Himayat Ali Shayar: A Profound and Principled Poet
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
17 July
2024
Aurangabad
in Maharashtra has always been my favourite city because it's the only city in Sooba-e-Maharashtra
where Urdu is still spoken, albeit with a Hyderabadi Dakhni tone, and
also understood by the Muslims. So, it's natural that I'm drawn to this city
for its Urdu culture and language.
A city of
Siraj Aurangabadi (1715-1763), Wali Mohammed Wali (1667-1707), Azad Bilgrami
(1704-1786), Sikandar Ali Wajd, Waheed Akhtar, Abdur Rauf Urooj, Bashar Nawaz,
to name but a few, Aurangabad produced a galaxy of very fine Urdu poets. Yet
another gem of a poet was Himayat Ali Shayar (1926-2019) who was born in
Aurangabad on July 14, 1926 and breathed his last on July 15, 2019 in Toronto.
He migrated to Pakistan in 1951 and established himself as a leading
poet-lyricist. I met him in Pakistan and Toronto and he'd always meet me with
warmth and affection as he could relate to me because of my
Maharashtra-connexion and Poona being quite close to Aurangabad.
Whenever
I'd meet him, I'd request him to recite his two famous couplets: IssJahan
Mein Apna Saya Bhi / Roshni Ho Toh Saath Chalta Hai (Even your shadow
accompanies you when there's light) and TujhSe Vafa Na Ki Toh Kisi Se Vafa
Na Ki / KisTarahIntiqaamLiya Apne Aap Se (If I didn't love you, I couldn't
love anyone / How mercilessly I took a revenge on myself). But his immortal
couplet is: BadanPePairhan-E-Khaak Ke Siva Kiya Hai/ Mere Alaav Mein Ab
Raakh Ke Siva Kya Hai (What's left on the body barring an apparel of dust
?/ My smouldering fire only has ashes and nothing else). Elsewhere he wrote,
"KisLiye Keeje Kisi Gum-Gashta Jannat Ki Talaash/ Jab Ki Mitti Ke
Khilaunon Se Bahal Jaate Hain Log"(Why should you look for a lost
heaven ?/ When mere earthen toys are enough for humans). He told me that Rene
Descartes' famous statement in Latin Cogito, Ergo Sum (I think, therefore, I'm
) inspired him to write, "Main Sochta Hoon IsliyeShayad Main Zinda Hoon
/ MumkinHai Ye Gumaan Haqeeqat Ka Gyaan De"(I think, therefore, I'm
still alive/ May this lurking doubt bestow real wisdom on me).
He was
immensely successful as a poet-lyricist and penned first few evergreen songs in
the cinema of Pakistan. Despite his huge success in the film industry of
Pakistan, he left cinema and also stopped writing songs and screenplays for the
movies. Like the Indian poet-lyricists Shakeel, Sahir, Kaifi, Majrooh and
Shailendra, he too got disenchanted with writing lyrics for films.
While his
Indian coevals didn't give up completely, Himayat Ali bade farewell to cinema
and devoted himself to writing poetry and autobiography. He was a principled
man. Himayat Ali Shayar is the only poet in Urdu literary history who wrote an
autobiography titled "Aaina Sar Aaina." Over 400 pages, the
autobiography is composed of as many as 3,500 couplets. When I find people in
India not knowing much of this excellent poet-lyricist, I feel sad from within.
He once aptly said, "ShayarKi ShayadYahi Qismat Hai / Ghar Walon Ko Bhi
Uss Ki Qadra Nahin Hai" (This is the fate of a poet / Even his close
ones don't care for him). So very true. But we care for you Himayat Ali Saheb.
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Himayat
Ali ShayarWas Born On July 14 And Departed On July 15
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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:
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