Page 22 - Pakistan Link - June 25, 2021

P22 – PAKISTAN LINK – JUNE 25, 2021 COMMENTARY
Book & Author

Fahmida Riaz: A Rebel Poetess & a Remarkable Writer

n By Dr Ahmed S. Khan Bhaitha hay meray sam’nay wo (He is sitting in
Chicago, IL front of me), Tum Bill’kul Hum Jas’sey Nick’lay
(You turned out just like us), Zaaban’noN ka

ahmida Riaz (July 28, 1946, Meerut, Bosa (The kiss of tongues), Pather key Zubaan
British India – November 21, Lahore (The language of stone), Aik Auraat key Hansee

F2018) is known as a rebel poetess and (A woman’s laughter), Aik Raat key Kaha’ney
a remarkable modern Urdu writer. She be- (The story of a night), Chadaar Aur Char

longed to a cluster of new stars, who ap- Dewari (The veil and the domains of home),

peared on the horizon of Urdu literature Aik LaR’key say (From a girl), Inqualabi Aurat

during 1960s and 1970s, which included (The revolutionary woman), Aabd (Forever),

the likes of Iftikhar Arif, Obaidullah Aleem, Kub Tak (How long), Muqaabla e Husn (the

Amjad Islam Amjad, Javed Akhtar, Parveen beauty contest), Sooach (Thought), May’ray
Shakir, Kishwar Naheed, Mohsin Naqvi, haath (My hands), and Tahneyat (Congratu-

Bashir Badr, and Rahat Indori. lations). The following sample of her poetry

Fahmida Riaz was born on July 28, 1945, reveals the mastery of her craft.
in Meerut, UP, British India. After partition,

her family migrated to Pakistan and settled in Tasveer
Hyderabad, Sindh. She lost her father when Meray dil kay nihaaN-khaanay maiN ik
she was four years old and was raised by her Presidential Pride of Performance for Litera- her frustration viz a viz rise of the Hindutva. tasveer hay may’ree
mother Husna Begum. After completing her ture (Poetry), and Sitara-e-Imtiaz. The Sindh In one of her poems, Tum Bill’kul Hum Ja’say Khuda jaa’nay us’say kiss nay bana’aya,

education, she worked as a newscaster at Ra- government gave her Sheikh Ayaz Award for Nick’lay, she exposes the reality of Naya Bharat kab bana’aya tha
dio Pakistan Hyderabad. After graduation Literature (Poetry). Again, her critics credit (New India); the poem was recited in the In- Yah posh’eeda hay may’ree dostooN say aur

from college, Riaz got married and went to her awards and top government positions to dian parliament also: mujh say bhi

England to live with her husband. During her her political affiliations to the party in power. Kabhi bhoo’lay say lay’kin maiN us’say gar
stay in England, she worked at BBC’s Urdu They point out that literary giants like apoliti- Tum Bill’kul Hum Jas’say Nick’lay… daikh lay’tee hooN

Radio Service, and pursued a program in film- cal Razia Fasih Ahmed were never given any You turned out to be just like us Us’say khud say milaauN to may’rah dil

making. The couple had a daughter, but the national awards despite her six decades of vo- Where have you been hiding so far brother kaanp jaata hai

marriage ended in divorce, and she returned luminous intellectual output. That ignorance, that foolishness

to Pakistan. After her return, she worked for During the 1980s Martial law, she and Lost a century stumbling in the past Portrait

an advertising agency in Karachi and launched her husband Zafar Ali Ujan were the publish- Eventually the end has come for you Deep in the nooks of my heart lies a picture
her own Urdu magazine Awaz. She wed Zafar ers of the magazine Aawaz (Voice); due to its Congratulations, many congratulations! of myself

Ali Ujan, a leftist political worker, the couple outspoken content the government banned Your ghost of religion is dancing God knows who created it and when
had two children. their magazine. Her husband was imprisoned, You will establish all-Hindu rule It remains concealed from me, and my

Fahmida Riaz was a prolific writer; she and while police were looking for her, in the Whatever you do will turn out to be upside friends

authored more than twenty books of prose guise of attending a Mushira, she fled to In- down Accidently if I catch a glimpse of it
and poetry. But many of her writings stirred dia, with her two children and sister. Recall- You will devastate your own garden In comparing it to myself, my heart trem-
controversies. Her first poem was published ing those days Fahmida Riaz had observed: “I Your degree of preparedness is similar bles.

in Funoon, edited by Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, was charged under Section 124A of the Paki- Who is a Hindu, and who is not? Fahmida Riaz’s lifelong quest for — good
when she was only 15. Her first collection of stan Penal Code (sedition). I came here and You will also issue the fatwa! health, intellectual companionship, and inner

poetry was published just after two months of my friend (poet) Amrita Pritam spoke to then It will be difficult to live here too peace — concluded in Lahore on November

her marriage at the age of 22. Her poetry col- prime minister (late) Indira Gandhi, who al- It will be challenging to survive 21, 2018, when she left this earthly abode. But,
lections include Pathar Kee ZubaaN (1967), lowed me to stay in India.” Once asylum was But will manage some how in death she remained a rebel too; the rebel-
Badan Dareeda (1973), Dhoop (1977), Apna granted, her husband later joined her in In- Here everyone will be out of breath too lious trait of her craft is evident from her poem

