This book is a compilation of verses that the author had written during his lifetime, influenced as he was after reading Urdu rubaiyat. He decided to publish his bunch of verses encouraged by the support he received from Shafi Mohammad Qureshi and poet Shakeel Jaipuri.
In his poem on life, the poet recites:
Apne gam par to muskurate hein
Doosron ke gamon par rotein hein
Dekhkar shairon ko ham jaane
Sakht jaan naram dil hote hein.
(They smile through their sorrows. Cry on the grief of others. On seeing the poets, I discovered, they are strong in mind and soft in heart)
While discussing life, the poet says:
Guzre hue waqt ka samandar kya hai,
Aane wale dinon ka manzar kya hai
Mujhko to khabar nahin, batae koi
Iss lamha-e-majud ke bahar kya hai?
(What is the sea of time that has gone past? What will be the state of the coming days? Since I have no knowledge of it all. Can anyone tell me what lies beyond the present moment?)
In a moving tribute to sorrow, the poet recites:
Dard hi dard bhar diya dil mein
Itna hassas kar diya gam ne
Jab kisi aankh se gira aansoon
Apni aankh pe leliya hamne.
(The heart is filled with sadness and sorrow. With sorrow making me so emotional. That whenever a tear falls from another'seye. I take it upon my eye.)
In a moving description of tears, the poet says:
Aankh hamari jab bhi aansoon roti hai
Dharti pe taaron ki baarish hoti hai
Khwabon ke bazaar jakar kya lenge
Apni jeb mein heera hai, na moti hai?
(When tears fall from my eyes. Stars rain upon this earth. What will I purchase at the market of dreams. When my pocket has no diamonds, no pearls to give?)
In praise of a friend, the poet says:
Baat seene mein jo muddat se chhupa rakkhi hai
Aaj us baat ko kehena ho to kahe de, ai dost
Jaane kal gardish-e-ayyam kahan ley jaaye,
La tera haath mere haath mein de de, ai dost.
(What you have kept hidden in your heart since long. Say it today if you want to do so. Who knows where the cycle of day and night will take us tomorrow. Come, give your hand in mine, my friend.)
In a very subtle manner, the poet aims his lethal arrow at a friend thus:
Zindagi ki kashmakash ka yeh bhi manzar dekhiye
Aag dil mein aur aankhon mein samandar dekhiye.
Dushmanon ka zikr hi kya, woh to dushman hein magar
Doston ki astinon mein hain khanjar dekhiye.
(See the scene of dilemma in life. See the fire in the heart and the ocean in the eyes. Why talk of the enemies, for they are enemies after all, but. See the swords hidden behind your friends? sleeves.)
Here is a book which can be enjoyed reading provided you have some working knowledge of Urdu to be able to appreciate it.
Ehsaas (Hindi), S.N. Gupta, author-publisher, Pp 204, price not given
This is a compilation of verses which the author had penned after reading and hearing poets recite at various cultural meets. He admits in the beginning itself that he took to writing poems to counter the tensions in life. He found to his relief that he found peace on hearing and reciting verse in the presence of friends and acquaintances. In his first poem, he says,
Na door rehene se rishte toot jaate hein
Na paas rehene se jud jaate hein.
Yeh to ehsaas ke pucce bandhan hein
Is liye aap hamein aur hum aapko yaad aate hein.
(Bonds do not break by our staying apart. Nor do they bind us together by remaining close. These are firm bonds of feelings. That is why you and I miss each other.)
In reference to friendship, he says,
Dosti dil hai, dimaag nahin
Dosti soch hai, aawaz nahin.
Koi aankhon se nahin dekh sakta dosti ko
Kyonki dosti ehsaas hai, andaaz nahin.
(Friendship is with the heart, not with the brain. Friendship is a belief, not a voice. Friendship cannot be seen with the eyes. Because friendship is a realisation, not a style.)
In another verse on friendship, the poet recites:
Kasoor na unka hai na mera
Hum dono hi rishton ki rasmein nibhate rahe.
Woh dostika ehsaas jatate rahe,
Hum mohabbat ko dil mein chhupate rahe.
(It is neither her fault nor mine. Both of us kept on fulfilling the rituals of the bond. She kept on reminding me of the friendship. I kept on hiding my love within my heart.)
In his perception of friendship, the poet says,
Yaad na karoge to satayenge
Roothoge to manayenge
Rooge to hasayenge.
Dost hein hum aapke, saaye nahin
Jo andhere mein aapka saath chhod jaayenge.
(If you do not miss me, I will trouble you. If you get angry, I will humour you. If you cry, then I will make you laugh. After all I am your friend, not your shadow. That I will forsake your companionship in the dark.)
Here is a book which will be enjoyed by all those who are fond of poetry.
(S.N. Gupta, B-3 Gandhi Nagar, Jaipur.)
