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My
Readings Reading Paash's Poetry in Shahmukhi Chaman
Lal 15/01/2011 ‘Paash:Saari Shayri’ ,Jodanhaar-Paash Memorial
International Trust, Shahmukhi transliteration-Khalid Ameen, revised by
Maqsood Saqib,Published by Suchet Kitab Ghar, Lahore, 1st ed. 2005,
Pages 384, Price Rs. 230/, bound edition.
This book is transliteration from Gurumukhi script to Shahmukhi
or Persian script of Paash’s complete poetry published in Punjabi by
Paash Memorial Trust earlier. Paash published three collections of
poetry-‘Loh Katha’ (1970), ‘Uddade Bazan Magar’ (1974) and
‘Sade Samain Vich’ (1978).After his assassination on 23rd
March 1988, Gursharn Singh published some of the poems collected
hurriedly from the house of Paash immediately after his martyrdom, even
without the proper information or permission from the family of Paash.
No effort was made to edit the collected material. A poet writes so many
pieces as his or her creative process, but gives final shape to these
later with patience and contemplation. He or she rejects some, revises
some and then keeps some for not publishing for various reasons known to
him or her only. In the romance to publish every word written by Paash,
all collected pieces were just put to print. Many of these pieces have
been used by Paash in different form in his published poems. How could
anyone take liberty with poets own decisions after his sad passing away?
There were many immature pieces, which Paash did not feel like
publishing , so he did not, yet Comrades like that of Paash’s
poem-‘Comrade Naal Galbaat’ could decide what to do with afterlife
of Paash, even without bothering to take Paash family’s views on these
things. In my view, lot many pieces, which Paash himself decided not to
publish should not have been published in such hurry. But there were
complete poems also, which Paash himself was publishing in his own
style, like ‘Sab Ton Khatarnak’ was published probably in January
1988 Sunday issue of ‘Punjabi Tribune’, which I translated in Hindi
and was published by ‘Jansatta’, Hindi daily in February 1988 Sunday
issue. Paash could see its Hindi version himself. Poems like Bedakhli
lai Binaypatar, Dharmdiksha lai Binaypatar, Khuh etc. Should definitely
have been published, many poems , which were later found out, such as
‘Yaaran Naal Samvad’ published in ‘Aarsee’ could be located with
help from Shamsher Sandhu, when we were editing Vartman De Rubru in
Punjabi, published in 1989.Later Amarjit Chandan edited ‘Khilre Hoe
Varke’ and finally Paash memorial International trust put everything
together in single volume-Paash-Samuchi kavita. Since incomplete poems,
pieces of poems, pieces of differently used poems in earlier poems like
‘Yudh Te Shanti’ etc. were all put together. And this book was
transliterated in Shahmukhi in Lahore, making popular in West Punjab as
well, which is three times bigger than East Punjab, which uses Punjabi
in Persian script. So it has been a welcome publication.
Khalid
Ameen and Maqbool Saqib, who through his publishing house and journal
‘Pancham’ is doing tremendous service by publishing books from east
Punjab- he has already published Nanak Singh, Kulwant Singh Virk,
Gurdial Singh, Waryam Singh Sandhu and many more writers in Shahmukhi,
published even Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna’s autobiography and some
articles of Bhagat Singh, including ‘Why I am an Atheist’ through
‘Pancham’.
I was gifted this book by Maqsood Saqib in 2007, when I visited
Pakistan for first time. It was given for record, since I translated and
published complete Paash poetry in Hindi. Yet I kept on struggling with
learning of Urdu after my return and can now read though slowly Urdu and
Punjabi in Shahmukhi script. Reading of Paash’s Saari Shayri may have
taken three weeks or so, but it was a pleasure. There could be minor
errors in publication, but on the whole book has been brought out
beautifully and at a very reasonable price. In today’s context of
Salman Taseer assassination, Paash’s poetry becomes even more relevant
in Pakistan, more than India, particularly his poem ‘Dharm Diksha Lai
Binay Patar’ is as scathing for Pakistani jehadi Mullas, who
instigated the assassination of Salmaan Taseer, as it was for
Bhindrawale brand of Khalistanis, who assassinated Paash for writing
such poems to expose them. Wish
friends in Pakistan translate this poem in Urdu or transliterate it from
Hindi and use it like they use Faiz Ahmad Faiz’ poems to fight
religious fundamentalism and state oppression. Meanwhile my heartfelt
complements to Maqsood Saqib and Khalid Ameen for getting Paash into
Pakistan through this edition.
Chaman Lal
Visiting Professor on Hindi Chair
The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad
& Tobago prof.chaman@gmail.com
mob. 1868-3692687
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