Ali Sardar Jafri's Cementing Poetry
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
1 August
2023
"You needn't be academically inclined to
write fine poetry but if you're academically sound, your poetry will reflect
that aspect of your personality."
Reynold A Nicholson to his student, Dr Muhammad
Iqbal
Ali Sardar Jafri
------
Academically
sound Iqbal's poetry underlines this facet of his magnificent persona. The same
can be said about the great Ali Sardar Jafri, whose death anniversary falls on
August 1. Though expelled from AMU for his Communist ideology (he later
completed his Graduation from Zakir Husain College) and also from Lucknow
University, while pursuing M A, Jafri's entire oeuvre reflects his erudition
and academic bent of mind. A coeval of Pakistan's legendary Urdu poet Faiz
Ahmad Faiz, Ali Sardar Jafri also upheld the loftiest human values like
equality, humanity and universality in his poetry. Though Jafri wrote
prolifically, you don't come across religiously surcharged poems, Nazms,
Ghazals and couplets in his corpus of works. This couplet of Jafri
underlines his religious viewpoint:
Ye
Mai-Kada Hai, Yahan Gunaah Hain Jaam-Ba-Dast
Vo
Madrasa Hai, Vo Masjid, Wahan Milega Savaab.
Or
Iss
Duniya Mein Dikha Dein Tumhein Jannat Ki Bahaar
Shaikh
Ji Tum Bhi Zara Koo-E-Butaan Tak Aao
Throughout his life, Jafri talked only about
peace and non-violence. Religion never figured in his scheme of poetry:
Amn Ki
Baat Karta Hoon, Mujhe Mazhab Se Nahin Koi Sarokaar
Mulla-Maulviyon
Se Karo Baat Deen Ki, Unhein Hai Is Ki Darkaar
(I speak
only of peace, I've nothing to do with religion/ Talk to clerics regarding
faith, they're in need of it).
So zealous
was he in mending the relations between India and Pakistan that Prime Minister
of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee carried Jafri's last anthology Sarhad on his bus
journey to Lahore in 1999. Atal Bihari Vajpayee made history when he presented
Sarhad, as a national gift, to the then prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz
Sharif, during the historic Lahore Summit, 20–21 February 1999. It was also a
milestone in Jafri's life.
Sarhadein
Kheench Deti Hain Had Ki Lakeerein
Darmyaan-E-Mumalik
Iss Lakshman Rekha Ko Mita Do
Jafri
served all genres of poetry and also wrote lyrics for films like Dharti ke
Laal (1946) and Pardesi (1957). He also produced a film, 'Gyarah Hazaar
Ladkiyaan' (1962). K. A. Abbas directed the movie. The film was co-produced
by the poet Ali Sardar Jafri, who also helped co-write the story with Abbas.
Produced under the Film Friends banner, it had music by Datta Naik (famous as N
Datta). The movie had some of the most beautiful songs sung by Rafi, "Dil
Ki Tamanna Thi Masti Mein Manzil Se Bhi Door Nikalte" and "Mere
Mahboob Mere Saath Hi Chalna Hai Tujhe" are still popular, albeit only
among the connoisseurs and those having ears for exquisite music and poetry.
Jafri's
motivational poetry still enthuses all those who feel demoralized in their
life's journey. One of his immortal quatrains never fails to galvanize those
who're about to give up:
Sirf Ek
Mit-Ti Hui Duniya Ka Nazara Na Kar
Aalam-e-Takhleeq
Mein Hai Ek Jahan Ye Bhi Toh Dekh
Maine
Maana Marhale Hain Sakht, Raahein Hain Daraaz
Mil Gaya
Hai Apni Manzil Ka Nishaan Ye Bhi Toh Dekh
(Just don't
look at one fading world/ Look at another world under creation/ Agreed, halts
are tough and paths, long and wide open/ Don't forget that the signs of your
destination are also visible).
Let's
perpetuate the exalted spirit enshrined in Ali Sardar Jafri's cementing poetry
and profess peace and bonhomie more than god and religion, two most divisive and
diabolical words at the moment.
----
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 the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/ali-sardar-jafri-poetry/d/130344
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