Sajjad Baqar Rizvi: A Self-Effacing Lecturer-Poet-Critic
By Sumit Paul, New Age
Islam
13 August
2024
Years ago,
while struggling to understand Benedict Spinoza's philosophy and ideas on god
in English and Dutch as I was weak at both the tongues, a friendly Muslim
professor in England gave me a booklet in Urdu that explained Spinoza's
philosophy in a simple language. It was written by Sajjad Baqar Rizvi. Born in
1928 at Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, Sajjad Baqar Rizvi did his school and college
from Allahabad before migrating to Pakistan in October 1947.
Sajjad
started his career from Islamia College as lecturer in English and later joined
Oriental College Lahore as a lecturer in Urdu. His important publications
include Taisha-i-Lafz and Joo-I-Maani (Poetry Collection), Tahzeeb-O-Takhleeq, Maghrib Kay Tanqeedi
Usool, Vazahatain, Maroozat, Batein and
Classiki Urdu Shairi Mein
Tanz-O-Mazah (Literary criticism), Jadeed
Ameriki Novel Nigar, Dastan-I-Mughliya, Uftadgan-I-Khak, Hazrat Bilal, Badalti
Duniya Kay Taqazey and Spinoza (Translations). He died on August 13, 1993.
I must
thank Rekhta for introducing this
poet to the lovers of Urdu poetry. Yet, many couplets and nearly 20-odd Ghazals written by Sajjad Rizvi are
either lost forever or unavailable on all platforms.
I also
never found any reference to his friendship with Faheem Nagpuri, who died at
Nagpur Railway station unsung and unclaimed. By the way, Faheem wrote a Ghazal, Ae Meri Jaane-Tamanna, Meri Jaane-Ghazal/ Log Toofaan Utha Denge Mere
Saath Na Chal sung by Rafi as a non-filmi Ghazal. It's also unavailable.
If anyone
has ever listened to this Ghazal,
please let me know. Coming back to Sajjad Rizvi and his Urdu poetry, one must
say that he was a very perceptive poet who could write with a sense of
justifiable pride, "Humare Dam Se
Hai Raushan Dayaar-E-Fikr-o-Sukhan/ Humare Baad Ye Galiyaan Dhuaan-Dhuaan
Hongi" (The province of thinking and poetry is enriched because of
people like us/ Alleys will be smoky after we're no more).
This
reminds me of Ahmednagar's forgotten poet Salaam Ahmednagri's famous couplet,
"Humeen Hain Jo Raat Ke Kashkol
Mein/ Roshni Ki Bheek Daale Jayenge" (We'll continue to pour the alms
of light into the bowl of nightly darkness).
A Pakistani
Urdu writer Ratan Munshi wrote Sajjad Rizvi had a string of heartbreaks. So,
his early poetry had elements of doubts in love. He quoted Rizvi's couplet,
"Jab Bhi Koi Muskurata Hai Dekh Ke
Mujhe/ Yaqeen Karna Mushkil Ho Jaata Hai Mere Liye" (Whenever someone
looks at me and smiles/ It becomes difficult for me to believe) or this one,
" Zindagi Ne Jul Pe Jul Diye/ Meri
Jaan Ab Tu Bhi De " (Life has deceived me so often/ Now it's your turn
to deceive me). Sajjad Rizvi was perhaps the only critic who profusely resorted
to Urdu couplets written by the masters to ram home his point. "Jyon Asha'ar Maine Ustaadon Ke Chune/ Kabhi Koi
Sher Mere Bhi Yoon Hi Chunega" (The way I picked the couplets of old
masters/ One day, someone will pick my couplets as well). Yes, there's no
doubting that one day, your couplets will also be cherry-picked by the future
poets, critics, writers and scholars to drive home their points.
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Sajjad Baqar Rizvi left the world on August 13.
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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/sajjad-baqar-rizvi-lecturer-poet-critic/d/132927