Sahir Ludhianvi - A Poet Who Disliked To Be Called A Lyricist

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 8 March 2023 "Shayar Ko Apni Shayari Ke Liye Ek Laamahdood Ufaq Milta Hai Jabki Ek Naghma-Nigaar Kai Bandishon Mein Mubtila Ho Jaata Hai. Haalanki Sahir Unn Bandishon Ko Tod Kar Aage Nikal Chuke Thay, Phir Bhi Iss Baat Ka Malaal Unhein Taa Umra Raha Ke Unki Shayari Ke Ek Bahut Bade Hisse Par Filmon Ka Saaya (Mandrata) Raha...." Adil Rasheed, Beesveen Sadi, December 1980 Sahir Ludhianvi's 102nd birth anniversary ------ "A poet gets a limitless horizon for his poetry, whereas a lyricist gets entangled in a number of limitations. Though Sahir could rise above these constraints, he rued the fact that the shadow of films loomed large on his poetry...." Today is Abdul Hayee, Sahir Ludhianvi's 102nd birth anniversary. At the risk of falling into the irresistible lure of undesirable Comparison Syndrome, let me state without mincing words that Sahir (the literal meaning of his Takhallus is Jaadugar) was the best among the four main poet-lyricists in the world of Hindi film music. Other three were, Shakeel, Kaifi and Majrooh. Here I must add that Sahir himself never liked to be called a lyricist. Nor did he like himself to be compared with his other great coevals in Bombay. Always a recluse and disconsolate, Sahir's poetry mirrors his angst and anguish, pain and pathos, sadness and sufferings, anger and agony : Duniya Ne Tajurbaat-O-Havadis Ki Shakl Mein/ Jo Kuchh Diya Hai Woh Lauta Raha Hoon Main (Whatever the world bestowed upon me in the forms of mishaps and musings/I'm just returning that in the form of poetry). All poets are sensitive by nature but Sahir was uber-sensitive. Having to live with a draconian and unloving father is a nightmare to any child, but in the case of Sahir, it was doubly traumatic as he saw his mother suffer a lot. That's the reason, he could write an immortal number like, ' Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon Ko, Mardon Ne Use Baazaar Diya....' Whether it was his pure and pristine poetry or cinematic poetry, Sahir could strike a perfect balance to write, " Utna Hi Upkaar Samajh Koi Jitna Saath Nibaah De...." (Man Re Tu Kaahe Na Dheer Dhare....Chitralekha). A lifelong atheist, Sahir always questioned the arbitrary nature of divine justice: Mera Ilhad Toh Khair Ek Laanat Tha So Hai Ab Tak/ Magar Iss Aalam-E-Vahshat Mein Iimanon Pe Kya Guzari? (Agreed, my atheism was a lamentation which shall remain unabated/ But what about those who believed in some supernatural power?). Sahir's philosophical approach to life and a mildly hedonistic spirit made him write, ' Har Fikra Ko Dhuein Mein Udata Chala Gaya...' (Film, Hum Dono). It became a smoker's anthem and the inexorability of life and fate made it a cult number. The connoisseurs of Urdu poetry may have noticed that Sahir started getting disillusioned with the film world in the 70s. Though his quill produced a gem of a number like 'Sansaar Ki Har Shai Ka....' ( Dhund, 1973), songs of ' Daagh ' and ' Kabhi-Kabhi,' he was not enjoying filmi poetry any longer. Somewhere, his eternally sombre self could relate to Robert Browning's immortal lines, 'I give the fight up, let there be an end; a privacy, an obscure nook for me. I want to be forgotten even by god.' Moreover, Rafi's death on July 31, 1980 broke Sahir. Rafi was also from Punjab and both always conversed in Punjabi and never in Urdu. He too soon followed suit on October 25, 1980 leaving behind a Golconda of exquisite poetry. Someone rightly said, 'Sahir Aur Bade Shayar Hote Agar Ve Faqat Shayari Karte Aur Apna Daaman Filmon Se Bacha Kar Rakhte ' (Sahir would have been a greater poet had he focussed only on poetry and shielded himself from writing for films). We still remember you, Sahir Saheb. Lastly, Sahir didn't want to be entombed as he lost faith in Islam and all bogus man-made faiths. Yet, he was given an Islamic burial, that too in the presence of his much younger atheist friend Javed Akhtar. He (Javed) should have intervened. This has always intrigued me. ------- 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://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/sahir-ludhianvi-poet-lyricist/d/129270 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