Dr Zareena Sani – The Forgotten Urdu Poetess

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam

5 July 2024

Main Toot Jaaongi Lekin Na Jhuk Sakoongi Kabhi

Majaal Hai Kisi Paikar Mein Dhaal De Mujh Ko

(I'll be broken but never will I bow down/ You dare not lend a shape to my existence)

Zindagi Taveel Thi Lekin

Maut Ke Intazaar Mein Guzri

(Though life was long, it went by awaiting death)

Sat.H-E-Shaoor Par Hai Mere Shor Iss Qadar

Ab Naghma-e-Zameer Sunai Ne De Mujhe

(There's so much chaos on the surface of my consciousness/ I can't listen to the voice of my conscience)

Mil Jaaye Toh Rog Hai Duniya

Mil Na Sake Toh Man Lalchaye

(World is a nuisance if you get it / Yet, you crave until you get it)

Dr Zareena Sani

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I can bet, even connoisseurs of Urdu poetry will not be able to guess who wrote the abovementioned couplets, gleaned from a remarkable poet's various Ghazals. Well, Nagpur-born Zareena Sani (real name, Zareena Fatimi) wrote these pithy couplets. She would have turned 88 on July 5 but she breathed her last long ago at the age of 45.

Years ago, I stumbled upon a book 'Aaina-e-Ghazal. ‘Dr Zareena Sani and Dr Vinay Waekar from Nagpur co-authored the book. It was in Devanagari script. Not being at home with Devanagari script at that time, I enquired whether it was available in Urdu script. Though I never got the book in Urdu script, I got interested in Dr Zareena Sani's poetry. She was a very educated woman who taught Urdu at a reputable college in Nagpur. Though her command of Urdu was exceptional, she chose to write in simple language and carefully avoided ornate Urdu.

I've observed a common trend, or say a trait, among women writing poetry in any language. Unlike their male counterparts, women express themselves in a plain but effective language. Their poetry is often wilfully bereft of linguistic gymnastics. Whether it's the poetry of Praveen Shakir, Fahmida Riaz, Ada Jafri, Kishwar Naheed, Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson, Mahadevi Verma or even the ancient Greek poetess Sappho, women write from the recesses of their hearts and aren't bothered about the linguistic subtleties and nuances.

Dr Zareena Sani was also a poetess who believed more in conveying her emotions effectively in plain Urdu instead of resorting to flowery and figurative language. She once said, "Alfaaz Ki Kashti Mein Nahin Aata Tairna Mujhe / Main Toh Sirf Lafzon Ka Pul Banati Hoon" (I don't float on the boat of words/ I just build bridges of words). I chanced upon this couplet in an old Pakistani Urdu daily as Dr Sani wrote for several Pakistani and British Urdu publications.

In addition to poetry, she wrote several short stories, including "Qusuur Apna Nikal Aaya", ‘Baadal Tere Sitam Ka’, ‘Aurat Ki Khud-daari’, ‘Khayal Apna Apna’, ‘Mujrim-e-Zamir’, ‘Ek Kiran Ujale Ki’, and ‘PhaaTak.’  She was quite prolific. "Qalam Ki Roshnai Sookhne Na Paaye/ Jab Tak Do Jumle Na Likhun, Neend Na Aaye" (The ink of my pen mustn't get dried up/ I can't sleep unless I write a couple of lines).

Dr Zareena's poetry has a fragrance of honesty and candour. Her simple but thought-stirring Ghazals and Nazms caress your heart and mind. They make you feel happy and blessed from within.

In these chaotic times, her poetry is a catalyst for a change in outlook and attitude. By the way, you must read her nazm 'Zindagi': "Itr-O-Kaafoor Ki Khushbuon Mein Basa/ Ek Maghmoom Jhonka Hava Ka Badha...." It's simply exquisite. 

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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/zareena-sani-urdu-poetess/d/132637

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