Dreams

Dreams

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Awaara                          

Awaara first caught my fancy at a time, when I could relate to the emotions of being a lost soul from a small town to a big city, a city of glitter. Awaara became so evocative of grief, sorrow and the loneliness which was hurled by the city on me. This brilliant nazm although written for a love lost also depicts the aimlessness of youth in a new city, amongst new faces searching for a foothold to root in.

This Nazm is by Asrar-ul haque Majaz also known as the John Keats of Urdu poetry. He was a poet of love and revolution, but he preferred to write mostly on love.

By genre, he can be classified as a poet of Nazm. This is his most famous one which is considered one of the best Urdu Nazm ever written.

And if anyone could do justice to this beautiful nazm is the mystical voice of Jagjit Singh conjuring up the magic and the evocative feelings of these emotions.


My heart pops out every time I meander through these words ……….

Shaher ki raat aur main, naashaad-o-naakaara phiroon
Jagmagaati-jaagati, sadko Pe awaara phiroon
Ghair ki basti nain kab tak, dar-ba-dar maara phiroon
Aye Gham-E-Dil Kya Karoo, Aye Vahshat-E-Dil Kya Karoon
...?

Majaz would have aimlessly walked around these streets -, turning
Wherever the heart pleased, in an unfamiliar city of lights and
lonely lanes, his sole companion was - a heart overwhelmed with
unbearable grief.

For the metropolis called Mumbai, Marine Drive was The Queen's
Necklace. For Majaz it was a sharp, gilt-edged sword which
pierced his heart:

Jhilmilaate Kumkumon ki Raah Mein zanjeer-see
Raat Ke Haatho Mein Din Ki mohini Tasveer-See
Mere Seene Par Magar Dehki Huee Shamsheer-see
Aye Gham-E-Dil Kya Karoo, Aye Vahshat-E-Dil Kya Karoon
?

The night would smile and the house of wine would beckon Majaz.
And later he would even get seduced by the charms of some faceless,
nameless beauty. And then, there were times when none of that would be
possible ... Majaz would then drift to some isolated place.

Raat Has Has Ke Yeh Kahti Hain Ki Maikhaane Mein Chal
Phir Kisi Shahnaaz-E-Lala-Rukh Ke Kashane Mein Chal
Yeh Nahi Mumkin To Phir Aye Dost, Veerane Mein Chal
Aye Gham-E-Dil Kya Karoo, Aye Vahshat-E-Dil Kya Karoon
?
Another glittering Mumbai evening ….The Taj Mahal Hotel.. and the moon rising behind it.

Majaz saw the moon differently, for him..

the moon was a Mulla's pagdi
a grocer's account book
the youth of a destitute
and the charms of a widow
All pale. All dull!

Ek Mahal Ki Aad Se Nikla Woh Peela Mahtab
Jaise Mulla Ka Amama, Jaise Baniye Ki Kitaab
Jaise Mufliss Ki Jawani, Jaise Bewa Ka Shabab
Aye Gham-E-Dil Kya Karoo, Aye Vahshat-E-Dil Kya Karoon?

Yeh Rupahli Chhav, Yeh Aakash Par Taaron ka Jaal
Jaise Sufi Ka Tasavvur, Jaise Aashiq Ka Khayal
Aah Lekin Kaun Samjhe, Kaun Jaane Jee Ka Haal
Aye Gham-E-Dil Kya Karoo, Aye Vahshat-E-Dil Kya Karoon
?

And then Majaz expressed the very quintessence of all hislife and persona ...

In lines which almost shriek with helplessness ...

Raaste Mein Ruk ke Dum Loo, Yeh Meri Aadat Nahi
Lautkar Vaapas Chala Jaoo, Yeh Meri Fitrat Nahi
Aur Koi Humnawa Mil Jaaye, Yeh Kismat Nahi
Aye Gham-E-Dil Kya Karoo, Aye Vahshat-E-Dil Kya Karoon?
For me to take a breather ... that is not my habit.
To retrace my steps ... that is not my nature.
To get a companion or a co-traveler ... that is not my destiny


Aye Gham-E-Dil Kya Karoo, Aye Vahshat-E-Dil Kya Karoon?




Reference:The illustration of Awara by Majaz  is taken from sadequainfoundation and various inputs and translations from internet.