Kahkashaan

KyaTeraBigarta Jo na Marta Koi Din Aur..

(a tribute by Sharfuddin Ahmad Azimabadi)

Hashim, to me, always remained like kith and kin and for his long life I always used to pray. Hence I am unable to gather the strength and forbearance to suffix “deceased” to his name. Sorry, I will not be able to do that.

Hashim was a very close nephew of mine, and his wife was my lovable niece. I was always very fond of these two kids of my family. Time kept passing by and devastating events, one after another, kept striking my small world. The world, however, keeps moving and God knows till what time it will keep going on. The fact however cannot be denied that the same world snatched away so many things from us, our own environment, our culture, civilization and our society. I have somehow managed to deal with these changing scenarios with utmost patience. But in the meantime, when such loved ones, who were still not so old, also departed in front of my own eyes, I am unable to find a cogent reason for the continuation of my own existence. Hashim was also among these loved ones whose childhood memories are still unhazed in my mind. Apparently, he has gone too far away from me but the heart too has its own eyes. I can see him with those eyes smiling in the manner exclusive to him.

Recently Mrs. Hashim had come over to Karachi from Patna to pay her last tributes to her only elder brother Khwaja Ali. Ah! Khwaja Ali was again one of the similar loved ones who passed away recently. So many devastating events have occurred before, and after these tragedies which are directly related to me, but then what can be done to my stubborn life, that even after all this I am still alive, even though:

“Ab apni umr Sheesha-e-nazuk ka jam hai

Bas ek zara si thes men qissa tamaam hai” (ShaadAzimabadi)

I met Mrs. Hashim after a gap of atleast 35 years. Innumerable images of the bygone era suddenly emerged in front of me. I was so delighted to hear from her, and her son-inlaw Dr.Sohail that a collection of Hashim’s poetry is going to be published. These two have asked me to write something for this publication. What could have given me more pleasure than this? But along with the compilation of poetry when the poet himself is not within sight, then the heart takes a beating, difficult to explain.

Hashim had a pleasant lovable nature right from his early childhood. Circumstances somehow were such that I could not see the blossoming of his poetic talents with my own eyes and only kept hearing the news from a distance as I remained away from Patna in connection with my service. Whenever, I would be visiting Patna, it so happened that Hashim was posted away elsewhere and therefore the two of us could hardly be together at the same time. Nevertheless I was delighted to hear the news of his literary inclinations. Mubarak Azimabadi, who himself was like a senior family member for me, was mentoring Hashim and had often spoken in praise of Hashim’s capabilities. I also kept on hearing that Hashim has a flare for writing “Naat” and besides Ghazals he was often venturing into humorous Poetry with a tinge of satire, which was of fairly high standard as compared to the usual stuff in that genre.

On the occasion of the demise of Quasim Bhai (Hashim’s father), I had written a letter of mourning to Hashim and from his reply thereof, I was convinced that this young man’s literary taste was of very high standards and that one day he will certainly find an appropriate stature in the small world of literature and poetry. That particular letter from Hashim I had kept at some safe place but unfortunately that letter somehow has disappeared along with its author.

While I am writing all this at the specific request of Mrs. Hashim and Dr. Sohail, I am not really in a position to comment on the poems of Hashim as presently I do not have any of his writings with me. However, I would certainly like to mention about his early childhood and the surrounding in which he was brought up, which eventually shaped up his thought process. The circumstances were potent enough for Hashim to keep him confined to the conventional way of life like any other traditional aristocrat. But not only did he acquire higher education and managed higher designations, but also attained a position in the area of literature and poetry. As I am fully aware of the background of all this, I consider it a miracle of nature.

Hashim, both from his paternal as well as maternal lineage was an aristocrat. His ancestors had inherited properties from their forefathers, and all of them in their entire life had never done any work other than aristocracy. So much so that they did not even have an idea that how much land they had, where they are situated and what is the income from them. The management of the entire estate was delegated to Munshees and caretakers whose salaries werenever more that Rupees 10 to 15. But over a period of time, these employees themselves became prosperous and perhaps were in a better condition than their masters. On occasions such as weddings etc. lakhs of rupees changed hands. Much before the day of the wedding and days thereafter, there was a large gathering of relatives and guests. Virtually every day, an occasion was created for celebration and the man of the house didn’t even know how and from where all this was being managed.

While I was not witness to the era related to my earlier generation, I have clear memories of the peak days of QuasimBhai. He was an aristocrat by looks as well as by temperament. Together with intelligence he also had a fine literary taste. There was a phase in which he developed fascination for the novels of Sharar and his personal library was stacked with each and every novel written by the author. At his house, poetry sessions were frequently organized. A few courtiers were alwaysthere, whose role was to be present there for the whole day, give company during the meals and please their masters with their glib talking and jokes. The ancestral house of Quasim bhai, which was in Dhawalpura in Patna city, was itself nothing less than a fort which was also a club of sorts. I cannot recall any gaming facility, ancient or modern, which was not practiced here. To name a few, Tennis, badminton, table tennis facilities were available. Carom tournaments were often organized. Playing cards, Chausar, Ganjifa and chess were being played on regularly. Irrespective of the number of people who came to participate in the games, at the meal time, everyone was to have it together. There was hardly any evening in summer when icecream or Qulfi was not prepared at home with invitation to all the kids of friends and relatives. Kite flying was a passion for most of the nobles of that time. But at Quasim Bhai’s place there was a proper workshop dedicated to it. Even the kites were made at home by experts. Best quality Nakh thread was managed under the supervision of the experts. Then the competitions were organized with the rival parties. In short, this pastime of a sport was raised to the level of art and the related expertise was meticulously passed on to the next generation. If any aristocrat’s son did not have his wallet holding the silver box full of paan and Qemaam, it was considered a matter of disdain.

