Mohsin Zaidi: A Bureaucrat-Poet Par Excellence
By Sumit Paul, New Age
Islam
10 July
2024
Mohsin Zaidi Was Born On July 10, 1935
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Jaan Kar Chup Hain Vagarna Hum Bhi
Baat Karne Ka Hunar Jaante Hain
Mohsin Zaidi
(I keep mum
intentionally, otherwise I also know the art of conversation)
Ye Zulm Dekhiye Ki Gharon Mein Lagi Hai Aag
Aur Hukm Hai Ki Makeen Nikal Kar Na Ghar Se
Aaein
Mohsin Zaidi
(What a
torture! Houses are burning but the inmates have been ordered to stay home)
Libaas Badle Nahin Humne Mausamon Ki Tarah
Ki Zeb-E-Tan Jo Kiya Ek Hi Labada Kiya
(I've not
changed apparels like the seasons / One set of clothes embellished my body)
Har Shakhs Yahan Gumbad-E-Be-Dar Ki Tarah Hai
Aavaaz Pe Aavaaz Do Sunta Nahin Koi
(Every
individual is like a dome sans pillars / Despite calling repeatedly, no one
responds)
Agar Chaman Ka Koi Dar Khula Bhi Mere Liya
Samoom Ban Gayee Baad-E-Saba Bhi Mere Liye
(If any
door of the garden ever opened for me / Zephyr turned into a hot wind for me)
The
aforementioned couplets from the quill of Mohsin Zaidi underline the individual
and existential realities of life.
Mohsin Zaidi
------
Mentored by
none other than Raghupati Sahay 'Firaq' Gorakhpuri, Mohsin was a progressive
poet who didn't dwell too much on feminine effulgence and corporeal
pulchritude. Nor did he wail in self-pity over union and separation. Mohsin
wrote in his book of poetry, Mata-e-Aakhri
Shab, "Abhi Auron Ke Aansoo
Ponchhne Hain / Mere Ashk Toh Aasteen Ponchh Dete Hain" (I've to wipe
out tears of others / My tears are wiped out by my sleeves). Mohsin Zaidi wrote
in simple and unadorned language.
Pakistani
critic Faisal Rashid wrote about Mohsin's poetry, "Un Ki Shayari Mein Husn-E-Bewa Ki Sanjeedgi Hai" (His
poetry has the seriousness of a widow's beauty), though I've always believed
that Rashid's statement, rather analogy, is open to a plethora of
interpretations because of its ambiguity as well as sexist tone.
Mohsin
Zaidi's poetry had a freshness of thought, intense feelings, and dexterity of
expression. Mohsin wrote at a pretty young age, "Go Gul-O-Ghuncha-E-Firdaus Dekha Nahin Maine / Ek Gul Apni Jaanib Se
Khila Diya Maine" (Though I've not seen the flowers and buds of
Paradise / I've blossomed one flower from my end). Mohsin indeed bloomed
flowers of his refined poetry and employed novel figures of speech. Though
unembellished, his poetry is aesthetically beautiful and creatively meaningful.
As an
economist, he was economical with (lush) words and as a bureaucrat, his poetry
had a streak and stamp of palpable dignity and decorum. Yet, he humbly wrote in
his book of poetry, ' Baab-e-Sukhan':
Yahi Haasil Kiya Le-De Kar / Shayari Likhi
Mahaul Ka Dard Samajh Kar (It's precious little that I've achieved / I've
penned poetry having empathised with the ethos and pathos of my surroundings).
No, Mohsin Saheb.
You achieved a lot as a poet and bureaucrat. My salutations to him.
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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/mohsin-zaidi-bureaucrat-poet/d/132668
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