The Forgotten Poet

The Forgotten Poet

Abdul Ahad Azad

Alam ha kar yaaad Azaad! Azaad!

Kune SaTeh Wuchita yaad pawyee Madnowe.

One day the whole world will remember Azad

Oh my beloved any moment i will remind you.

As Percy Bysshe Shelly is to English literature so is Abdul Ahad Azad (1903-1948) to our Kashmiri literature both were radical in their poetry as well as in their political and social views. Azad is not only a name in the Kashmiri literature but a phenomenon in the modern Kashmiri poetry whose poetic voice is surcharged with  the elements like resistance and nationalism. Today more than six decades have passed when the bard of voiceless people left this abode but unfortunately he still remains unacknowledged and unexplored? Neither his poetry has been translated into other languages nor did it become the part of our syllabus so that the young generation can read, remember and celebrate our own Shelly. This grave betrayal and negligence by the state and non state cultural forms towards this resistance poet apart from publishing few articles, translations and a special volume of SHEERAZA Urdu in 2006 published by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and languages remain a big question mark on their tall claims of cultural revival? There is no such authentic book either in Urdu or in English written on Azad which delineates his life and works so that the non Kashmiri readers can read and spread his word and revolutionary message beyond the literary borders.

Abdul Ahad Azad is one of the rare poets in the galaxy of Kashmiri modern poetry who was wielding a strong pen and a revolutionary heart that always antagonizes the ruling elite and challenges colonial and feudal values. As we know that Azad lived in an age when Dogra Raj and its atrocities and savagery was at its peak and in such circumstances Azad hold the ground and dipped his fingers in the blood to shake the conscience of a nation with an epic history of oppression. Azad’s poetic brush not only depicted the somber and painful political picture of valley but to some extent succeeds in realizing his countrymen the importance of national honor and dignity. It is true that his poetry does subscribe Marxist ideology in a great deal but he was also influenced and inspired by the Allama Iqbal’s ideology which he distinctly reflected in his poetry. Therefore under the spell of Marxism and Allama Iqbal’s reawakening call Azad like a crusader took the cudgels on the behalf of his hapless people against suppression, obsolete rituals, hallucination, pauperism, hunger, ignorance and other political as well as social and historical factors that ruined and stained the beauty of Kashmir. He even translated Allama Iqbal’s “Question and Answers” in the Kashmiri language which was published by the Iqbal academy Karachi. Azad throughout his life acted as torch bearer of freedom and justice and unlocked his heart in praise of universal society. As a typical romantic poet he became the rebel against the dogmas and traditions and defined the larger concepts of basic human rights to fuel will and velour among the people. Who time to time were sold and used as a fodder by their own leaders and outsiders for their own vested political objectives.

Abdul Ahad Azad was not just a poet but a utility literary figure who worked as a great researcher, linguist and literary historian in his short span of life. But to ill-fated nation some of his precious works became ashes in the fire which burnt down the cultural academy’s book house some years ago. However like a true picture of loyalty his poetry manifested the deep sense of commitment towards the lower-class people but his besieged homeland and its future remain the most dominant themes in his poetry. He did not strike the chord of sorrow, but has always wafted an aroma of optimistic rosy future through his pulsating imagination. Like other Romantic poets his poetic flight begins with the love lyrics but feeling the pangs of world revolutionary movements and the inexorable conditions in which he lived changed his perception and philosophy completely and became a masses poet. In this odyssey Azad faced grave economic problems and he could hardly keep the wolf out of the door, yet he was keener to drive away the wolves of oppression, exploitation and social inequality. He writes

The water which was once drunk by Qulhan, Gani, Sarfi and became exalted forever.

Why that water has been made poison for us?

Today the Kashmir history and literature whether in Kashmiri, Urdu or English language is passing through an important phase given the political situation in the state? The need of hour is that we should look back and rediscover our radiant literary legacy and introduce those unsung poets who are yet to be heard, sung and written. Otherwise it will be tantamount to treachery and hypocrisy if we forget such an unacknowledged legislature of Kashmir who spends his brief forty five years of his life in utter misery and state intimidation but never surrendered his principles for the sake of petty benefits and leverages. Azad would never like a man to bite the dust, but to rise like a phoenix bird, so that a bright future in every respect would be guaranteed, this kind of attitude is the forte of all poet-philosophers for them shadow has never been a substitute for substance.

In the poem “Question” he brings into focus the generations of annihilation and suffering which have befallen on the people but like an optimistic falcon leaves us with this hope that how long the tyranny and terror will besiege the denizens of paradise? Living with this optimistic revolutionary attitude might have forced his contemporary and mentor Mahjoor to paid him the glowing tribute in this way:-

“Oh! Azad ‘has concealed himself for this world; or the cup of life has eluded him.

Mahjoor would like to unfold his heart over his death by saying that the sweet-throated Bulbul has opted for silence.”

Many literary critics believe that it was his stated political position and unflinching stand against the monopoly and injustice that caused his death. In his last days when Azad was admitted to the state hospital in Srinagar and need a dire economic assistance for treatment but in contrast to it he was intentionally reduced to the peanut stipend fixed by the education department where he served as a teacher till his last breath. This disgrace and degradation towards this son of land didn’t stop here he was even disowned by the so called literary forms and figures neither his death was mourned nor given a proper homage. He was buried in a simple ceremony attended by some of his handful relatives and friends at his native village in Budgam. Azad had a sobbing heart which was only beating for his nation and his songs of optimism will remain immortal and a source for inspiration to coming generations. Thus there is no doubt that the Azad is one of the greatest modern Kashmir poets and in fact the founder of Kashmiri revolutionary poetry and cultural renaissance. But why he remains inglorious, unheard and untouchable just because his poetry served as a spring of hope and taught people resistance and national pride should not hinder in celebrating this great son of soil. Thus the onus as well as the moral responsibility lies on the shoulders of contemporary literary stalwarts and academicians who always beat their chests by projecting themselves the saviors and messiah of Kashmiri literature to introduce his poetry both at national as well as international literary radar?

Author is doing PhD from the Pune University