When A Father Is No Less Than A Mother: A Eulogy Through Urdu Poetry

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam

18 June 2023

June 18 (Always The 3rd Sunday Of June) Is Father's Day

"Urdu Adab, Khaaskar Urdu Shayari, Ne Kabhi Ma-Baap Ki Taareef Mein Imtiaz-o-Ta'assub Ko Tarjeeh Nahin Di." 

- Pakistani critic and polyglot, late Asif Aslam Farrukhi

(Urdu literature, esp. Urdu poetry, never discriminated against father and mother)

 

Happy Father's Day 2023 - फोटो : Amar Ujala

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We all have seen and experienced that a father's love for his offspring is often overshadowed by a mother's love for her children. Yet, there's no denying the fact that a father also loves his children as much as a mother does. Since man as a parent is seldom demonstrative, his love doesn't get that much ' publicity.' Perhaps, it's poetry, particularly Urdu poetry, that eulogises a father and places him alongside a mother. A few soul-stirring couplets from the quills of a huge spectrum of Urdu poets and poetry will vindicate this:

Abbas Tabish put father's love and care so succinctly:

Muddat Ke Baad Khwaab Mein Aaye Thay Abba

Faqat Itna Kahne Ko Ke Khush Raha Karo

(After aeons, my father visited me in my dream/ Just to say, stay blessed). This couplet underlines the general taciturn nature of a dad, though his concern for the children is forever strong: Adil Ghaznavi says, "Khamosh Rahta Tha Mera Baap/ Pyaar Lekin Mujh Se Woh Behad Karta Tha" (Though my dad remained silent, he did love me a lot).

Qateel Shifai understood his father's love in retrospect. Alas, this happens to all of us as we understand our parents' love only after their departure:

Jeete Ji Main Samjha Woh Begana Hai / Barson Baad Ilm Hua, Baap Kitna Apna Hai 

(When he was alive, I thought that he was standoffish/ I realized after many years that my father was an epitome of love). Parveen Shakir described her dad's love in her own inimitable way, "Main Khilaunon Se Khelti Rahti Thi/ Door Se Abba Dekh Kar Muskurate Thay" (I played with the toys/ Dad would smile sitting afar).

A father is a practical man who provides sustenance and anchorage to his children. Sarfraz Nawaz says:

"Baap Zeena Hai Jo Le Jaata Hai Oonchaai Tak/ Maa Dua Hai Jo Sada Saaya-Figan Rahti Hai " 

(Dad is a ladder that takes you to dizzying heights/ Mother is a bless that protects like a shadow).

Nasikh Abdullah says almost the same thing about a father: Jab Bhi Himmat Haarne Lagta Hoon/ Main Apne Abba Ko Yaad Karta Hoon (Whenever I lose hope, I'm reminded of my father). Father has always been a source of strength and inspiration for a child. He's a child's first guide in the chaos of life: Zindagi Ki Bheed Mein Jab Koi Raah Na Dikhi/ Baap Ne Badh Kar Ungli Thaam Lee (When I couldn't see a way in the chaos of life/ Father came and held my finger).

It's always the reassuring presence of a father that makes a child feel less burdened. Raghib Mansoor says:

Maujoodgi Thi Abba Ki Har Ghadi

Maine Apni Mushkilein Unhein Saunp Deen

(Dad was around all the time/ I gave away all my troubles to him).

And the beauty is that, father did not complain! The same poet further writes: Khushi-Khushi Gham Mere Liye/ Kaha, Aakhir Baap Hoon Tera (He gladly received my pains and said, after all, I'm your father). Father is like a banyan tree to his children: Mujh Ko Chhaon Mein Rakha Aur Khud Woh Jalta Raha/ Maine Dekha Ek Farishta Baap Ki Parchhaieen Mein (He put me in the shadow, facing and braving the heat of life/ I saw an angel in my dad).

The wrinkles on the face of a father bespeak the cavalcade of life that he has seen slowly pass by:

Humein Padhao Ne Rishton Ki Koi Aur Kitaab/ Padhi Hain Baap Ke Chehre Ki Jhurriyaan Hum Ne

(Don't teach me the book of relations and relations/ I've read the wrinkles on the face of my father)

Fathers are really the harbingers of good fortune. Taameer Ilahabadi writes:

Un Ke Hone Se Bakht Hote Hain/ Baap Ghar Ke Darakht Hote Hain

(Their presence heralds good luck/ Dads are trees of a house). A father is indeed a canopy of protection and messenger of good luck. His love is indescribable: Azeez-Tar Woh Rakhta Hai Mujhe Rage-Jaan Se/ Mera Baap Kam Nahin Meri Maa Se (I'm closer to him than the jugular vein/ My dad is no less than my mother).

The bottom line is: Both mother and father have monumental roles in the lives of children. Both are equally important and essential as we often say in Urdu, Har zarra apni jagah pe aaftaab hai (Every particle is the sun in its own right). Let's remember all the fathers in the world on the Father's Day, June 18.

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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/spiritual-meditations/father-mother-eulogy-urdu-poetry/d/130018

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