Poetry of vision, insight and sensibility

By

Amar Nath Wadehra

Mausam by Dr. Mohammad Ayyub Khan Chauhan (Mob. 09781972678)

Sadaf Publications, Malerkotla. Pages: 112. Price: Rs. 300/-

Talash mujhko na kar in udaas galiyon mein;/Nigah-e-dil say zara dekh, tayray paas hoon mayn (Do not look for me in these sad lanes, look through the eyes of your heart, I am near you).

A good poet draws upon his experiences to provide insights into life’s different facets. Actually, it is a complex process, whereby the poet and his readers/audiences share life’s experiences, thus developing a sense of spiritual relationship. Dr. Mohammad Ayub Khan Chauhan is conversant in Islamic studies as much as he has been intimate with the life’s ups and downs. This book, Dr. Chauhan’s first, entitled Mausam, is a collection of shers (Urdu couplets). It not only presents the world with his evaluation of and reactions to the life’s variegated occurrences but also gives a message as to how to face life in all its shades.

Shayari – or Urdu poetry – cannot be learnt through academic courses or even by rote. No ustad can teach you poetry. He can, at best, correct the syntax or give advice on the poetry’s structure and thought, but he certainly cannot trigger off poetry in the bosom of a person. After all, poetry is something that has to come from within. It is a statement of worldview of an individual, whose sensibilities are unique to him. Nobody, can make one sensitive to nature’s beauty or to human plight. It is a God given gift. Dr. Chauhan has been blessed with this divine gift. 

When I sat down to pen a few thoughts on his debut book, I was impressed with its contents. I have concluded that his poetry is a fine example of an ideal mix of vision, foresight, and insight into the present day life. He portrays the deterioration of human life with sensitivity and with the authority of an eyewitness. For example, take this couplet from his book: Koi na koi phitnaa hota hai ab tow zahir;/ Hum roz shehr ka jab akhbaar dekhtey hain. (Now, one or the other mischief is revealed, when we go through a city newspaper daily). And, this couplet portrays the cultural decline: Mehfil mein ban-sanwar kay woh iss tarah say aaye;/ Sharminda ho rahee hai pakeezgee badan ki. (They arrived at the gathering dressed in the manner that puts decency to shame).

But he has written on other aspects of life, too. For example, Zamana tumharay hee peechchay chalega/ zamanay say aagay agar tum chalogay (If you stay ahead of the world, the world will follow you). It indicates the poet’s respect for progressive attitude. The next couplet provides an insight into the poet’s understanding of fate’s inequities, Na socha tha humnay kay aisa bhi hoga,/ khata hum karenge saza tum bharogay (I had never expected that you will have to pay for my sins). He gets reflective on the insensitivity of others and observes, Chhalaknay lageingay yeh nazron kay paiman, kabhi jab hamaari kahanee padhogay (Your eyes will overflow (with tears) when you will read the story of my life). He also displays his understanding of today’s political culture when he states, Humnay bhi jaan lee hai iss daur kee siyasat,/ Jo kehna woh na karna, jo karna woh na kehna (I have become acquainted with the politics of today, say what you don’t want to do and do what you don’t want to talk about).

Indeed, this eminently readable anthology, adds to the slim but growing corpus of 21^st century Urdu poetry. Dr. Chauhan has done a commendable job indeed.