An eternal voice of hope

Mona

If anything, Sahir Ludhianvi, who famously wrote Main pal do pal ka shayar hoon, is celebrated as much for lending literary touch to filmy music as much for his timeless appeal. On his birth centenary, writers, lyricists and poets go down the memory lane as they hold the unified view that his verses are evergreen. It’s a happy coincidence that he wrote about women’s rights and shares his birth anniversary with International Women’s Day.

Noted author Surjit Patar sees in Sahir an ideal lyricist who reached out to the masses and dreamt of a society that we are still working towards. “Sahir’s lyrics were on par with the literature at that time. While credit is due to filmmakers who made that quality of cinema as well, in him one had the finest of songs.” While many object that poetry remains privy to the elitists, not in case of Sahir. “His words reached the masses, films played their role but as a poet he was accessible to populace at large.” Years on, Sahir’s writings are as topical. “Jinhe naaz hai Hind par woh kahan hai is as relevant today if not more,” says Patar. “Sahir’s birthday coincides with Women’s Day, and through his songs he raised voice for women’s rights. Aurat ne janam diya mardo ko, mardo ne use bazar diya is just one of his songs on the theme.” Patar sees major thrust in Sahir’s poetry towards a society where there is equality, justice, “Still a dream and gives us inspiration even today.”

Sahir’s verses would be relevant forever says lyricist, shayar Devendra Kafir. “Jab tak gane rahengen, Sahir rahengen. Be it romance or philosophy of life, his has been a beautiful take. Sansaar se bhaage phirte ho/ Bhawgwan ko tum kya paoge – sums up the life truth so succinctly.”

A true measure of poet is timelessness, says writer, lyricist Harmanjeet Singh and he sees in Sahir a quintessential poet. “Beauty of Sahir’s verses is that in very simple words he bridged the gap between extremes—Marne ka saleeqa aatey hi jeenay ka shauur aa jata hai and Sansar ki har shai ka itna hi fasana hai/ ik dhund se aana hai ik dhund men jaana hai – how he juxtaposes life with end only he could, making perfect sense.” Harmanjeet, who has won a following of his own for his book Rani Tatt, admires that the legendary poet like a true artiste could write on any subject, any mood and beautifully so. “Be it for children, filmy songs to something like Parchhaiyaan, he had a mastery over every single thing he picked up. And then say something so deep in such simple words.”

“The dichotomy in Sahir’s writing always remained an integral part irrespective of the subject matter. What’s more interesting and absorbing is that despite sharp contrast in the expression, both the side of his writing contain same intensity, sincerity, commitment and involvement. That was the charisma of Sahir, the magician of words,” says author Amarjeet Singh Batth. “Sahir was an atheist, but serenity pours when we listen to bhajans like Allao tere naam, Ishwar tero naam and Toraa man darpan kahalaaye penned by him.”