Living With Lowly Humans

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 30 August 2025 August 28 was Raghupati Sahay 'Firaq' Gorakhpuri's 129th birth anniversary. The maverick genius wrote exquisite poetry in Urdu, though he taught English Literature at Allahabad University. While 'Firaq' is called a poet of feminine (also, masculine!) beauty (Shayar-E-Husnparast), he also wrote on much serious themes and subjects. Three of his famous couplets from his oeuvre of nearly 42 thousand couplets will bolster the point: Waqt-e-Peeri Doston Ki Be-Rukhi Kya Gila Bach Ke Chalte Hain Sabhi Girti Hui Deevaar Se (In old age friends forsake, why should one complain at all nobody treads in the shadow of a crumbling wall) This is the harsh(est) reality faced by many of us during the twilight years. Friends, relatives and the so-called near and dear ones avoid those who're at the fag-end of their lives. And this one, which's one of his rarest couplets: Jii Raha Hoon Main Kam-Zarfon Ke Saath Andesha Hai Kahin Unhin-Sa Na Ho Jaaoon (Living with lowly humans, I'm apprehensive of unwittingly following suit) Yes, very true. When one, perforce, lives with substandard and lowly humans, one tends to become like those inferior individuals. Negativity works very fast. Bad odour spreads faster than the fragrance. It's a human proclivity to be drawn to all things that are bad, lowly and undesirable. We often start using abusive language and pick the bad habits from those we hobnob with. Even if you're not hail-fellow-well-met with them, you start following the ways of those inferior people, riff-raff or rabble. Here, 'Firaq' is not disdainful of the hoi-polloi or the Great Unwashed. He's just stating the truth and truth is often disconcerting. Bharthari says, " Spend a day with thieves and by night, you too become like a thief / But spend twenty years with a saint, there's no certainty that you too become a saintly figure." It's said in Sanskrit, "Neti Vachan Tvarit Gatyam" (Negativity travels too fast). And this one: Zabt Keeje Toh Dil Hai Angara Aur Agar Roiye Toh Paani Hai (If bottled up, heart is a cinder / When you cry, it's water) 'Firaq' shows the paradoxes in just two lines, that too, so effectively and employing minimum words. Though 'Firaq' was undoubtedly a great poet, he was also haughtily supercilious and at times, even narcissistic: Ghalib O Meer Mus.Hafi Hum Bhi Firaq Kam Nahin (There were indeed poets like Ghalib, Meer and Mushafi / 'Firaq' also has a place in the pantheon of the greats). Many critics didn't like the naked self-praise in his following couplet : Aane Wali Naslein Tum Par Rashk Karengi, Hum-Asro Jab Ye Khayal Aayega Un Ko, Tumne 'Firaq' Ko Dekha Hai (Generations to come will be envious of you, for, you saw 'Firaq' in flesh and blood). Even the diehard admirers of Firaq's poetry find it to be too hubristic. 'Firaq' was dismissive of other poets and that alienated him from them. Alas, humility was one trait he failed to befriend. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/living-lowly-humans/d/136648 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism