Page 22 - Pakistan Link - July 30, 2021

P22 – PAKISTAN LINK – JULY 30, 2021 COMMENTARY
n By Dr Ahmed S. Khan Book & Author the permission to publish the pictures.
Chicago, IL I am thankful to the people who were
Allahabadi (1846-1921) was a Saiyid Ishrat Husain: Raeburn and Akbar no words to thank Sir Richard Burn for
the owners of the copyright. And I have
yed Akbar Husain aka Akbar
readers can enjoy the pictures and vers-
Sgreat Urdu poet who pioneered his efforts. With this brief foreword, the
a unique style of humor and satire es. Ishrat Husain, Hardoi, April 1927.”
(Tanz-o-Mazah) for criticizing and In the foreword, Syed Mu-
reflecting on the changes and aber- hammed Rizvi of Akbar Allahabadi
rations in social values and attitudes. Academy, Karachi, writes: “Raeburn
During the British Raj, his keen eye aur Akbar was first published in 1927,
and sharp observation focused on and now after 34 years it is again be-
the impact of the Raj on the political, ing published in Pakistan. The book
social, cultural, economic, religious is a short one; it contains only seven
conditions and values, and record- pictures. The poet has wrapped these
ing them using satirical poetry which pictures in his verses, making them
earned him the title of Lisaan-ul- immortal. The pictures can be erased
Asar (The Voice of the Times). but the words remain. First look at
Akbar’s poetry covers a very criti- the picture, and whatever thoughts
cal and transformative period of his- and impressions come to mind, retain
tory; after the failure of the 1857 War them, and then read the verse. You
of Independence, the Mughal king’s in- will feel that the verse is representative
fluence started to diminish as the East of your thoughts and impressions. Or
India company came hard on Muslims you can read the verse about the pic-
to strengthen its Raj over India. Mus- ture first and then observe the paint-
lims lost their political and economic ing. After reading the verse, you paint
clout. Urdu and Persian languages were a picture reflective of the verse in your
replaced by English. Lord Macaulay’s mind; Does it not resemble the picture
educational policies and curricula im- painted by the artist? The artist, with
pacted Muslims adversely. Akbar Al- the help of a brush and the colors, has
lahabadi used an innovative approach tive, that is called luckless my place, he used to read my English library…After the passing away of my transferred his ideas on the canvas; the
— Tanz-O-Mazah (humor and satire) books and sometimes he used to bor- father, I pondered over publishing his poet through his elegance of poetic
mixed with English words — to de- ChoR literature ko apnee history row books from my collection; he took unpublished work, and in the process, narration has made the picture alive;
scribe the impact of the Western cul- ko bhool jaa Foundations of Belief by Lord Arthur I came across the verses on the Rea- both are artists performing in their
tural tsunami viz a viz the British Raj in Shaikh-o-Masjid say Tal’luQ turk James, Balfour and Religion and Reality burn book. Publishing just the verses own domains. Akbar Allahabadi Acad-
India, especially on the Muslim society. kar School jaa by Professor Tuckwell. Especially, he was futile; the verses were reflective of emy presents the first book to you. We
Reflecting on this new reality, Akbar Char dinn key zindagee hay koft spoke of the latter book, and said that the pictures. If verses could be read in sincerely hope, soon the academy will
observed: say kaya faida this book is in favor of Islam. My col- presence of the pictures only then one publish more books related to Akbar
Qabliyat to bhoo’haat BaRh gayi Khaa Double rotee Clerkee kar lection is very diverse; I have a couple can become familiar with the observa- Allahabadi. Syed Muahmmed Muslim
MashaAllah Khushee say phool jaa of volumes of Jack’s Masterpieces in tions and emotions of the poet. I men- Rizvi, Nazimabad, Karachi, June 1964.”
