Anyone who desires to see one’s reflection of life can do so through the poetry book Mujhe Tootne Na Dena by senior poet Naseem-e-Seher.
The book’s title cover has been designed by Imran Shanawar. The dedications and the title reflects Naseem-e-Seher’s experience of life. This book contains ghazals and nazms. Naseem says, “Janta hu ke chorr jaega, aik din woh bhi zindigi ki tarha.” (I am aware that he shall leave me one day just like my life would)
Naseem Malik known as Naseem-e-Seher in literary circles, spent his lifetime in Jeddah working at Islamic Development Bank. During this period, he remained very active in the literary activities in the Gulf. On returning to Rawalpindi, he gives full time to the advancement of literature. He is the chief editor of quarterly Sahaab, he is the president of Pakistan Haiku Society and the vice president of Jinnah-Iqbal Fikri Forum. Writing poetry in ghazal format has been his preference. Traditionally, ghazal as a form of poetry has been considered as bevy on forehead of poetry. This format has been a source of following the right path as has been done in the past. It encompasses a widening of the thought process and provides meaning and their shades aplenty. True, some amateurs have affected its reputation adversely but it is not the fault of ghazal as a rock-solid format of poetry. It is the poet who is either good or bad. Naseem utilises this format in writing a lot in few words but still sticking to the system of writing a ghazal. For example, he says, “Gohar-e-Bebaha Raha Hu Main, Lafz Hu, Unkaha Raha Hun Main.’ (I have been a jewel unfound. I have been a word that has remained unsaid).
Traditionally, poetry was bound with beauties of nature. Spark notes on themes, motifs and symbols state, “Throughout Wordsworth’s work, nature provides the ultimate good influence on the human mind. All manifestations of the natural world-from the highest mountain to the simplest flower-elicit noble, elevated thoughts and passionate emotions in the people who observe these manifestations. Wordsworth repeatedly emphasises the importance of nature to an individual’s intellectual and spiritual development. A good relationship with nature helps individuals connect to both the spiritual and the social worlds.” As the 20th century approached, the attitude of writing poetry was polluted by the fast and modern city life. Naseem says, ‘shehr ke shor may kis kis ki samaat kijiye, yehi kaafi hai agar apni sada ajaye’ (How can you lend your ear to everybody in the city’s noise? One should be content if one can manage to hear one’s own). Still, Naseem manages control and says, “Har lamha mera zeest ka asaab shikan hai, main phir bhi sukoon may hu, tanao main nahi hu.” (Every moment of my life drenches me but I manage to remain pacified, unaffected). Naseem also says, “Mera Kamal Hai Keh Apni Shikast May, Main Ne Shikast-e-Zaat Ko Shamil Nahi Kiya.” (I have the quality of not letting my defeat, defeat me)
Khawar Ijaz in his submission in the beginning of the book under review points out the effects of taking a journey on one’s creativity. Spending his lifetime abroad, Naseem has been in a constant state of making a journey. If Mary Oliver, one of the best-selling contemporary poets from Maple Heights, Ohio writes in her poem “The Journey” her experiences of life in order to become an individual, Naseem felt relieved when he returned to Pakistan. He said, “nigah may hai yeh manzar jo shaam hone ka, ishara hai yeh safar ke tamaam hone ka.” (The evening sunset is an indication that the journey is about to end). From the beginning of the poem, the poet introduces us to the sudden realisation that we can listen to our own self-conscious and still excel through life.
Last but not the least, romance also appears in Naseem’s poetry. He says, “Is qadr ro ke bhi aisa nahi kar paya hun, dil ke sehra ko main darya nahi kar paya hu.” (Despite crying my heart out, I have not been able to convert my heart’s desert into a river). Naseem has thus touched upon all the themes prevalent and traditional in nature in his poetry as read in the book under review. Keeping profession different from passion is a difficult task and he has done that admirably well!