Jurm Saabit Hai (written during self-exile dia. During her seven years stay in Delhi she Repeating echoes of education can go to Taazee’yatee Qaraar’daadaiN (Condolence
1984-1988), Hum Rikaab (1987), MaiN Mat- taught at the Jamia Milia Islamia University in hell Resolutions):
tey Key Mu’rat HooN (poetry collection 1967- Delhi. Now you should sing the songs of ignorance Chums! Just do me this favor
1988), Aadmee kee Zindagee (1999), and Sub After my demise, spare me the anguish

Lal-o-Goher (poetry collection 1967-2011). Do not issue me a certificate of the follower

After the publication of her second poetry of the faith

collection, Badaan Dareeda (Torned Flesh), In passionate extempore oration
critics accused her of using erotic phrases Do not say “this lady was Momin (a pious
and expressions. The poems from her collec- believer)”

tion Apna Jurm Sabit Hay reflect her trials and Do not strive to justify my loyalty to the

tribulations during the martial law period. country and the nation
Her fiction output includes Godavari Do not attempt to convince the establish-

(1995: novel), Zinda Bahar (novel), Karachi ment to own my corpse
(1998: a novel on the state of Karachi), Khatt-e Pals, Pals,
Mar’muz (2002: short stories), Gulabi Kabootar The taunts of the mean spirited are the

(2009: a short story), Qil’laa-e Fara’moushi honors for me

(2017, novel on Mazdak), Qaafi lay Parindon They may not be able to come to the pulpit,
Kay (2008), and Add’hoora Aada’mee (a narra- if
tive about the philosophies of German social Not less are my admirers
psychologist Erich Seligmann Fromm). After The reality of the truth is hidden in the be-

the publication of her novel, Karachi, her crit- ing

ics pointed out again to her unwarranted use The dust and wind being my soulmates
of graphic details and explicit language in de- Do not be unfaithful to them
scribing sensual situations. For seeking favors of the judges
She was a gifted multilingual writer; in Do not say “Corpse seeks forgiveness”

addition to Urdu, she was proficient in Eng- My mate
lish, Persian and Sindhi too, which enabled Many of Fahmida’s admirers were sur- Do not look forward to the approaching If I could not be shrouded
her to translate couplets from Mavlana Rumi’s prised and shocked when she opted to stay in ditch Do not worry
Deewan-e- Shams Tabrezi into Urdu, and India and sought help for asylum from Indira Would you bring back time? Take my remains and leave them in the
Sindhi poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and Gandhi. Fahmida’s critics point out that her Just practice, and maybe it will come jungle

Shaikh Ayaz into Urdu. Her major transla- actions were quite different from her anti- Keep walking backwards This thought is so comforting

tion works are represented by Halqaa Mayree establishment literary contemporaries; Faiz Do not pay attention to what comes to The beasts would feast
Zanjeer Ka (A Link of My Chain: translation Ahmed Faiz opted for Lebanon and UK for mind Without gauging my thoughts

of Sindhi poetry of Shaikhn Ayaz), Khulay self-exile: Ahmed Faraz went to the US, the Just keep looking backwards My bones, my flesh, and my strong shin-
Dar’reechay Say (From An Open Window: UK, and Canada; Habib Jalib remained at Keep on chanting the same mantra ning ruby-red heart
Translation of Persian poetry of Forough Far- home and preferred to spend the time of re- How great was India! Happily devouring everything

rokhzad), and Khaana-e-Aaab-o-Gil (Abode sistance in jail; none of them opted to stay in How glorious was India! Satisfied with their bellies full

of Water and Clay: Translation of selected po- India during their self-exile. Her critics also Then you will arrive Licking their lips

ems of Mavlana Rumi). She also wrote a num- point to the dichotomy of her struggle and You will reach the next world The gleam in their eyes will reveal a truth
ber of books for children which included Our stand; she, belonged to the middle-class, stood We are already there My chums, that you would never be able
Bhitai (Translation of a selection from Shah jo for the rights of the poor haris and yet politi- Keep taking some time out to say
Risalo by Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai). cally she supported the group of untouchable, From that hell where you arrive This corpse is of that mortal

She held top positions at the National powerful waderas. Keep writing letters! Who said what ought to be told
Book Foundation and the Urdu Diction- After Benazir Bhutto became the prime Urdu readers all over the world enjoy her And never regretted a bit!

ary Board. She also received many awards at minister of Pakistan, the couple, not finding exquisite poetry reflecting various facets of (Dr Ahmed S. Khan (dr.a.s.khan@ieee.

national and international levels. The Gov- the freedom they were in search of, returned romance, life and struggles. Her popular po- org) is a Fulbright Specialist Scholar (2017-
ernment of Pakistan bestowed upon her the to Pakistan quite disillusioned; she expressed ems include Aab Soo Jao (Go to sleep now), 2022)
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