Kashmiri Brahmin Anand Narayan Mullah: A Judge Who Wrote Poetry

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 25 October 2022 Lab Pe Naġhma Aur Ruḳh Par Ik Tabassum Kī Naqāb Apne Dil Kā Dard Ab 'Mullā' Ko Kahnā Aa Gayā (A song on the lips and a veneer of smile on the face/ Now 'Mulla' has learnt to convey the pain and angst hidden in his heart) “A judge is often a matter-of-fact person. So, it's rather surprising, when a judge writes poetry. And when he or she writes it so well like Justice Anand Narayan Mulla, it's an icing on the cake, “wrote Justice Javed Iqbal, son of Muhammad Iqbal, in The Dawn, Pakistan, on the occasion of Anand Narayan Mulla's 100th birth anniversary on October 24, 2001. Sar-e Mehshar Yehi Puchunga Khuda Se Pehle, Toone Roka Bhi Tha Bande Ko Khata Se Pehle Woh Kaun Hain Jinhein Tauba Ki Mil Gai Fursat, Humein Gunaah Bhi Karne Ko Zindagi Kam Hai Pandit Anand Narain Mulla (24th October 1901 – 12th June 1997) ----- Lucknow-born Kashmiri Brahmin Anand Narayan Mullah would always say, " Zabanein Do Qism Ki Hoti Hain: Bolchaal Ki Zabaan Aur Tasavvur Ki Zabaan” (Languages are of two types: One for conversation and special one for thinking). Urdu was his thinking language. The conducive literary spirit of Lucknow, Tameez, Tahzeeb Aur Tamaddun Ka Shahar, acted as a catalyst to catapult him to the firmament of Urdu adab. At a tender age, he penned quite a profound couplet, “Hai Maqaam-E-Junoon Se Hosh Ki Raah/Sab Ko Ye Rahguzar Nahin Milti “(The path of sanity and awareness branches out of extremity and state of frenzy/All ain't so fortunate to tread on this road). He later incorporated this couplet in his famous Ghazal, “Dil Ki Dil Ko Khabar Nahin Milti/ Jab Nazar Se Nazar Nahin Milti.” As a judge of Allahabad High Court, he'd often meet the maverick Firaq Gorakhpuri, who was teaching English at Allahabad University. Firaq once commented upon Anand Narayan Mulla: Ek Aadil Judge Jo Apne Dil Ki Sunta Hai (A righteous judge who listens to his conscience). Mulla indeed listened to his conscience and, therefore could write such a poignant couplet, "Josh-E-Taqseem Vaarison Ka Na Poochh/ Zid Ye Hai Ke Maa(N) Ki Laash Kat Ke Bantegi " (Don't ask the inheritors' over zeal for partition/ They insist that the dead-body of mother will be partitioned). This he wrote as an aftermath of Partition. He didn't live in the ivory tower of a lotus-eating poet. As a judge, Mulla is known for his prison amendments. He once famously said, “There is not a single lawless group in the whole of the country whose record of crime comes anywhere near the record of that organised unit which is known as the Indian Police Force.” So chillingly true! He had a fine sense of humour and would often quip, “Mera Naam Anand Narayan Mulla Hai Lekin Main Kathmullah Nahin Hoon” (Though my name is Anand Narayan Mulla, I'm not a hard-core, Mullah or Muslim cleric). He indeed wasn't. That's why he could write so trenchantly, “Tanz Kasta Hoon Mazhab Par, Kaam Aati Nahin Tanqeed Jab “(I mock at religion when criticism doesn't work). Those over-intelligent people, inebriated by their Allah/god/Qura'an and all that jazz must ponder over this couplet of Anand Narayan Mulla in these religiously volatile times and understand that religion, any damn faith for that matter, needs to be ridiculed and scoffed at. Religion doesn't need the sugar-coated language of politically correct criticism. ----- 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 world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/kashmiri-brahmin-mullah-judge-poetry/d/128257 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism