Monday , November 25 2024

Special on birthday today: Sahir Ludhianvi is not a poet of 'Pal Do Pal', but of centuries – News India Live

Poet Sahir Ludhianvi had written the lyrics of Bakmaal for Puranur film 'Kabhi-Kabhi' 'I am a poet of Pal Do Pal, Pal Do Pal is my youth. Every moment I exist, every moment my soul exists. These things of his, which seemed true from a spiritual point of view, proved to be false from a social point of view, because he composed such a touching poem that he became a poet to be sung, heard and read for centuries, and not just for a moment or two. In fact, he not only saw the world but also experienced it and perhaps that is why he was different from his contemporary poets in many ways. Like other poets, he was not only a poet dedicated to Mehbooba, Husn, Jam and God, but also a poet who expressed the pain of the people by putting the bitter truths of life into words. He was the poet of debt-ridden farmers, soldiers forced to fight wars, women forced to sell their bodies, unemployed youth and people living on footpaths and facing the harsh realities of life. His first book with poetry was also named 'Talakhiyaan', which was published in 1945.

Unj Sahir's real name was Abdul Hai and he was born on 8 March 1921 in Mohalla Karimpura, Ludhiana to mother Sardar Begum. 'Sahir' was his poetic nickname and according to the meaning of this word this nickname was very suitable for him. According to Hindu scriptures Sahir means 'Awakened' or 'Magician' and in Muslim tradition it means 'Witness'. So Sahir Ludhianvi was truly an 'awakened' poet and he was always aware of the events happening in his circle. He must have expressed his frank opinion on every incident through his pen. He was also a 'magician' of words and a 'witness' to realities.

Pakistani poet Ahmed Rahi, who was a friend of Sahir Ludhianvi, once told that 'he had loved wholeheartedly only once in his entire life and there was only one hatred in his heart.' He loved his mother very much and hated his father very much. In fact, he had seen with his own eyes the marks of beating on his mother's forehead and had also heard derogatory words spoken towards his mother. This conflict of his parents associated him with the difficulties of life since childhood. After receiving his education from Khalsa High School, Ludhiana, Sahir joined Government College, Ludhiana and became very popular for his poignant ghazals, poems and speeches. The partition of the country in 1947 took him to Pakistan and he settled in Lahore, where he did editorial work and edited some other magazines including 'Adab-e-Latif', 'Shahkar', 'Veera' etc. He was also associated with the literary magazine 'Pritaldi'. In Pakistan, he had given some statements promoting communism, which displeased the Pakistani authorities and they issued a warrant against him, due to which he fled Pakistan and came to India in 1949. After staying in Delhi for two months, he moved to Mumbai and became neighbors of famous litterateurs Gulzar and Ishaan Chandra. After winning the hearts of small and big audiences, Sahir turned towards films. In 1949, he entered the film industry by writing four songs for the film 'Azadi Ki Raah Par'. In 1951, under the musical direction of composer SD Burman, he wrote songs for films like 'Najwaan' and 'Baaji', which were superhits and then film after film he climbed to the heights of fame and success.

In terms of poetry, Riyasat Sahir was thirsty for love. His love stories with Amrita Pritam became famous but Amrita could not become his life partner. Some people say that Sahir's mother was not aware of Amrita being a non-Muslim, due to which their love relationship could not last a lifetime and broke in the middle. Then one day Amrita became Imroz. When Imroz was taking Amrita home on his scooter from All India Radio, Amrita sitting behind him kept writing 'Sahir' on his back with her finger. Once someone asked Imroz, 'Have you ever felt jealous of Sahir?'

Sahir had built a bungalow with the same name using the title of his book named 'Parchhai' published in 1970 and lived in the same bungalow till his last breath. Ultimately, on 25 October 1980, in the presence of his poet friend Javed Akhtar, he suffered a heart attack and said goodbye to this world forever. The literary and linguistic insight of this great poet, who received 'Padma Shri' in 1971 for his powerful poetry, was amazing. He was an expert in composing poetry of every colour. The beautiful use of Hindi and Urdu language is clearly visible in his songs. Talking about the pure minds of children, he wrote 'Bachche Man Ke Jhane', his song about brother-sister love 'Mere Bhaiya, Mere Chanda Mere Anmol Ratna, Tere Zadathi Mein Zamane Ki Koi Cheez Na Loon' , written by a father. The song 'Babul Ki Doain Leti Ja, Ja Tujhko Sukhi Sansar Mile' reflects the feelings of leaving the daughter's doli, his song 'Us Mulk Ki Sarhad Ko Koi Chhu Nahi Sake Jis Mulk Ki Sarhad Pe' is a song of those who love the country. 'Barare hai nigheban hain aankhen', 'Ab koi gulshan na ujade, ab watan azaad hai' and 'Yeh desh hai veer jawan ka, albel ka mastano ka' are the prominent ones. His songs 'Neele Gagan Ke Tale, Dharti Ka Pyar Play', 'Parbat Ke Deron Par Sham Ka Basera Hai' and 'Pighala Hai Sona Door Gagan Par Fail Rahe Hain Sham Ke Saay' etc. are proof of his richness in pen.

Apart from these, 'Jaane kiya tune kahin, jaane kiya maine suni', 'Jaane woh kaise log de jin ke pyar ko pyaar mila', 'Yeh duniya agar mi bhi jaaye to kiya hai' (Piyasa), 'You will become a Hindu', 'Na Muslim banega' ' (Dhool Ka Phool), 'Allah Tero Naam Ishwar Tero Naam' (Hum Doon), 'Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai' (Barsaat Ki Raat), 'Tum Agar Saath Dene Ka Pyaar Karo' (Humraaz), 'Man Re Tu Kahe Na Dheere Dheere' (Chitralekha), 'Tora Man Darpan Kehle' (Kajal), 'Sathi Haath Barhana' (Naya Daur), 'Aye Meri Johra Jabeen' (Wakat), 'Pano Chhu Lene Do Phoolon Ko Inayat Hogi' (Taj Mahal ), 'Yeh Raat Ye Chandni Phir Kahan' (Jal), 'Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhata Gala Gaya', 'Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar Ki Dil Abhi Bhar Nayi', 'Kabhi Khud Pe Kabhi Behna Pe Rona Aaya' (Hum Both), 'Let's become strangers again' (Gumrah) etc., are clearly visible in spreading the light of his poetry. Sahir had an immense treasure of love but the misfortune was that he kept cherishing unfulfilled love throughout his life and then one day the pain of unfulfilled love consumed him.

extremely stubborn poet

His friends say that he was also extremely stubborn. He was so fond of Lata Mangeshkar that he insisted on charging Lata one rupee more than her salary as a singer, due to which Lata became angry with him. Lata stopped lending her voice to his songs. In 1964, he won the Filmfare Award for the song 'Jo Pham Kiya Woh Nibhana Padega' from the film 'Taj Mahal' and in 1976, he was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for 'Kabhi Mere Dil Mein Khayal Aata Hai'. Gave birth to men.