Khalid Ahmad: A Silent Poet Whose Quill Was Eloquent

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam

5 June 2024

Kya Tum Bhi Galiyon Mein Ghar Ki Vus'at Paate Ho

Tum Ko Ghar Se Baahar Rahna Kaisa Lagta Hai

Khalid Ahmad

(Do you also find the vast expanse of home in the narrow alleys? / How do you find living away from home?) 

Khalid Ahmad was born on June 5

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 A few years ago in Glasgow, I was conversing with an elderly Muslim friend of mine who hailed from Rahim Yar Khan in Pakistan's Punjab Province. He asked me, “Aap Ne Khalid Ahmad Ki Shayari Padhi Hai?” A little embarrassed, I said, "Maaf Keejiye, Naam Hi Pahli Martaba Suna Hai.”

I decided to know more about Khalid Ahmad and visited Pakistan. He was a newspaper columnist at the Urdu daily Nawa-e-Waqt in Lahore. Apart from writing his regular column Lamha Lamha, he also wrote beautiful poetry. I flipped through the book Jadeed Tar Pakistani Adab and it dawned on me that three very famous couplets that I read years ago and also quoted quite often, were written by Khalid Ahmad-

Tark-e-Ta'alluqaat Pe Roya Na Tu Na Main

Lekin Ye Kya Ki Chain Se Soya Na Tu Na Main

(We both didn't cry when we parted ways/ How come we didn't sleep peacefully after that?)

Woh Gali Hum Se Chhoot-Ti Hi Nahin

Kya Karein Aas Toot-Ti Hi Nahin

(Much as I'd like to avoid, I can't leave her lane/ What should I do, a semblance of hope still remains)

And this one, which's so profound:

Phool Se Baas Juda, Fikra Se Ehsaas Juda

Fard Se Toot Gaye Fard, Qabeele Na Rahe

(Fragrance is separated from the flower, feelings are divorced from thoughts/ Individual is alienated from the individual, there are no communities). Humans are living like islands. There're no groups, no communities. In these times of social media and several platforms like FB, WhatsApp, Instagram, X and what not, we may belong to a number of virtual and fake WhatsApp groups but there's no bonhomie or real closeness. It's all so artificial as well as superficial. This reminds me of Rafi's immortal song, Hai Re Insaan Ki Majbooriyaan, Paas Rah Kar Bhi Hain Kitni Dooriyan (Film: Ghoonghat, Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni, Composer: Ravi Shankar Sharma, 1960).

One of his famous ghazals makes you think deeply: Socho Toh Kuchh Na Samjho, Samjho Toh Kuchh Na Bolo/ Phir Chup Ka Husn Dekho, Bekaar Lab Na Kholo. His one more famous Ghazal is: Haal Hava Jab Poochhne Aayee Hum Majbooron Se. Though Khalid's poetry is a trifle autobiographical, it's not personal. His entire oeuvre is a quintessence of T S Eliot's objective co-relativity. Urdu critic Naseem Suhrawardi wrote about Khalid's craftsmanship, “Ek Khaamosh Shayar Jis Ki Qalam Bolti Thi" (A silent poet whose quill was eloquent). His pen was indeed eloquent. Khalid's poetry should be read more.

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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/khalid-ahmad-poet-quill-eloquent/d/132446

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