasrat’, (loosely translated as Desire) was his takhallus (pen name) and his last name ‘Mohani‘ refers to Mohan, his place of birth. He received his primary education at Vernacular Middle School in Fatehpur Haswah, a town near Kanpur. He completed his BA in 1903 at Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College which later became Aligarh Muslim University. He was expelled from the college three times for criticizing the British government. In his honor, Aligarh Muslim University named a hostel after him. He wrote Kulliyat-e-Hasrat Mohani (Collection of Hasrat Mohani’spoetry), Sharh-e-Kalam-e-Ghalib (Explanation of Ghalib’s poetry), Nukaat-e-Sukhan (Important aspects of poetry), Mushahidaat-e-Zindaan (Observations in Prison),amongst others. What brought him immense popularity, later years, was the ghazal, Chupke Chupke Raat Din.
What many may not be aware is that Maulana played an active role in drafting of the Constitution of India. He did not sign it since he had some differences. Also not widely known is that he was a Krishna devotee. He often went to Mathura to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami. It’s not surprising that he did not merely profess but practiced secularism. Hard to imagine today. The famous slogan Inquilab Zindabad was coined by Mohani in the year1921. Such diverse talent is indeed rare in men. Maulana Hasrat Mohani died on May 13, 1951 in Lucknow, India.
There is a Street Named Maulana Hasrat Mohani in Kadar Palace, Mumbra, Dist: Thane, Maharashtra. Maulana Hasrat Mohani Hospital is situated in Chamanganj, Kanpur. There is also a road named Maulana Hasrat MohaniStreet in Kanpur. Maulana Hasrat Mohani Gallery is situated at Bithoor Museum. Today’s generation needs to learn a lot from his works and lifestyle. He actually epitomized simple living and high thinking. India’s foundations were laid by such formidable personalities and we should never forget these legacies. India is India because of such titans. Today there is a greater need for emulating him to ensure an independent, vibrant, accommodative, united India. But it’s also true, as Hasrat Mohanihimself wrote:
Nahin aati to yaad unki mahino tak nahi aati-Magar jab yaad aate hain to aksar yaad aate hai)(…By Sidhartha Mukherjee)
