My encounter with Jalib

Good piece Sac. Keep writing, but may I dare ask a question `` sirf yeh kehnay say kay mulk key taqdeer kharaab hai ...`` , we cant resign to the fact that things cant change.

May be you and I need to get out of our glass houses in the PROSPEROUS PART OF this world, and start to build, the house that is burning but is still alive....

words only words ..i am sure you will say that...but JUST THINK FOR A WHILE. forhow long will we continue to run ...????apnay ghar say bhaaga nahin kartay sir....apna ghar tau apna hai!

regards

Acerbic Jazbati

sac, Welcome!

First timer? Not bad at all mate! I can`t believe they rejected it the first time...but then again you didn`t approach them through ……… did ya? Just kidding!

You certainly brought back some memories. Like Faiz, Jalib also suffered during 60`s. He was arrested and sent to jail. His collection of poems ``sar-e-maqtal`` was officially banned. I don’t know if he will ever be considered a great poet, but through his bitter and sweet poetry, he certainly spoke for the battling little bloke.

The only suggestion I have for you is WRITE MORE!

And I hope your clients were properly hedged during the recent crash.

sac,

After the insensitive, callous and intelectually derelict attempt at explaining sunamic human disasters in a sterile game theoretic straight jacket, it is refreshing to find some blooms of poignant writing in the forlorn chowk landscape.

Regards and best wishes

Jay.

sac,

Good writing, though I found the references in the beginning superfluous. Why taint your work, friend, with indelicacies?

Let me be cliched, and say that your piece brought back many memories for me, too. Jalib stands out in my mind as `The Poet of Resistance`, a phrase I read on the jacket of one of his books. He is my personal political poet, and helped greatly in keeping my patriotic self intact, in those uncertain days I had first come away to college in the US.

I wonder what it is, though, with us `aspiring writers` in financial services? Must have something to do with all the talk of money. Maybe Jalib can explain it better in his own words:

aik hamain avaara kehna koi bad`aa ilzaam nahin

dunya vaale dil vaalon ko aur bohot kuchh kehte hain...

Manail

Dear Sac!

Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece with us. It was beautifully written and I really liked your style of writing. Keep up the good work.

yours truly.

Zarray hi sahi, koh say takra to gaye hum....

This eccentric bohemian was once the voice
of millions. His plain and simple Urdu
appealed to the masses of Pakistan and people
like myself (of Gulabi Urdu fame) who felt
great at not having to seek the services of
the nearest Urdudaan for translation.
The above line from this poet has somewhat become a motto of mine.
Jalib was at a Berkeley, California event in
the late 70`s or very early 80`s. Lost that tape
years ago but I still retain something in memory.

Ras

sac

Enjoyable read!

Sadhana

Sac:

A spontaneous, humorous and sweet memoir!

Good One!

Sac

Very enjoyable, lucid and crisp writing. Look forward to see more of your creation.

Cheers.

Good description of your encounter with Jalib.

Moreover your conversation with him reflects that he was quite honest, realistic with some humor even at this age.

If he did not trust a poor boy, it is realism.

His remarks regarding Faraz is testimony to his believing Faraz to be superior to him.

I have seen poet (one in forefront of pakistani poets) making fun of Faiz`s poetry.

There will hardly be any male poet who is pious.

Saying all these, there is no doubt that Jalib has contributed in the field of poetry which few of his contemporaries have done, without any fear.

He has been jailed for his outspoken stance.

Poetry of Jalib like

``Larkane Chalo Warna Thane Chalo``

And

``Zulmat ko Zia, Sarsar ko Saba Kab Kahte hain``

And

``Paon Nange hain Benaziroon ke`` etc

are still remembered through recitation.

sac

Just a thought. Even revolutionary poets esp. in old age and illness, deserve `term limits`.

Sadhana

Thank you all for your words of encouragement.

Manail: You are right about the inane beginning. Lay it down as a case of irrational exuberance :) As far as aspiring writers in the financial community, it may have something to do with the one-dimensional people we deal with everyday and you know the dimension I am referring to.

mannyd: Jalib has been right upto this point. But as they say the night is still young. Maybe I will win in the end!!

jazba99: I am afraid you are reading too much into what I wrote. Anyway I am reminded of a cab-driver settled in NY for over 20 years who once said to me. ``Your homeland is where you earn a living to feed your family not some castle in the air that doesn`t even allow me that opportunity``. Enough said.

Sac,

Nice change of Pace! Look forward to more articles from you.

Critiq

Hello Child

Curiouser and Curiouser

Is the common man, as he stands idly by, the March Hare or the Mad Hatter?

Mayhap the dormouse.

Whose tea party is it then?

dL

re sadna #13:

Agreed. BTW when are we going to see some contribution from you on this site?

re dL #15:

I am afraid we are both on the other side of the looking glass. And since we don`t know our destination it doesn`t really matter which road we take ;-)

later

-sac

P.S: Hope things are well in London.

sac:

A great welcome to Chowk. You will be a refreshing addition. Pls. keep writing.

Habib Jalib was a rarity among men or women. He stood by his convictions.

On a purely literary level he cannot be included in the group of Iqbal or Faiz, or even Faraz, Qasmi, Josh. Firaq etc. But he stood apart with the courage of his convictions.

“Is mulk ki taqdeer hi kharab hai” reverberated for a long time.

rgds,

t