Bashir Badr In Times Of Hatred - Extreme Hatred Has Corroded Human Existence
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
15 February
2024
Today
(February 15) is the 89th birth anniversary of arguably the greatest living
Urdu poet Bashir Badr. The prolific Bashir Saheb has written so much that his
creative fecundity reminds me of British poet Sir Stephen Spender's famous
line: "Running on the reams of papers, blunted have become the nibs of my
pens." Yet, his creativity is still intact and his poetry is verdant
forever.
Lovelorn
hearts may quote many of Bashir's couplets and Ghazals but for those who value
serious poetry, a lot is there to mull over. For example, the following few
couplets underline the versatility and sensitivity of Bashir Saheb:
Isi Liye
Toh Yahan Ab Bhi Ajnabi Hoon Main
Tamaam
Log Farishte Hain, Aadmi Hoon Main
(That's
why, I'm still an outsider here/ All are ' angels,' only a human am I)
The subtle
sarcasm adds to the beauty and quaintness of this couplet. Yes, all are
self-styled pious souls with sobriquets and epithets like Vishwa Guru, His
Holiness, Janata Ka Sevak. Alas, no one calls himself / herself a mere
human because a human is devoid of all pretensions. But today, people are
brim-full with all sorts of pretensions. We project ourselves as piety
personified. But are we?
Saat
Sandooqon Mein Bhar Kar Dafn Kar Do Nafratein
Aaj
Insaan Ko Muhabbat Ki Zaroorat Hai Bahut
(Bury all
this hatred in seven boxes/ What humans need the most is love at the moment)
Extreme hatred
has corroded human existence. For how long can humans live with hatred and
bitterness? There must be an end to it. Bashir Saheb's couplet reminds me of Jagannath
Azad's Sher, "Dafn Karo Ab Mazahib-o-Talkhiyon Ko/ Muhabbat
Shart-E-Awwal Hai Wajood-e-Insaan Ki" (Bury all faiths and bitterness/
Love is the cardinal condition of human existence).
Or that
immortal,
Dushmani
Ka Safar Ik Qadam, Do Qadam
Tum Bhi
Thak Jaaoge, Hum Bhi Thak Jayenge
(The
journey of hatred is only for a few steps/ Eventually, we both will be
exhausted)
Yes,
animosity cannot last forever/ Both will be exhausted soon.
British PM
Clement Attlee wrote to M K Gandhi, " Mr Gandhi, you're right. Enmity is
never everlasting. It has its age and then its intensity starts petering out to
fade away in the end."
This one
takes the cake:
Gharon
Pe Naam Thay, Naamon Ke Saath Ohde Thay
Bahut
Talash Kiya, Koi Aadmi Na Mila
(Inscribed
were names on the houses along with the designations/ I searched a lot, alas,
there was no human). Yes, we're all living and moving labels. We emblazon our
identities on our chests and foreheads. None, calls himself a human. In fact,
people will look at you quizzically if you say that you're a human, not a Hindu
or a Muslim; not an Indian or a Scandinavian; not of this caste or that caste
and not of this country or that country. You're a global citizen.
On a
different note, when it comes to admiring a damsel, Bashir is peerless:
Uss Ki
Aankhon Ko Ghaur Se Dekho
Mandiron
Mein Chiragh Jalte Hain
(Look at
her limpid eyes closely/ They're like lamps in a temple)
For all
those, who're in love, want to propose or admire feminine beauty, must quote
this couplet of Bashir Badr, It'll not let them down in their 'mission' for, no
lass will take umbrage!
Long live
Bashir Saheb. Keep writing and enthralling your countless admirers across the
globe.
------
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://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/bashir-badr-hatred-corroded-human-existence/d/131720