Mohammad Sanaullah Dar 'Meeraji': A Reckless Genius

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 25 May 2023 May 25 is Mohammad Sanaullah Dar ' Meeraji's' Birth Anniversary ------ "Many a gem of purest ray serene The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear Many a flower is born to blush unseen And waste its sweetness on the desert air " Thomas Gray, " Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard " The aforementioned famous lines apply to many a great whose genius couldn't blossom as fate, circumstances and caprice didn't let them reach the pinnacle they were destined for, but the quintessence of such ill-fate was the bohemian Urdu poet Meeraji (Mohammad Sanaullah Dar: May 25, 1912 - November 3, 1949). Manto writes to the “moral” poet Meera Ji with utmost sincerity ---- In love with a Bengali damsel Meera Sen, a daughter of an accounts officer serving in Lahore, he adopted his nom de guerre (Takhallus), Meeraji, on her name. He was an astounding poet, translator and polyglot. By the way, he could speak Bangla as well. Otherwise also, men invariably learn their girlfriends' mother tongue to impress them! Do women also try to learn the language of the men they love? Readers may throw light on this. Alas, he squandered away his formidable talents by drinking, smoking and leading the life of a libertine. "Aasmaan Chhat Hai Meri, Dharti Mera Bistar" (The sky is my roof, earth is my bed) was the philosophy of his life. Call it the influence of a Hindu girl, Meeraji was drawn to Hindu mythology and Sanskrit poetry. He'd use Hindi vocabulary in his prose, poetry and letters: Soone Aakaash Ka Khaalipan Hai Mere Antar Ki Gaharaiyon Mein (The emptiness of the lonely firmament has seeped into the depths of my sanctum sanctorum). He was one of the pioneers of symbolism (Ramzi/Alamati Shayari) in Urdu poetry and tried to free it from the shackles of prosody and Persianised vocabulary. Musta'ar Leta Nahin Woh Alfaaz Farsi Ke/ Lafz Ghule Hain Yahan Ki Mitti Ke (He doesn't borrow words from Persian/ The words of his poetry are from this soil), wrote Noon Meem Rashid about Meeraji. His poetry, written in blank verse, was full of varied themes. He even ventured into terra incognita in his poetry. "Zeest Aur Jism Ki Zarooratein Bhi Hissa-E-Sukhanvari Hain" (Life and the physical needs are also parts of poetry), he once wrote in a letter. Overwhelmed by a persistent death-wish, Meeraji's self-destructive ways expedited his end. "Fasana Itna Hi Hai Hayaat Ka/ Nahin Hosh Mujhe Din-Raat Ka" (This is the summary of my life/ I'm oblivious of day and night). This rank careless attitude to life proved to be his bane. But at the same time, it lent a kind of an endearing bohemianism to his persona. It also made him magnanimous: Nagri-Nagri Phira Musafir Ghar Ka Rasta Bhool Gaya / Kya Hai Tera, Kya Hai Mera, Apna Paraya Bhool Gaya (The wandering traveller forgot the way to his destination/ What's yours and what's mine, there remains no distinction eventually). Meeraji's life is a lesson to all creative people. Extreme indiscipline and devil-may-care approach may chip away at life and creativity. Ergo, his genius is to be emulated, but not his life. ----- 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/sanaullah-dar-meeraji-genius/d/129849 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