Remembering Habib Jalib
Never had we needed great poets like Jalib (& obviously Faiz) as now. His anniversary on 12th March coincided with ongoing events & for the first time I heard one of the sweetest voices by poet on TV (CNBC) by Mujahid Barelvi (himself a friend of HJ)
His sweet voice along with excellent poetry makes listener move emotionally. His famous poem “Dastoor” stands today as a landmark in the history of Pakistan’s political struggle and became a glowing symbol of protest literature.
Deep jis ka mehlaat hee mein jaley
(A lamp only in palaces lit)
Chand logon kee khushion ko lay kar chaley
(Shed light for a chosen few)
Voh jo savay mein har muslihat kay chaley
(Shade in which one has to fit)
Aisey dastoor ko, subha-e-beynoor ko
(Such rites and lightless dawns)
Main nahin maanta, main nahin jaanta
( I will not accept: I refuse to know.)
His relation to Karachi was related to Daily Imroze. He was very popular in functions & why he shouldn’t be. Living in abject poverty he never compromised on principles & as I watched him on TV I wondered how unlucky we are to miss people like Faiz & Jalib.
Check this excellent “I will live again in a New Era” poem provided by Fawad & Dr. Pervaiz.
Jalib had a painful history of struggle & his poetry reflected his vision and approach to life & he never deviated from his chosen path. His love for humankind, his sympathy for the underdog and his passion for the fellow-beings were reflected in his verses.
Related other : Ten Poems, Urdu Point, Chowk : My encounter with Jalib
Above is from KHUSHWANT SINGH’s article & Its starting is interesting :
“An interesting contrast between Indians and their rulers and Pakistanis and their dictators is the way they treat their creative artists — painters, poets, novelists and thinkers.
In India, successive governments have been liberal in their attitude towards men and women of letters, the public, in general, has not.
It is the other way round in Pakistan: successive rulers have been harsh towards their literary men while the common people have supported them. “
Beautiful post and timely post … Just by luck I was reading his poems yesterday and then on CNBC I caught up with the ending of his melodious recitals of May Nahiin Maanta … !
Like Faiz the soul of his poetry goes deep…!
OT: have you written this urdu text yourself? If yes then which editor did you use?
Beautiful, wonderful post MB.
Nice, heartwarming and interactive with everyday life around us.
very simple and understandable urdu – not like what we were forced to read and write in our school days back in late 70s’.
anyone can please paste in urdu (not roman) what HJ poetry from CNBC.
I have roman version – !
yesterday i also had made a post about his “poetry”.
tinyurl.com/373254
go to urdupoint, you will find his more writings. The particular nazam which you have mentioned in your post reflects the ignorant mentality which worship Musharraf blindly.
CNBC, Barelvi presented a wonderful program for Habib Jalib.
The tragedy with HJ is that he was listen for pleasure, used as a symbol but his thought was never practiced.
Can any one believe that the highest reader ship of HJ poetry is by relegious minded people, I personally listen poetry of HJ as songs (taranay) of relegious parties, I think they can realize the value of ‘Ideology’ rather than liberals or socialists who claim but never practice. Now so called liberals / enlightened are one side & relegious people are chanting
deep jis mahallaat hee meN jalay
chand logoN ki khushyoN ko le ker chalay
woh jo saaye meN her maslihat ke palay
aise dastoor ko subh-e-benoor ko
meN nahiN manta meN nahiN maanta
meN bhi khaaif nahiN takhta-e-daar se
meN bhi mansoor huN keh do aghyaar se
kyuN daraatay ho zindaaN ki deevaar se
zulm ki baat ko johl ki raat ko
meN nahiN maanta meN nahiN manta
phool shakhon pe khilne lagay tum kaho
jaam rindoN ko milne lagay tum kaho
chaak seenoN ke silne lagay tum kaho
is khulay jhoot ko zahn ki loot ko
meN nahin maanta men nahiN maanta
tum ne loota he sadyon hamara sukooN
ab na hum per chale ga tumhara fasooN
charagar meN tumheN kis tarah se kahooN
tum nahiN charagar koi maane magar
meN nahiN maanta meN nahiN maanta
(Thanks for provideding link)
How relevant :
Endangered are the idle rich, bursting with cash
Crumbling walls about to crash
All the centuries’ mish-mash
Islam is not in danger
Why do a few clans all the land rights enjoy
And those, who revere the Prophet, are bereft of joy