Topical today as it was in those days
Poetry of secession
http://www.thefridaytimes.com/beta2/tft/article.php?issue=20110909&page=26
The Army’s invasion of East Pakistan was a tragic chapter in Pakistan’s history. Almost all the poets in West Pakistan at the time were busy writing war songs. But Jalib Sahib not only wrote poems against the Army assault but also went to jail as a consequence. According to Jalib Sahib, all of the Punjab called him a traitor, but to top it all, his father, while visiting him in the jail, told him that Yahya Khan was a mujahid-e-millat and that he should support him!
Jalib’s father, while visiting him in the jail, told him that Yahya Khan was a mujahid-e-millat and that he should support him!
Jalib’s following four-liner about the army invasion became quite popular:
They say I don’t have any love for the homeland
And are using machine guns to teach me the love
I can’t call oppression a blessing, a fool that I am,
And that’s the title they have given me.
When Jalib Sahib would read out ‘the garden is gory’, his eyes as well as of those listening would well up with tears:
My eyes are thirsty for greenery, but the garden is gory
Whom shall I sing songs of love for - the cities are in ruin
The garden is gory
Sunshine stings me and moonlight sears my soul
Shadows of death on every street; life is breathing death
Air all around is carrying a bow and an arrow
The garden is gory
Battered are breasts of flower buds, petals are covered in blood
And who knows how long the rain of tears shall last?
O people of the world, when will the days and nights of gloom end?
The brave sons of the soil are playing holi with blood
The garden is gory
It is a historical fact that Jalib Sahib belonged to the Punjab but remained associated with a political party that basically represented the Pakhtun and the Baloch. His poem about Balochistan, called “Wake up my Punjab, we are losing Pakistan”, became quite popular:
Wake up my Punjab, we are losing Pakistan
All our dreams are shattering, we are losing Pakistan
Sindh, Balochistan have been wailing for long
But the people of Punjab are still asleep
My eyes are in tears 'cause we are losing Pakistan
Wake up my Punjab, we are losing Pakistan
Those wary of castes are not going to listen
They have pointed guns at helpless people
Our guards are our murderers, so we are losing Pakistan
Wake up my Punjab, we are losing Pakistan
It’s raining fire and the garden is all smoke
And the smell of Jasmine has left the streets
Roses are a thing of dreams as we are losing Pakistan
Wake up my Punjab, we are losing Pakistan
The brave boast of winning soon
And I count the days of gloom
Wine is poison now that we are losing Pakistan
Wake up my Punjab, we are losing Pakistan
Ghazals are full of sorrow and stories are wailing
Ruins are spread as far as one can see
Rivers are reduced to a mirage as we are losing Pakistan
Wake up my Punjab, we are losing Pakistan
This is the attitude that cost us Bengal
And don’t ask how my heart suffered that loss
Stop this flood before we lose Pakistan
Wake up my Punjab, we are losing Pakistan
It is a historical fact that Jalib Sahib belonged to the Punjab but remained associated with a political party that basically represented the Pakhtun and the Baloch
Jalib Sahib wrote several other poems on Balochistan, but the one that I am going to talk about now might displease Baloch nationalists. But Jalib’s poetry is great precisely because he raised the slogan of justice before the leaders when they were seated on the throne of power.
After the dissolution of the NAP government in Balochistan, the post of provincial governor was accepted by Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti - chief of the warrior tribe of Bugtis and holder of the terrifying title of nawab. But during a PSO meeting in Quetta’s Ayub Park, Jalib Sahib read this historical poem that directly addressed the nawab:
Listen Akbar Bugti
I say the upsetting truth
This is a people’s movement
It can’t be stopped no matter what you try
Listen Akbar Bugti
These Baloch people are like mountains
Your destination is the throne
Theirs, freedom
Now beg of politicians 'cause
Nothing else will save you now
Listen Akbar Bugti.
Now I should also mention an endearing aspect of Nawab Sahib’s personality. He heard the poem on a wireless set and sent one of his close relatives, Saifurrehman Mazaari, to Jalib Sahib, with the message that he had heard the poem and would like to host him that evening. Jalib Sahib told Mazaari, “I am not one of those poets who read revolutionary poems against the rulers during the day but dine with them in the evening. Tell Nawab Sahib that we’ll meet in the mountains.”
Jalib Sahib told Mazaari, “I am not one of those poets who read revolutionary poems against the rulers during the day but dine with them in the evening. Tell Nawab Sahib that we’ll meet in the mountains”
A senior journalist from Quetta narrates that Nawab Sahib laughed out loud on hearing Jalib’s reply and said, “I’ll now go and see Jalib Sahib at his home in Lahore. He is a brave man of honour.” According to the same journalist, an official of the Balochistan government was furious at Jalib’s refusal of Nawab Sahib’s invitation: he forcibly picked up Jalib from his hotel and took him to the governor house. “Jalib is sitting in your drawing room. How do you want him served?” The Baloch officer told Governor Bugti. “Baba, how is his mood?” Nawab Sahib asked. “He is pretty angry, Nawab Sahib,” replied the official. Then Nawab Sahib said, “Why did you bring him here if he didn’t want to? Baba, make the evening nice for him and see him out soon.”
I mentioned the journalist’s version to Jalib Sahib once and he said with a smile, “Yeah, with a slight difference, this is what had happened.”
Translated from Urdu by Babar S. Mirza, a regular contributor to TFT