This review is dedicated to esteemed MSian @jmathur who has, after so many years, inspired me to read and kindled an interest for Hindi Literature in me, through his prolific reviews of Hindi Pulp Fiction and Cinema. Although Hindi is not my mother tongue, however, being brought up in Delhi, I have fluency in speaking the language which was one of my vernaculars. As my grandfather would say proficiency in one language automatically develops appreciation of other languages, I think for me it was listening to the lyrics of Hindi filmy and non-filmy songs which actually catalyzed a strong attachment and understanding of the subject. In our young age, Hindi song writers were poets of high order like Neeraj, Gulzar, Sahir Ludhyanvi, Harivansh Rai Bachhan, Qaifi Azmi and others of the same league. The songs written by them had relevance even outside the coNFines of the script and screenplay of a particular film for which these would be initially written. Songs like "chalo ikbaar phir se ajnabi ban jaaye hum dono", in fact, did not require a story to relate to. They told stories of their own.
However, due to lack of exposure, pressure of school study and general hesitation of picking up books in a lingo which was'not one's own' prevented me from reading in Hindi except whatever was available in the form of text books and recommended references. Being a lover of language, I had an eye for the subtle nuances and could write as easily as I could speak the same. I could say the same for Urdu too. I had no opportunity of, let alone learning, even getting familiar with the language. However, I picked up a word or two here and there, was lucky enough to get hold of the meaning from some chance conversation and lo! I was savouring the deliciousness of the exotic expression in some song or poem, I would come to hear on Vividh Bharati, of whom I was an avid listener.
By giving the above explAnasultantion, I am actually trying to assert that I may have not been a voracious reader of Hindi novels and books but I do take the pride of saying that I can very well measure the worth of creativity be it in a language sparsely acquainted with. I feel that subtle sense of fine arts is inborn and cannot be taught or acquired(to some extent but not fully). You have to have the ears and eyes for the same. In that respect, I fully qualify to review Amit Agrawal's maiden anthology of poetry named "Chitakte Kaanchghar" which is written in Urdu-mixed-Hindi and is a treat for all poem lovers.
What attracted me to the book was Amitji's blog titled "SafAnasultanma" wherein he would often post Hindi Haikus along with eye-soothing clicks shot by him. The Haikus were precise, pointed and very, very beautiful. So, I was very sure that his collection of poems would also be of the same quality and craftsmanship. I was not wrong.
He who knows how to capture light in various forms through the lens also knows how to imprison emotions in words and cadence. Amitji's poems have a fluidity of a mountain spring and encapsulate a gamut so wide-ranging that the reader in me was quite awed and enraptured by its hugeness. There are poems dedicated to places where he oft-visited and which stayed in his memory like kodak moments - Mysore, Nainital, Dehradun. There are poems which speak of inner peace and enlightenment. Poems which reflect an introspective, deeply sensitive and humane side of the poet. And, of course, poems which just romanticizes Nature and Life. I have not mentioned love because a reflective person will obviously be a romantic lover at heart. And is love only restricted to man-woman relationship? No! Love, in all its oceanic vastness, embraces all humanity and that is what Amitji's lines manifest:
"kisi paripakwa, susheela, premil, majboor maa kii tarah ek kheej bhari, phiki, satahii nistej muskurahat ke saath, jismein saaf jhalakti hai uskii asahamati, virodh aur peeda, prakriti detii hai taazii hawa ke kuchh jhonken jangalon pahaadon kheton aur baagaanon se kahate huye jaise ki maaf to kar nahin sakti saaf dil se jaghanya paapon ko hamaare; par marne bhii nahin de sakti atankii, aatataayee, aparadhi beton ko apne!"
The attraction of poetry lies in what it does not lay bare;the space between the lines;the sigh between the thoughts;the hide and seek of word play. It is in those unspoken disclosure that individual readers find their personalized interpretations. Poetry is verbose yet carries the weight of silence:
"Romanchit karta girta paani, thahara paani karta sthir"
Again, poetry is the only medium in which the paradoxes and contradictions of Life and Nature can be so implicitly and succinctly merged.
"Dushmanon ne to aake poochhii khairiyat dost meri maujoodgi se sharminda nazar aaye"
Contrary to other forms of writing, it is in poems that the poet tries to seek his own self; in cadence his joys; in words his muses; in couplets is mirrored his intent.
".Chai coffee vendor hoon main, poorab se pashchim, uttar se dakshin garmi - sardi - barsaat, yahaan se wahaan, wahaan se yahaan: Anasultanvarat, antaheen!"
It is this chase that is eternalized in Amitji's "VipasyAnasultan".
"Das din ke us kathin sadhAnasultan shivir mein hamse kahaa gaya tha ki apne andar dekhen, sabhi indriyagat anubhootiyon kii upeKSHA139 Karen, aur jaane kii sab kuchh bhangur hai, nashwar hai, KSHA139nik hai, anitya hai.meri sadhAnasultan adhuri raha gayee kyunkii main usey na dhoondh paayaa jo nashwar hai, KSHA139nik hai, bhangur hai, anitya hai.lekin bina sadhAnasultan ke mujhe who mil gaya jo Anasultanshwar hai, sAnasultanatan hai, shaashwat hai, satya hai - tum!"
Simplicity of expressions has always enchanted me because it is the most difficult form of all. How lucidly and simply a writer expresses himself is the measure of his literary strength and acumen. In Amitji's writings I found both - beauty and simplicity.
His lines sometimes reminded me of Ruskin, especially, his poems dedicated to the hill resorts where time kind of stands still letting the wanderer halt and stare and soak in the bounties of Nature in all its colour, charms, mystique and magnanism! At others I found strong influence of Gulzaar, though whether that is intended or unintended, I do not know.
His ardent fans claim that Amitji is here to stay for long to enamour us with his magical poems and haikus. I cannot agree with them more. I wish him all success and hope his next plunge in cadence is puRobotouchshed soon.
Joyful Readings!
