Sunday, February 28, 2010

HABIB JALIB- A POET of ALL SEASONS

BY MAHTAB BASHIR
ISLAMABAD

Remembering HABIB JALIB on his 82nd Birthday today (February 28, 2010)

Muhabbat golion sy bo rahay ho/ Watan ka chehra khoon' sy dho rahay ho/ Gumaan' tumko ky rasta katt raha hay/ Yakeen' mujhko ky manzil kho rahy ho

Habib Jalib (1928 - 1993) was one of the most renowned Pakistani revolutionary poet of 20th century. A left wing activist and politician. He was a staunch democrat who opposed martial law, authoritarianism and state oppression.

After Nazir Akbarabadi, Jalib is perhaps the finest poet labeled as poet of masses. Like Akbarabadi he is truly a man of the people — his way of life is like that of the common people. His style of loving, thinking and feeling is like that of the common people, and his aspirations are those of the common people. And he expresses the sadness, the pain, the voice and the desires of the common people in their language. And if thousands and hundreds of thousands love Jalib so much, and lose control over themselves on hearing his verses, then this love, this infatuation, is not without cause.

While reading his classic collection of poetry, 1 am missing his words badly, as it is a time ripe enough to a voice like of Jalib to filled the air of this country. Here are few extracts from his mas­ter pieces…….

Har Shakhs meray des ka karzay may hay jakra
Mehngai ki afriyyat nay logon ko hay pakra
Soobay bhi hain biphray huay markaz bhi hay akra

Allah he cbaJata hay meray des ka chakra.

His poetry was a true reflection of Awami (public) feelings and aspirations. Jalib, never failed to lose direct, vibrant and strong contact with the masses in any regime till the last drop of blood running through his veins.

Farzi mukaddamaat hain jhooti sha-hadatein
Hum phjrbni likh rahein hein junoo ki hikayatein
Mujrim ki abb nishaan-dahi kon kar saky
Abb tak hein band ahle kalam ki adalatein.


Pakistan ki gheirat kay rakhwalo!
Bheek na mango
Tor kay iss kashkole ko aadhi khalo
Bheek na mango
Dosto jag-hansaai na mango
Maot mango, rehaai na mango
Ghaasibon say bhalaai na mango
Maot mango, rehaai na mango


Unfortunately, today there's no such person alive in these critical juncture of affairs, who can fight against evil and insist on truth. None is willing to sacrifice his personality and poetry for the common good of the people in modern days.

Yeh dharti hay asl may piaray
mazduron dehkano ki
Iss dharti par chal na sakay gi
Marzi cand gharano ki


Today, everyone is afraid of the power and wealth of the oppressors; Habib Jalib was the one who unmasked veils of those who massacred at night. Today, we need such person like Jalib, who can put life in the fad­ing pulse of the nation.

Amreeka say maang na bheek
Matt kar logon ki tazkeek
Roke naa jamhoori tehreek
Chore na aazadi ki raah
Pakistan ka matlab kia
La Ilaha Illal Lah.


Sometimes I think, how did this earthly mendicant get his power to say ‘No’? What is this power that makes this gentle person fight against evil and insist on truth? In fact this power is due to the love of the people and the animal spring which lends bravery and enthusiasm to Jalib comes from the people. Habib Jalib has sacrificed his personality and his poetry for the common good of the people.

Deep jiska sirf mahellaat hi main jalay,

Chand logon ki khushyon ko lay ker chalay,
Wo jo saay main har maslihat kay palay;
Aisay dastoor ko, Subh e bay noor ko,
Main naheen maanta, Main naheen jaanta.

Main bhee kha’if naheen takhta e daar say,
Main bhee Mansoor hoon, keh do aghyaar say,
Kyun daraatay ho zindaan ki divar say,
Zulm ki baat ko, Jehel ki raat ko,
Main naheen maanta, Main naheen jaanta.

Phool shaakhon pay khilnay lagay tum kaho,
Jaam rindon ko milnay lagay tum kaho,
Chaak seenon kay silnay lagay tum kaho,
Iss khulay jhoot ko, Zehan ki loot ko,
Main naheen maanta, Main naheen jaanta.

Tum nay loota hai sadyon hamara sakoon,
Ab na hum per chalay ga tumhara fasoon,
Charagar main tumhain kisttarah say kahoon?
Tum naheen charaagar, Koi maanay magar,
Main naheen maanta, Main naheen jaanta.

-Muhammad Mahtab Bashir
03335363248
Islamabad

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