Sabz Pedon Ke Saye
Mohammad Hazim Hassan
Al-Huda Publications, New Delhi (India) – 110 002
Year 2014
Pages 230
Rupees 200, Paperback
Reviewed by ASIF ANWAR ALIG
Bard of Avon, great English poet and playwright of the 16th century, William Shakespeare had humble beginning. His zenith of success came over the period and remains unchallenged as none of that calibre has countered him till date. Although he couldn’t study more than early schooling, he became distinct in the English literature once and forever. That in turn transformed him into the persona extraordinaire and a subject of study in literature for centuries.
Several centuries later and thousands of miles apart at Kishanganj in India is Urdu poet Mohammad Hazim Hassan today. Composing verses in similar rustic environment, this peasant poet too couldn’t continue education after 10th grade. His outstanding poetry reflects English litterateur’s impression in thoughts and circumstantial assimilations. The poetic anthology Sabz Pedon Ke Saye (Shadow of Green Plants) embodies virtues of the gifted poet. This collection has poems of all genres such as munajat, naat, ghazal, nazm, qasida and qata’at, et al and covers a wide spectrum of themes.
Themes on the Urdu language, women emancipation and tribute to eminent personalities whom he loves unconditionally and poetic narrations on the religious and social festivals disseminate unity. The taranas composed to devote local educational institutions are thoroughly encouraging.
Famous among the poems included in this collection is Nanhi Kali (The Cherubic) which passionately praise pinnacle of an adolescent beauty. The eternal imaginary feeling of a poet for a young girl whom he glances during a journey is scintillating. Presented several times in local mushairas (poetic concerts) this poem brought applauds for him due to melodious heartfelt recitations. Such poems, including Persian poems, wonderfully inspire today’s generations. The poet observers his society keenly and therefore guides the future generations to praise the Almighty Allah for wealth of comforts offered to them.
Ghaflat mein apne waqt ko youn mat guzarna / Mohtaat rahke zindagi ko khud hi tu sanwarna / Duniya ko rashk aane lage tujh per ek din! / Mehnat se apni zindagi ko youn hi nikhaarna / Majboor hoke ahle-e-jahaan de teri misaal / Duniyaan mein kaam aisaa koi laajawaab kar (Ensure not to waste your time in the ignorance / Carefully attempt to turn your life meaningful / World should feel proud of you someday / Make your life immaculate through hard work / World is bound to appreciate your achievements / Perform ultimate tasks in this world to be remembered).
His poems raise the question why mankind mustn’t forget the true goal of life. We should remember the primary motive of mankind’s creation to prepare for our immortal lives thereafter. Worldly life is a passing journey. Ironically, we give utmost importance to this mortal world and ignore the real life hereafter.
Is aarzi duniyaan mein kiya hai basnaa basaanaa / Aaya houn jahan se hai wahaan lout ke hai jaanaa/ Baatin mein kasaafat ho agar ruh ho gandi!/ Bekaar hai is jism ko mal, mal ke nahaanaa (Why to settle or make settlement in this mortal world / I am aware I have to return from where I came / If inner self is impure then soul would be tainted / It makes no sense to cleanse body with repeated baths).
Poems on national integration, brotherhood and disciplinarian lifestyle are inspirational. They guide mankind to follow the creator of world logically. He gives impeccable message on concerns such as fast changing materialistic relationships in the societies.
Is daur-e-pur-fitan mein kahein kisko Aadmi / Har sakhsh hum se miltaa hai perwardigaar / Ab kiyoun kare kisi kaa koi dil se ehtaraam! / Baghz-o-anaad wa kabr huwa hai sha’ar-e-aam/ Arbaab-e-iqtedaar se hein shikwah sanj log/ Khoun ho raha hai adl kaa, kaisa hai yeh nazaam (To whom I must say humans in such skirmishing times/ Every individual meets me as if God’s incarnations/ Why should anybody respect others by heart now?/ Bigger conflicts are most common trends nowadays/ People are too much anguished against the rulers/ Law gets liquidated, what is this senseless governance).
To project his confidence level and a firm belief in life, this poet advocates:
Yeh sach hai kisi se mein dartaa nahin houn?/ Kisi se bhi nafrat mein kabhi kartaa nahin houn/ Baraai kaa imkaan ho bhi toh kiyounkar ho/ Main had se kabhi bhi guzartaa nahin houn / Main gulshan-e-hayaat mein ek phool to houn / Kal jo bhi haishiyat ho abhi dhool hi toh houn/ Apni khataa pe bhi main pashemaan houn bahut/ Tauba se uske rubaru main maqbool hi toh houn (It is true that I am not afraid of anybody now/ I don’t hate anyone and everyone indeed / Why should I develop the arrogance feeling?/ I always remain in my limits and don’t cross it/ I am one of the flowers of the garden of life/ Not aware of my future position but I am a dust today/ I have that guilty feeling for blunders I have committed/ By confessing before Him I have become popular indeed).
His Urdu and Persian poems are inspirational and give message to coming generations with a caveat as well. Unity in diversity and value of education are a few.
Pahunch sakegi naa baam-e-urooj per har ghiz/ Wah qoum hanthoun mein jiske dawaat naheen (No way will it be possible to reach the zenith of success/ The communities not caring for education or knowledge).
Expressing tribute to sweetness of the Urdu language, he emphasises an ardent message for mankind:
Insaaniat, wafa wa musarrat ki daastaan/ Piyaari zabaan Urdu jahaan, zindagi wahaan/ Shereeni ghol deti hai talkhi mein zeest ki/ Naa ashna ko ashna karti hai yeh zabaan/ Har ek qadam pe khusboo lutati hai beshubha/ Gulha-e-rang, rang hein jismein yeh gulsitaan (Narrating story of humanity, commitments and happiness/ Wherever lovely language of Urdu is there remains liveliness?/ It brings sweetness even in the tougher survival scenarios/ This language makes strangers true advocates of fondness/ It scintillates the pleasant smells on every single step/ Multi-coloured is the garden in which it exists to turn that huge).
The poems also inspire people to maintain disciplinarian lifestyle to ensure none is disheartened:
Aib auroun ke tu talaash naa kar/ Naqs zahir nahin jo phas naa kar/ Tu kisi ko khushi jo de naa sake/ Us ko hargiz kabhi udaas na kar (Don’t try to find out follies in others/ Avoid making secret loopholes public/ If you can’t give happiness to others,/ Then don’t make anybody feel sad).
This book is inspirational for this reviewer as well. In tribute to known and unknown figures, the poet pens a few lines on this reviewer. The passionate tribute with thanksgiving to Almighty Allah in the verses is blessing in disguise for this reviewer.
Allah tune kis tarah se gulshan ko sajaaya/ Asif ke naam se hai jo tumne phool khilaya/ Hai zeenat gulshan mein izafaa ka sabab yeh/ Bhar aise phooloun se chamaan apna khudaya (Almighty Allah how you had decorated this garden/ You bestowed us the flower which is named as Asif/ It’s the reason for further beautification of your garden / Fill this huge garden Allah with similar such flowers).
This ground-breaking poetic collection is foremost addition to literature in Urdu for poetry lovers. Farmer, philosopher and poet, Hazim Hassan has a strong message of human bonding with his prototypical poetry.
[The reviewer is assistant professor and media relations specialist at Saudi Ministry of Education. He worked earlier as an executive producer in ETV Networks; editorial coordinator at Management Development Institute and media specialist at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University. [email protected]]