'Gulzar' Dehlvi: Imam-e-Urdu
By Sumit Paul, New Age
Islam
12 June
2024
Since my
mother tongue is Dari (Afghan variant of Persian) and I mostly converse in Urdu
in India as the masses, even classes, don't understand Dari or Persian, people
often mistake me for a Muslim. Even my signature is in Persian. This often
makes me wonder why a language is associated with a specific community or
religion?
Recently,
when I quoted an Urdu couplet of Gulzar Dehlvi, a learned friend of mine who
understands Urdu, asked me, Ye Sher Kis
Ka Hai? I told him that Anand Mohan Zutshi 'Gulzar' Dehlvi wrote it.
Flabbergasted, he didn't know that 'Gulzar' Dehlvi's actual name was Anand
Mohan Zutshi. June 12 is his 4th death anniversary.
A true-blue
Delhite, 'Gulzar' Dehlvi was a poet par excellence who once said, "Dars-e-Urdu Zabaan Deta Hoon/ Ahle-Iimaan Pe Jaan Deta Hoon/ Main Ajab Hoon Imaam
Urdu Ka/ But-Kade Mein Azaan Deta Hoon" (I teach Urdu language/ I'm
faithful to the believers/ I'm a strange custodian of Urdu/ I recite an Azaan-
the call to prayer- at a temple).
A Kashmiri,
his father, grandfather and uncles were scholars, poets and connoisseurs of
Urdu, Persian and Arabic. 'Gulzar' Dehlvi himself knew quite a few languages
and was a polyglot. His command of Urdu, Persian and English was admirable but
he admitted, "Go Kai Zabanon Se Rahi
Nisbat Meri/ Dil Ko Bhaati Rahi Urdu Hi" (Though I was associated with
many languages, it was Urdu that appealed to me the most).
His poetry
was intellectual poetry (Zehni Shayari).
Just an example will prove this, "Mir
Ke Baad Ghalib-o-Iqbal / Ik Sada, Ik Sadi Mein Guzri Hai" (Mir,
Ghalib, Iqbal/ Three centuries, three voices). I remember my Pakistani friend
Arshia Jameel cherry-picking this couplet of 'Gulzar' Dehlvi for her M Phil in
Urdu poetry.
One of his
couplets is really thought-stirring: Jahan
Insaaniyat Vahshat Ke Haathon Zabh Hoti Hai/ Jahan Tazleel Hai Jeena, Wahan
Behtar Hai Mar Jaana (Where humanity is slaughtered at the hands of
extremism/extremity/ Where existence is indignity, it's better to die). He was
a master of Qita (a brief poem of four lines like a Rubai): Zindagi Tere Qadam Se Hai/ Zeest Ka Lutf
Tere Gham Se Hai/ Mujh Ko Firdaus Ki Zaroorat Kya/ Meri Jannat Toh Tere Dam Se
Hai (Life exists because of your presence/ The joy of life is associated
with your pain/ Why should I long for paradise/ My heaven is because of you).
His
romanticism had a sensual appeal: Hum Se
Poochho Toh Zulm Behtar Hai/ Inn Haseenon Ki Meharbani Se/ Aur Bhi Kya Qayamat
Aayegi/ Poochhna Hai Teri Jawani Se (If you ask me, I'll say, torture is
better than the grace of these damsels/ Let's see, if a greater doom/condemnation
comes/ I need to ask your youthfulness).
In these
times, when Urdu is pigeonholed into a specific community, people like 'Gulzar'
Dehlvi with a 'Hindu' name may give a glimmer of hope. In his own words, "Aashna Hoon Zubaan-e-Urdu Ki Rag-Rag Se / Maine
Sirf Padhi Nahin, Parastish Ki Hai Iss Zabaan Ki" (I'm thoroughly
acquainted with Urdu/ I didn't just read it, I worshipped it).
We need to
adore Urdu for its survival.
-----
'Gulzar' Dehlvi Breathed His Last On June 12,
2020.
-----
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://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/gulzar-dehlvi-imam-urdu/d/132492
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism