The News Caravan

Tag: Shayari

  • Now even quoting Ghalib has become dangerous in Pakistan

    Now even quoting Ghalib has become dangerous in Pakistan

    By Justice Katju

    Pakistan has become a strange country. Now even quoting from Ghalib, the greatest Urdu poet, has become dangerous there.

    I had written an article on Urdu poetry, and sent it to a well known Pakistani online publication for being published.The article mentioned this couplet of Mirza Ghalib, the most famous Urdu poet :

    “ Imaan mujhe roke hai, jo khenche hai mujhe kufr Kaaba mere peeche hai, kaleesa mere aage “

    Lo and behold ! I received this email from the publisher :

    “ Dear Justice Katju

    We are avoiding all pieces featuring religion and you mention the Kaaba. I’m afraid this will have repercussions for us here in Pakistan. As mentioned, emotions are high, and religious mention can cause damage. We will not be able to use it unfortunately.Regards xxxx “.

    It seems there are many verses of Ghalib which will invite a death fatwa if recited today, like that issued to Salman Rushdie by Ayatollah Khomeni.

    Thus Ghalib writes :

    “ Masjid ke zer-e-saaya kharaabaat chaahiye “i.e.“ Below a mosque there should be a wine shop

    “Similarly, he writes :

    “ Kahaan maikhane ka darwaaza Ghalib aur

    kahaan vaaizPar itna jaantay hain kal voh jaata tha ke ham nikle “

    i.e.” The tavern and the preacher ( mulla ) are said to be far apartBut when I was entering the tavern yesterday, the preacher was leaving “.

    This is a subtle dig on religious clerics. Poetry of several famous Urdu poets may also invite a death fatwa in Pakistan today

    Among the modern Urdu poets, Sahir Ludhianvi is outspokenly atheistic.

    Consider the following lines :“Aqaayad vaham hai mazhab khyaal khaam hai saaqiAzal se zahen-e-insaan bastaa vaham hai saaqi

    which means :

    “Creeds are a delusion and religions merely false notions; From the beginning man’s mind has been a slave to superstitions” and again:

    “bezaar hai kanisht-o-kaleesa se ek jahaanSaudagaraan-e-din ki saudagari ki khair

    which means :

    “The world is sick of temples and churches;pray for the safety of the traffickers in religion”

    So it is best for Pakistanis to keep away from Urdu poetry, to avoid being declared a ‘kafir’ and having a death fatwa placed on their heads by some mad mullah, whose tribe has increased exponentially of late in Pakistan. After all, one would not relish the prospect of having ‘sar tan se juda’

    Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are those of the authors’ and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this publishing house.

    Author Justice Markandey Katju is former Chairman , Press Council of India and former Judge , Supreme Court of India. Author can be reached at justicekatju@admintnc

  • Urdu poetry is thoroughly secular – Justice Markandey Katju

    Urdu poetry is thoroughly secular – Justice Markandey Katju

    Urdu poetry is thoroughly secular

    By Justice Markandey Katju

    Many people think Urdu poetry is communal. On the contrary it is thoroughly secular.

    Thus, Ghalib, the greatest Urdu poet, writes :

    “ Imaan mujhe roke hai, jo kheeche hai mujhe kufr

    Kaaba mere peeche hai, kaleesa mere aage “

    i.e.

    “ Faith is holding me back, atheism is pulling me forward

    Kaaba is behind me, the church is in front “.

    As explained in some earlier articles of mine ( which can be seen online) , Urdu poetry is not to be understood literally. The Urdu poets often write not directly but indirectly, conveying their meaning allegorically by allusions, hints, suggestions and indications.

    Kaaba is the place in Mecca, which is the holiest place for Muslims. But in this sher ( couplet ) Kaaba must not be understood literally. By Kaaba Ghalib means feudalism or backwardness.

    The word kaleesa literally means church ( of Christians ). But here it means modernism.

    So when Ghalib says he has turned his back towards Kaaba (

    i.e. he rejected it ), he means he has rejected feudalism and backwardness.

    The word kaleesa in the sher means modernism, and therefore Ghalib means that he is a supporter of modern civilisation.

    Many similar examples can be given from the poetry of many Urdu poets.

    Author Justice Markandey Katju is former Chairman , Press Council of India and former Judge , Supreme Court of India. Author can be reached at justicekatju@gmail.com

    Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are those of the authors’ and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this publishing house.