Sahir Ludhianvi: Remembering A Radical Poet-Lyricist

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 25 October 2024 Sahir Ludhianvi's sister Anwar Sultana narrated that when the foundation of Sahir's house PARCHHAIYAAN (at Versova, Bombay) was laid, Maa ji (his mother), according to old ritual, asked for a Qurbaani (Goat's blood) to be done to mark the auspicious beginning. Sahir was totally against it. Though he never disobeyed his mother's wishes, he was against bloodshed in the name of religion for such a cause. He did not allow it. Sahir Ludhianvi shuffled off this mortal coil on October 25, 1980. ----- Sahir, whose death anniversary falls on October 25, was a complete non-believer. Seeing the unprecedented bloodshed during the mayhem of the Partition, he asked poetically, "Mera Ilhaad Toh Khair Ek Laanat Tha So Hai Ab Tak/ Magar Iss Aalam-E-Vahshat Mein Iimanon Pe Kya Guzari" (My atheism was a lamentation which persists forever/ But what befell on those who believed in you?). Yeh Paap Hai Kyaa, Yeh Punya Hai Kya? Reeton Par Dharam Ki Mohrein Hain, Har Yug Mein Badaltay Dharamon Ko Kaisay Aadarsh Banaaogay (Sansaar Se Bhaage Phirte Ho, Bhagwan Ko Tum Kya Paoge, Film: Chitralekha, 1964) (What's sin and what's virtue/ Rituals have the sanction of religions/ How can ever-changing faiths be your ideals and reference points?) Sahir was always against all the flimsy faiths concocted by humans. He was also against all sorts of rituals: Aqaayad Vaham Hain, Mazhab Khayal-e-Khaam Hai, Saaqi/ Azal Se Zehan-E-Insaan Basta-E-Auhaam Hai, Saaqi (The rituals are illusions, faith is a meaningless thought/ Right from the beginning of human civilization, the mind of humans has been a bag of garbage) Insaan Ulat Raha Hai Rukh e Zeest se Naqaab Mazhab Ke Ehtemaam e fusoon Parvari ki Khair. (Now man unveils the true face of life, Beware you, who proliferate the magic of religion) But Sahir wasn't a mere critic of religion and god. He was a Qanaaf (Persian for a poet who also provides solutions). Listen to his immortal song Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalman Banega/ Insaan Ki Aulaad Hai Insaan Banega (Film: Dhool Ka Phool, sung by Rafi, music: Dutta Naik, 1959). In this song, he envisaged a New Man who would be unshackled by all religions, gods, scriptures and esoteric beliefs: Acchha Hai Abhi Tak Tera Kuchh Naam Nahin Hai/ Tujh Ko Kisi Mazhab Se Koi Kaam Nahin Hai (It's good that you still don't have a name/ Nor are you associated with any faith). "Jannat, Jis Ka Kahin Koi Vajood Nahin/ Zindagi Guzaar Dee Ek Khwaab Ke Sahare " (Paradise has no existence anywhere/ Yet, life was spent believing in a dream). Imagine, he was so advanced and emancipated in his thinking years ago. Yet, 'educated' believers in the age of social media are so fanatic, indoctrinated and religiously regressive. This is indeed an irony. Lastly, though Sahir was entombed as a Muslim, he wanted his body to be donated to a medical college without performing any obsequies as he never called himself a Muslim. But the concept of giving away the whole body to a medical college was quite radical way back in 1980. It's still. So, he was given an Islamic burial at Juhu Muslim Cemetery in Bombay. A former librarian of Lahore University, who was a close friend of Sahir, told me this. Javed Akhtar, yet another avowed atheist and Sahir's friend, should have taken the initiative and donated Sahir's body to a medical college as per the poet's last wish. Javed was present at the cemetery to bid adieu to his senior friend. ----- 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://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/sahir-ludhianvi-radical-poet-lyricist/d/133539 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