Ali Sardar Jafri's Cementing Poetry

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 1 August 2023 "You needn't be academically inclined to write fine poetry but if you're academically sound, your poetry will reflect that aspect of your personality." Reynold A Nicholson to his student, Dr Muhammad Iqbal Ali Sardar Jafri ------ Academically sound Iqbal's poetry underlines this facet of his magnificent persona. The same can be said about the great Ali Sardar Jafri, whose death anniversary falls on August 1. Though expelled from AMU for his Communist ideology (he later completed his Graduation from Zakir Husain College) and also from Lucknow University, while pursuing M A, Jafri's entire oeuvre reflects his erudition and academic bent of mind. A coeval of Pakistan's legendary Urdu poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ali Sardar Jafri also upheld the loftiest human values like equality, humanity and universality in his poetry. Though Jafri wrote prolifically, you don't come across religiously surcharged poems, Nazms, Ghazals and couplets in his corpus of works. This couplet of Jafri underlines his religious viewpoint: Ye Mai-Kada Hai, Yahan Gunaah Hain Jaam-Ba-Dast Vo Madrasa Hai, Vo Masjid, Wahan Milega Savaab. Or Iss Duniya Mein Dikha Dein Tumhein Jannat Ki Bahaar Shaikh Ji Tum Bhi Zara Koo-E-Butaan Tak Aao Throughout his life, Jafri talked only about peace and non-violence. Religion never figured in his scheme of poetry: Amn Ki Baat Karta Hoon, Mujhe Mazhab Se Nahin Koi Sarokaar Mulla-Maulviyon Se Karo Baat Deen Ki, Unhein Hai Is Ki Darkaar (I speak only of peace, I've nothing to do with religion/ Talk to clerics regarding faith, they're in need of it). So zealous was he in mending the relations between India and Pakistan that Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee carried Jafri's last anthology Sarhad on his bus journey to Lahore in 1999. Atal Bihari Vajpayee made history when he presented Sarhad, as a national gift, to the then prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, during the historic Lahore Summit, 20–21 February 1999. It was also a milestone in Jafri's life. Sarhadein Kheench Deti Hain Had Ki Lakeerein Darmyaan-E-Mumalik Iss Lakshman Rekha Ko Mita Do Jafri served all genres of poetry and also wrote lyrics for films like Dharti ke Laal (1946) and Pardesi (1957). He also produced a film, 'Gyarah Hazaar Ladkiyaan' (1962). K. A. Abbas directed the movie. The film was co-produced by the poet Ali Sardar Jafri, who also helped co-write the story with Abbas. Produced under the Film Friends banner, it had music by Datta Naik (famous as N Datta). The movie had some of the most beautiful songs sung by Rafi, "Dil Ki Tamanna Thi Masti Mein Manzil Se Bhi Door Nikalte" and "Mere Mahboob Mere Saath Hi Chalna Hai Tujhe" are still popular, albeit only among the connoisseurs and those having ears for exquisite music and poetry. Jafri's motivational poetry still enthuses all those who feel demoralized in their life's journey. One of his immortal quatrains never fails to galvanize those who're about to give up: Sirf Ek Mit-Ti Hui Duniya Ka Nazara Na Kar Aalam-e-Takhleeq Mein Hai Ek Jahan Ye Bhi Toh Dekh Maine Maana Marhale Hain Sakht, Raahein Hain Daraaz Mil Gaya Hai Apni Manzil Ka Nishaan Ye Bhi Toh Dekh (Just don't look at one fading world/ Look at another world under creation/ Agreed, halts are tough and paths, long and wide open/ Don't forget that the signs of your destination are also visible). Let's perpetuate the exalted spirit enshrined in Ali Sardar Jafri's cementing poetry and profess peace and bonhomie more than god and religion, two most divisive and diabolical words at the moment. ---- 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/islamic-personalities/ali-sardar-jafri-poetry/d/130344 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