Saughaat-e-Tanhaai (The Gift of Solitude): A Must-Read for the Connoisseurs of Urdu Poetry
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
1 November
2022
Reviewing a
book is always a very discerning task. And when it comes to reviewing a book of
poetry, the creative responsibility increases manifold because the reviewer has
to delve into the persona of the poet who has poured his heart out in his
oeuvre.
So, I'm all
the more cautious and conscious while reviewing Dr Navroze Shavak Kotwal's
compilation of Urdu poetry, entitled ' Saughaat-e-Tanhai ' (The Gift of
Solitude). Before I discuss Dr Kotwal's exquisite poetry and his command of
Urdu, I must mention that Dr Kotwal is a Bombay-based (sorry, no Mumbai) famous
Parsi dentist who's a serious Urdu poet, not a dilettante.
One casual
reader, not au fait with Dr Kotwal's poetry might say that odds are heavily
stacked against him because Parsis aren't known for their profound love for
Urdu poetry and he's into dentistry to boot. But have a cursory look at his
compilation and glance through a few couplets, you'll be immensely surprised by
his poetic depth, imagery, choice of words and expressions. One random example
is enough: Tamanna Umra Darazi Ki Hai Sabhi Ko Magar/ Hain Zinda Kaun Si
Ummeed Pe, Khabar Bhi Nahin (We all long for longevity/ Yet, unsure and
uncertain about the hope that makes us alive) or Kabhi Gila Tha Hum Ko
Mukhtasar Zindagi Se/ Aaj Talabgaar Baithe Hain Jaane Ke Liye (Once
I was unhappy about the brevity of life/ Today, I'm looking to depart).
Associated
with the Hindi film industry right from his childhood and mentored by Sahir and
Majrooh, Dr Kotwal grew up hobnobbing with the stalwarts of Hindi cinema. He
had a natural inclination for Urdu, particularly Urdu Shayari. So, he
learnt how to read and write Urdu and began to write in Nastaliq script. This
is indeed admirable. Unlike many Urdu 'poets', who write their Ghazals
and Nazms in Devanagari, shelving the rules of poetry, Dr Kotwal
mastered Urdu comprehensively and systematically learnt the nuances of Urdu
language and its prosody (art of versification).
Just
imagine, a Parsi writing and conversing in chaste Urdu! He writes in Saughaat-e-Tanhaai,
' Mayassar Nahin Aadmi Ko Insaan Hona/Chala Hai Phir Bhi Woh Hone KO Khuda'
(Man is unable to rise to the desired level/Yet, look at his audacity, he tries
to become god). There's a nuanced difference between Aadmi and Insaan,
both being Arabic words. Aadmi, Jo Dam Le (one who just breathes)
and Insaan (derived from the Arabic word Uns; love/ full of universal love).
One is
instantaneously reminded of Ghalib's Sher, “Bas Ke Dushvaar Hai Har
Kaam Ka Aasaan Hona..." The best thing about Dr Navroze's poetry is
that he doesn't dwell upon gol-o-bulbul (flowers and nightingale) or wallow in
self-pity. “Zeest Ka Dard Hai Un Ke Asha'ar Mein “(His couplets have the
pain and angst of life).
To
comprehend all the layers of his emotions and expressions is no easy task.
Elsewhere, he himself accepts this with this Misra: Itna Aasaan Bhi Nahin
Pahunchna Tere Kalaam Talak (It ain't that easy to get to the recesses of my
poetry). Dr Navroze is an extemporaneous poet who can pen a couplet at the drop
of a hat and what he states spontaneously, becomes a couplet instantly. The old
maxim that poets are born, not made applies to him in toto. Nowhere does his
poetry sound laboured and ponderous. There's a kind of buttery felicity that
adorns his poetry.
A latitudinarian, Dr Kotwal is pained by the
increasing fanaticism. His Deewan is trilingual. The couplets and ghazals are
written in Devanagari, Urdu and Roman scripts. So, language is not an issue for
the readers. On the flip side, there're a few errors in transliteration. Hope,
these errors will be done away with when the book's subsequent editions come
out. I'm sure, the connoisseurs of Urdu poetry would simply love Dr Navroze's Saughaat-e-Tanhaai.
I call this book Hashmat-e-Tanhaai (Wealth and riches of Solitude). New Town
Publishers, Thane, has published this magnificent book. The price is 250
rupees.
----
A
regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative
religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to
world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/saughaat-tanhaai-solitude-connoisseurs-urdu-poetry/d/128317
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