Mugar Afsoos yahe hay ka Musl- Leave literature alone, forget Color; which lists the biographies of tioned this book to Mr Richard Burn Commenting on Raeburn’s paint-
maan na rahay about your history ings, Akbar had observed:
Qualifications have been en- Disconnect with Imam of Masjid Yah Wajahat Hoo Too Ikhlaaq key
hanced, With the grace of Allah and go to School Hajaat kaya hay
But what a pity, the Muslim iden- Life is short, no point in getting Aaysee surat hoo to Mainay key
tity is lost disappointed Zarurat kaya hay
Eat bread, be a clerk, and swell With this kind of grace, who
Farsi Uath gayi Urdu key woo Iz- with happiness needs etiquette
zat na rahee With this kind of face, who needs
Hay Zubaan Muhn main magar Akbar Allahabadi’s son, Saiyaid the meaning
Iss key who Quwaat nah rahee Ishrat Husain, who was studying in
Farsi has been abolished, Urdu England, once procrastinated in writ- Aap Key Khoobe’yooN main
has lost its respect ing to his father. Akbar wrote a nazm Shoo’bah Nahi
There is still tongue in the mouth, (poem), it starts with the couplet: Mujko laikin Nahi hay Juraat e
but it has become impotent Ishq
Ishrati Ghar key mohabat ka maza There is no doubt in your attri-
Raqee’booN nay rapat likh’wayee bhool gaye butes
hai Ja ha kay thaw’nay maiN Khaa kay London key hawa, Ehed- But I do not have the courage to
Kay Akbar Naam Lai’tah hay Khu- e-wafa bhool gaye express the love
da ka iss Zama’nay maiN Isharti forgot the taste of his
The opponents keep on visiting homeland Naa RindooN kay lia Mozoo naa
police station to register complaints After inhaling London’s air, forgot Deyaa’nooN kay Laiq
That in these times, Akbar still be- how to remain loyal Yah Dahaj bhi Khob hai laikin
lieves in God Akbar Allahabadi, a Sessions Shifa’khaa’nooN kay Laiq
Judge in Allahabad, was a down to Not suitable for the drunkard,
Hum Aah bhi kartay haiN to hoo earth person and believed in intro- Not to be deserved by the crazy
jatay haiN badnam spection. Once he observed: “One day This stature is wonderful, but
Woo Qatal bhi kartay haiN to I was telling my son Ishrat miaN, that most appropriate for the hospitals
chur’chaa nahaiN hota during my entire life, I have made fun
We sigh and get into trouble of and smiled at English culture, but in Sha’gufta’rui hay Aisee ka phool
They commit murder and remain the end the English culture — by pro- Hay’raaN haiN
Scot-free ducing a clean-shaven son standing in Ba’ghair Isq ka hum Aap kay
front of me — is laughing at me and Sana’khawaN haiN
Paney Peenah paRa hay pipe ka making fun of me.” What a blooming beauty, even the
Hurf paRhna paRah hay type ka Raeburn and Akbar edited by flowers are bewildered
Water has to be drunk coming out Saiyid Ishrat Husain, was published Without expressing love, I am re-
of pipe in April 1927, and later republished citing your praise
Word has to be read of the typed in June 1964, by Syed Muhammed
form Muslim Rizvi of Akbar Allahabadi YaqeeNone Aaisee Baankee Wa-
Academy, Karachi. The booklet con- zah ka main dil say myal hooN
Darwin Sahib Haqee’quat say tains works of Henry Raeburn (1756 Na hooN Shagird taa’ham Unn key
neha’yat dur thay – 1823), a Scottish artist who served Ustadadee ka Qaiyal hooN
maiN na manooN gaa kay mooris as portrait painter to King George IV, Indeed, my heart is inclined to
Aap kay langoor thay with poetic commentary by Akbar Al- such a delicate style
Darwain remained quite far from lahabadi. I am not a scholar, but acknowl-
the reality In the preface, Saiyid Ishrat Hu- world’s top artists and contains eight (CSI, ICS, who was later knighted and edge his acumen
I will not agree that your ances- sain observes: “These verses were writ- selected paintings of each; these are became Sir), Member, Board of Rev-
tors were baboons ten on March 16 & 17, 1915. My dear short books. Each artist has his own enue, for the states of Agra & Oudh. He Raeburn and Akbar is a rare his-
father was visiting us in Jaunpur. I used book. One day in the evening, when I was appreciative of my father and very torical booklet; it reveals the multifac-
Justice Muhammad Ibrahim with President Ayub Khan and his cabinet col- Baa’any bander say In’saaN to reside in Zafarabad. I had a good returned from court, I found my father kind to us. He wanted to see the book. eted personality of Akbar Allahabadai,
leagues – Lt Gen Burki, Lt Gen Sheikh, A.K. Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Taraqee Iss koo Kha’tay haiN collection of English books that I keep glancing through the book about Rea- I presented him the book. He said leave Lisaan-ul-Asr, the voice of the Times;
Taraqee per bhi native with me. At Ishrat Manzil, Allahabad, burn. I said are you looking at the pic- the book with me and I will see what Urdu readers will find it an interesting
budnasee’bee Iss koo Kha’tay haiN there is a similar collection of Urdu tures, he replied well not exactly, I have can be done. People in the UK had the read.
We became human from Monkey, and Persian books. My father is an avid written verses under some pictures. copyright of all pictures. The book re- [Dr Ahmed S. Khan
that is called progress reader, mostly of philosophical and in- I said that now this book has become mained with Mr Burn. When he went (dr.a.s.khan@ieee.org) is a Fulbright
On top of this progress, being na- tellectual humor. Whenever he visited valuable. The book was returned to my back to the UK, he strived to get me Specialist Scholar (2017-2022)]
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