Kashmiri Brahmin Anand Narayan Mullah: A Judge Who Wrote Poetry
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
25 October
2022
Lab Pe Naġhma Aur Ruḳh Par Ik Tabassum Kī Naqāb
Apne Dil Kā Dard Ab 'Mullā' Ko Kahnā Aa Gayā
(A song on the lips and a veneer of smile on
the face/ Now 'Mulla' has learnt to convey the pain and angst hidden in his
heart)
“A judge is
often a matter-of-fact person. So, it's rather surprising, when a judge writes
poetry. And when he or she writes it so well like Justice Anand Narayan Mulla,
it's an icing on the cake, “wrote Justice Javed Iqbal, son of Muhammad Iqbal,
in The Dawn, Pakistan, on the occasion of Anand Narayan Mulla's 100th birth
anniversary on October 24, 2001.
Sar-e
Mehshar Yehi Puchunga Khuda Se Pehle, Toone Roka Bhi Tha Bande Ko Khata Se
Pehle
Woh
Kaun Hain Jinhein Tauba Ki Mil Gai Fursat, Humein Gunaah Bhi Karne Ko Zindagi
Kam Hai
Pandit
Anand Narain Mulla
(24th
October 1901 – 12th June 1997)
-----
Lucknow-born
Kashmiri Brahmin Anand Narayan Mullah would always say, " Zabanein Do
Qism Ki Hoti Hain: Bolchaal Ki Zabaan Aur Tasavvur Ki Zabaan” (Languages
are of two types: One for conversation and special one for thinking). Urdu was
his thinking language. The conducive literary spirit of Lucknow, Tameez,
Tahzeeb Aur Tamaddun Ka Shahar, acted as a catalyst to catapult him to the
firmament of Urdu adab. At a tender age, he penned quite a profound couplet, “Hai
Maqaam-E-Junoon Se Hosh Ki Raah/Sab Ko Ye Rahguzar Nahin Milti “(The path
of sanity and awareness branches out of extremity and state of frenzy/All ain't
so fortunate to tread on this road). He later incorporated this couplet in his
famous Ghazal, “Dil Ki Dil Ko Khabar Nahin Milti/ Jab Nazar Se Nazar Nahin
Milti.”
As a judge
of Allahabad High Court, he'd often meet the maverick Firaq Gorakhpuri, who was
teaching English at Allahabad University. Firaq once commented upon Anand
Narayan Mulla: Ek Aadil Judge Jo Apne Dil Ki Sunta Hai (A righteous
judge who listens to his conscience). Mulla indeed listened to his conscience
and, therefore could write such a poignant couplet, "Josh-E-Taqseem
Vaarison Ka Na Poochh/ Zid Ye Hai Ke Maa(N) Ki Laash Kat Ke Bantegi "
(Don't ask the inheritors' over zeal for partition/ They insist that the
dead-body of mother will be partitioned). This he wrote as an aftermath of
Partition.
He didn't
live in the ivory tower of a lotus-eating poet. As a judge, Mulla is known for
his prison amendments. He once famously said, “There is not a single lawless
group in the whole of the country whose record of crime comes anywhere near the
record of that organised unit which is known as the Indian Police Force.” So
chillingly true!
He had a
fine sense of humour and would often quip, “Mera Naam Anand Narayan Mulla
Hai Lekin Main Kathmullah Nahin Hoon” (Though my name is Anand Narayan
Mulla, I'm not a hard-core, Mullah or Muslim cleric). He indeed wasn't. That's
why he could write so trenchantly, “Tanz Kasta Hoon Mazhab Par, Kaam Aati
Nahin Tanqeed Jab “(I mock at religion when criticism doesn't work).
Those
over-intelligent people, inebriated by their Allah/god/Qura'an and all that
jazz must ponder over this couplet of Anand Narayan Mulla in these religiously
volatile times and understand that religion, any damn faith for that matter,
needs to be ridiculed and scoffed at. Religion doesn't need the sugar-coated
language of politically correct criticism.
-----
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/interfaith-dialogue/kashmiri-brahmin-mullah-judge-poetry/d/128257
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