Jazib Qureshi: A Poet of 'Attractive' Poetry
By Sumit Paul, New Age
Islam
6 August
2024
Those who
regularly read Urdu newspapers will agree with me that the Indian Urdu dailies
often fail to pay timely tributes to the poets on their birth and death
anniversaries and generally ignore (though not intentionally) those poets
who're from Pakistan.
But it's
different in Pakistan. You'll find tributes to all the poets- even those who're
not so famous- of the subcontinent in their Urdu publications.
So, while
going through Indian and Pakistani Urdu dailies, I found no article on
Calcutta-born Jazib Qureshi (Born:
August 3, 1940, Died: June 21, 2021) in Indian newspapers. But Pakistani
Urdu Dailies ran write ups on him, esp. on his death anniversary.
A poet and
critic par excellence, Jazib appeals to you. His very name means 'attractive'
and 'appealing.' Being a very discerning critic, his poetry also has elements
of discernment and sharpness. He was at home with poetry and criticism and once
said, "Shairi Jazib Ki Mehbooba Hai,
Aur Tanqeed Us Ki Mankooha (Poetry is Jazib`s love but he has tied a
nuptial knot with criticism).”
Two of his
couplets underline this quality, "Kyon
Maang Rahe Ho Kisi Baarish Ki Duaaein/ Tum Apne Shiksta Dar-O-Deevaar Ko Dekho
" (Why're you praying for rains? / Have a look at your crumbling doors
and walls) and 'Jab Bhi Aata Hai Woh Mere
Dhyan Mein/ Phool Rakh Jaata Hai Roshan-Daan Mein ' (Whenever she comes to
my mind/ She keeps a flower in my skylight).
One of his
most famous couplets is, 'Sunhari Dhoop
Ka Tukda Hoon Lekin/ Tere Saaye Mein Chalna Chahta Hoon' (Though I'm a
piece of the golden daylight/ I want to walk in your shadow). Yet another is, 'Mere Pyaar Ka Koi Haasil Nahin Hai / Voh Ek
Mauj Hoon Jis Ka Saahil Nahin Hai ' (There's no objective or finality of my
love / I'm a wave without a shore).
This one is
so true: Pyaar Ki Khud-Farebiyaan Tauba/
Mit-Te, Mit-Te Bhi Aas Rahti Hai (See the self-delusions of love/ Hope
remains despite fading away). Jazib wrote in an Urdu magazine, "Jab Ek Naqqaad Shayari Karta Hai Toh Zyada
Sambhal Ke Karta Hai" (When a critic writes poetry, he's extra-careful).
To quote
Jameel Mazhari, "Main Shayar Hoon,
Naqqaad Nahin/ Phir Bhi Zaban-e-Tanqeed Samajhta Hoon" (I'm a poet,
not a critic/ Yet, I understand the language of criticism). Understanding the
language of criticism can sharpen a poet's poetry.
Jazib also
worked on Naql-E-Harfi
(Transliteration/ Lipyantaran in
Hindi) which is very important nowadays. When people transliterate Pahchaan and Pahle as Pehchaan and Pehle respectively, the connoisseurs of
languages are exasperated no end. 'Kahte' becomes 'Kehte' and 'Rahte' is
transliterated 'Rehte' by those
who've no feel for any language. Jazib educated such people. Yet, he never
looked down upon anyone and was known as a very polite poet and a kind-hearted
critic who never went on flaying viciously. He lamented that literature had
always had fewer adherents among the masses, but “this ratio too was dwindling
further.” He hit the nail on the head.
When it
comes to poetry, people's lack of interest is all the more obvious. To quote
Sahar Hoshiyarpuri, "Adab Mein Pahle
Hi Se Dilchaspi Na Thi Logon Ki/ Ab Toh Shayar Khud Hi Likhta Aur Khud Hi
Padhta Hai" (Right from the beginning, people were least interested in
poetry/ Nowadays, only a poet reads what he has written). But Jazib's poetry is
still read and appreciated by the perspicuous readers and lovers of good
poetry.
The lyrical
quality of his poetry appeals to your heart and mind. One of his couplets proves
this, “Gahre Utarte Hain Mere Alfaaz/
Main Satah Pe Kuchh Nahin Chhodta" (My poetry dives into the
consciousness/ I leave nothing on the surface). By the way, one must read his
book of poetry, Shanasai.
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Jazib Qureshi was born on August 3, 1940
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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://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/jazib-qureshi-poet-attractive-poetry/d/132871
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