By: Ayaz Ahmad
Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Mehjoor Shayri -e Kashmir was born in 1885 in Mitrgam village of Pulwama district, nearly about 40 kilometres from capital Srinagar. The legendary poet received early education from maktab of Ashik Trali and later on passed middle school examination from Nusrat ul Islam school in Srinagar. He visited Punjab and came under the influence of great poets like Maulana Shibli Nomani and Bismilla Amritsari. His original works are in Persian and Urdu .Mehjoor returned back to Kashmir in 1908 and started writing in local kashmiri language. The poet whose poetry has reifed into indigenous folklore and traditions. His works are briefly based on forebearance and fortitude. He worked as patwari ( Revenue employee) and his early posting was in Hardwara tehsil of Kupwara district. That frequent journeys made intrepid bard to feel the pulse of common people, that resonates in his verses and nazms. Greece koor ( peasants daughter) his poetic compilation takes us to the point that how the Mehjoor was connected to earth and importuning populace. Impressed by his outpourings and inclinations Tagore called him Wordsmith Of Kashmir
He was the Poet of the era and was well aware of social and political situations prevalent that time. He invokes a brief and cloying sentiments seeing the plight of people. Mehjoor wrote with strong and intense emotions about the vicissitudes of downtrodden, poverty stricken, slavery, anarchy, cruelty and barbarism. Besides writing about nature’s Bounty, mountains, moors, rivers, lush green forests, streams, waterfalls , with romance and candor, his poetry revels on deep concern of common man. His immortal words teaches us the lesson of love peace, harmony, unity, faith in Almighty and develops a sense of we feeling. He was the strong advocate of justice and human dignity. Mehjoor was influenced by uprisings and movements that were wreaking havoc across globe .He stood with suffering people and developed an atmosphere of strong brotherhood and sense of belonging
He replaced Laila – Majnu love tryst with his nazm Bomber- Yemerzal , that echoed the passion of cordial intimacy among kashmiri hearts. And in the below mentioned verses, Mehjoor made his heart felt appeal to fellow countrymen to raise their voice against all injustice and ills that were eating up the very vitals of human dignity:
“Bulbulan Dup Gulas, Husun Chui Pur
Keyha Wanai, Zew Chai Ne, Sui Chui Kasur”
His poem Walo ha bagwano ( Arise O gardener) invokes a deep sense of patriotism for the nation based on love and shared pain. He appeals people to decorate their land with flowers, and shun away communal strife and live the dignity and honour. To symbolise their tradition and culture with peace and balance. In “Gulshan watan chu soney” Mehjoor delivered a clarion call that there is nothing more dear to him other than his country and he wants to prosper his nation based on love and compassion, bereft of communal strife, hatred, jealousy and animosity. His verses are sung by bevy of girls working on fields and boatmen ferrying jubilant passengers across lakes and streams . We are equally gyrated to the enchanting collections with Posh mati janano and Sahibo sath chem me chani vath meh aslich havtum (My Lord ! I only live by a profound faith in you, Show me the right path”) that regales our school morning assemblies and marriage ceremonies. In 1972 bilingual film in Hindi version was released about him starring Balraj Sahini. The great and well celebrated poet of Kashmir died on April 9th 1952 and lie buried on quiescent grave aside Habha Khatoon near Athwajan along Srinagar Jammu highway.
—The writer is a hails from Nunner Ganderbal and can be reached at [email protected]