So this was the surrounding and environment in which Hashim opened his eyes. He was the eldest amongst the sons and so there was no dearth of indulgence and pampering he received. His Nana, Maulvi Abdul HafeezSaheb was also a renowned noble of the city, though he possessed saintly features. His Nana had only one son (Late) Hussain Ahmad who was a very close childhood friend of mine. Both these Mamu and Bhanje grew up in more or less the same environment and nature had bestowed extra-ordinary talents equally to both of them. The difference emerged when Hussain Ahmad, despite his higher education, could not get riddance fromthe ancestral system of aristocracy. Hashim on the other hand, could gather all the will power he had in his possession, managed his adulthood and rest of his life on certain golden principles which led to a successful life in all respects.

The day Hashim crossed the age of three, an entire regiment of tutors was appointed for him. A HaafizSaheb for teaching Quran, A MaulviSaheb for Urdu and Persian, and a Munshi Saheb for the calligraphy and handwriting. So much so that experts were present for teaching playing-cards, carom, badminton, Chauser and Ganjafa. Right from the beginning, mannerisms of chewing paan was inculcated. As Hashim was with the grace of Allah, bestowed with superb intelligence, he was able to immediately grasp whatever was taught to him. Again it was the grace of God that amongst these engagements, the ones which were not conducive to the long term quality of life, Hashim had the will power not to be attracted towards them. He always had the desire to acquire knowledge which adds to the overall personality.

I vividly recall those days when he was formally admitted to the school. Within a few days, the gentry around the family formed the view that an aristocrat’s son should not be permitted to go to school where he would mingle with sons of ordinary people. He was, therefore, pulled out of the school and was asked to prepare for the matriculation exam privately (without going to school) under the supervision of various tutors. In those days very few boys were able to pass out with good marks but Hashim managed it with flying colors. Now he wanted to join the I.Sc. And for that he had to move to the hostel as Patna Science College was a bit far away from the house. Again the same controversy cropped up, that what is the need for higher studies for a boy from noble family? The hostel will neither have a personal servant nor home food would be available, which will impact the boy’s health.

Hashim managed to pass out I.Sc. also with good marks. Every weekend, when he would come back home, the entire house would get rejuvenated. His grandparents would complain about his weight loss and slim appearance. But during all these upheavals, Quasim Bhai and Bhabhi Sahiba had realized the relevance of modern education. By this time Hashim was bent upon joining the medical college but consensus on this subject was not easy to arrive. That was the time when it was not a matter of pride for children of noble families to go for the medical profession. The prevalent perception was that when best of doctors are available on call for a fee of 2 or 4 rupees, it was not appropriate for the son of an aristocrat to visit the house of every Tom Dick and Harry, for such a petty consideration. For the next four years people kept whispering with contempt but neither Hashim nor Quasim Bhai ever paid much attention to such gossips. Time however kept flying and this period was soon over and Hashim passed out the final MBBS exam in his very first attempt with reasonably good marks. I have used the word first attempt because in those days clearing the finals in the medial college was not that easy in the first chance and the majority of students remained deprived of it. Hashim was the first doctor in our family but most of us had declared him a dexterous clinician well before he had passed out the finals; particularly the females of the family were all praise for his medical treatment. While he was still in the third year of medical college, he had performed a real complicated surgery of one of his aunts. In those days fresh doctors did not have to search for jobs; instead the jobs used to chase them. So Hashim also joined the state medical service and was posted to different parts of the state. When he was in Sahebganj, his father had the attack of paralysis and eventually he breathed his last at that place.

With his mannerism, Hashim was always remained beloved among his relatives, friends and his patients. Certainly his persona was so charning that half the ailment dissappeared with his sheer appearance. Where ever I was posted during those days I was glad to hear that Hashim was doing very well in his profession. Honestly speaking, I was more interested in his literary pursuits rather than his professional career. What was immensely satisfying for me to note that this young boy of the next generation was able to contribute to the garden of poetry which our ancestors had left behind.

I also smile at the irony of fate that the family which has opposed tooth and nail to his becoming a doctor in the backdrop of zamindari system, within the same family, Mashallah Hashim’s son and daughter-in-law both are doctors. May Allah give them happiness forever. May Allah bestow his blessings to Hashim in the highest quarters of Heavens.

Though I stayed far away from him whenever I heard a good news about Hashim, it always gave me immense pleasure. In the process, I never realized that the year 1972 has arrived and the 9^th day of June is shadowing Hashim so mercilessly. Eventually, the inauspicious incident happened when Hashim closed his eyes forever, perhaps after reciting one of his favorite couplet of his Ustaad Mubarak Azimabadi.

“Jisko rahna hai rahe qaidi-e-zindaan bankar

Ham to aye ham-nafso phaand ke deevar chale”

Sharfuddin Ahmad Azimabadi

Karachi, Pakistan

31 July 1978.