Equating poetry with love with some conditions is the thesis forwarded by Dr Hassan Farooqi in his poetry book ‘Sirf Tumhare Liye’ (just for you).He contends that both love and poetry are not done by design. They just happen. This is one of the similarities between the two. One cannot put a stop to either of the two concepts. Both are the products of sensitivity and the features of achieving heights are common. Both are oblivion of any logical reasoning. If love is human heart, poetry is the philological. Both feelings erupt unintentionally. Despite that poets and lovers are bothered with the way of love, problem of separation and desire to unite but it is not necessary that every lover is a poet and vice versa. The only common element among the two is the presence of and desire for the beloved. Beloved keeps on changing its shape. Sometimes it is in the form of the will to achieve a milestone, sometimes to fulfill a desire and sometimes the feeling of unfulfillment. Perhaps in the latter state of mind, Hassan Farooqi says ‘Pooch Kar Haal Sabhi Log Challe Jaate Hain/Main Hun Bimaar Tau Phir Koi Dawa Dain Mujh Ko’ (All leave after enquiring of my health but nobody suggests any treatment) – Page 20).He also says ‘Kaise Kaise Hadise Ab Runuma Hone Lage/Jo Maseeha Thei Hamare Woh Saza Hone Lage’ (I am wondering on all the mishaps I am facing as all my well-wishers are turning into my nemeses) – Page 21).
A poet has to have a beloved whether in human shape, spiritual shape or in imagination. If the poet manages to reach to his beloved, he/she is happy, otherwise sad. Farooqi believes that in the absence of a beloved, saying poetry is impossible. A poet remains subservient to the dream world wherein he/she reach the borders of earth and sky. That is why a poet has capacity to create his/her own beloved. He gets mad if he/she cannot reach to the beloved. That is why Farooqi says ‘Ishq Nei Pagal Kar Daala Hei/ Har Diwaar Main Dar Lagta Hei’ (Love has made me mad as I see can opening in every wall I come across) – Page116).
Dr Hassan Farooqi believes that in the absence of a beloved, saying poetry is impossible. A poet remains subservient to the dream world wherein he/she reach the borders of earth and sky
The beauty of a Ghazal is that it can engulf a theme in one couplet or in many as per the poet’s desire. If Hassan resigns to the bad situation by saying ‘Zeher Payala Pi Loon Ga Main/Mar Mar Kei Bhi Ji Loon Ga Main’ (I shall drink cup full of poison and shall live despite doing that) because ‘Baat Kahun Ga Munh Par Sachi/Hont Kyun Apne See Loon Ga Main’ (I shall tell the truth and refuse to keep my lips sealed). It means that he is determined to say the truth even if it costs him his life (Page 113).
The dream world of a poet is manifold in its impact than the real beloved’s image. A poet therefore enjoys both the tastes of meeting and separation. The taste of separation is however more enjoyable for a poet and he says more meaningful poetry. Even in fulfillment his love remains a little unfulfilled if it falls a little below his standards. Hassan says ‘Pather Bana Diya Hei Parastish Nei, Naaz Nei/Tum Bun Gaye Ho But, Mujhe Bhagwan Chahiye’ (I have made my beloved a statue by my worshipping not realizing that I needed a God instead) – Page 40.On the concept of friendship Hassan is very clear. He says ‘Dost Aise Ki Talash Hei/Aib Mere Mujhe Batae Bhi’ (I am in a lookout for such a friend who would make me realise my faults) – Page 52.
On dreams Hassan pens a poem titled ‘Yaqeen’ (belief) – Page 34). He says he dreams that his beloved has not come but he still believes that one day he shall make it. His belief strengthens in his poem ‘Chaar Din Ki Bahar’ (four days of Spring) – Page 29. When a leaf changes its colour from green to yellow, it means autumn and hence death season has come. When the leaf falls it means devastation shall occur. Life changes from childhood to adulthood then to old age, it means autumn and devastation again. But before all that happens his belief is to make its best with the four days of Spring season with his beloved. On his birthday he wonders as to why it does not stop raining; poem ‘Saalgirah Ka Din’ (birthday) – Page 47. He fears that the ceiling of his patience may not start tripping and memories of his beloved; his lifelong savings may not drown with it. And the birthday of separation do not take place.
Basic theme of love has been dealt with various angles by Hassan Farooqi in his poetry book ‘Sirf Tumhare Liye’. He has used both Ghazal and Nazm formats of saying poetry. His earlier books are ‘Sultan Bahu Kei Falsafiana Afkaar’ (philosophy of Sultan Bahu) in 2008, ‘Jast-e-Fikr’ (the leap of thought) in 2015 and the book under review in 2017. Four more books are under publication.
Published in Daily Times, December 31st 2018.