KHUSRO’S POETRY EXUDES FRAGRANCE OF INDIA’S FOLK CULTURE AND PLURALITY

                                                                                    
Recently  i  read  a book on Amir khusro( 1253-1325 ) .I need to convey some important incidents mentioned in the Book .

When khusro went to his master for the first time ,he composed below mentioned lines in Persian to be conveyed at appropriate time . He stood at the door of the master but had no courage to utter even a word from these lines

“Tu Aan shaahe ki bur Aiwaane kasarat ,

Kabootar gar nasheenad Baaz Gardad ,

Gareebe mustamandhe bur dar aamad ,

Bayaayad andharoon ya Baaz Gardad.”

... The master was a perfect visionary and a sufi saint of highest order ..While the seeker was just thinking only ,the master sent a follower out with a message,

“ Bayaayad andaroon marde haqeeqat ,

Ki baama yak nafas hamraaz gardad ,

Agar ab lah buaad aan marde nadaan,

Azaan Raahe ki aamad baaz gardad ’’

Hearing these words ,the seeker rushed inside to meet his master who happened to be none other than Hazrat Nizam ud din Aulia .That is how Amir khusro met his master .I know young Naren (who later came to be known as swami vivekananda )also met his master Rama krishna in some what similar manner .I do not know Persian but from some words which are also used in urdu, i can make out what the seeker thought and what his master conveyed through his messenger

Seeker said

“ You are such ruler that even if a kabootar sits on your palace wall, he becomes a Baaz with your grace.A seeker now stands a your door ,let him know whether to enter or leave.

The master said,

“o seeker of truth ,enter to know my secret for some time .But if the person who has come over here is not in search of true knowledge, better for him to go back from the same road that brought him over here. ’’

Khusro remained devoted to his master Hazrat Nizam Ud Din Aulia throughout his life. When his master left for his heavenly abode , Khusro was at Lucknow on some official duty .He rushed to Delhi and saw His master ‘s beautiful face as if his peer was in a deep slumber . The long hair that his master had were partly on the face . The master looked like a bride in siesta .That made khusro to sigh and say

Gori soyey seij par Mukh par Daale keish

Chal Khusro Ghar Aapney rein Bhayee Chahun Deiss .

That day onwards khusro put on black clothes and donated his entire wealth to poor.He sat near the grave of his Peer and sang

“Chhaap Tilak sab Cheeni re Mo Se Naina Milaa ke……….”

 Khusro’s letters are a treat to read. Each line exudes his love for  India  .  I quote 

“ The fragrant air of India ( Hind ) , its flowers and the fruits have no parallel any where in the world. India ( Hind ) is an unmatched country . I now belong to this country .This is my dear country now. This is my everything .I want to remain a true patriot and mix with the soil of this land . Perhaps world does not know that this country has a great civilization and is a source of great knowledge . Not less than Romans and Greeks .Just one Brahmin of this land is sufficient to match the knowledge of Aristotle .The science of astrology that this land has given to the world can make the Romans and Greeks small. Every corner of this country is full of knowledge and Art . Since many centuries , people from all over the world have been coming to this land to seek knowledge .Never have people from this land moved out to seek knowledge .India gave mathematics to the world . The game of Chess ( Chausar ) has its origin in this land only. And the classical music of this land . Sheer magic! . Sheer magic!. Every Sur and Taal pours nectar of happiness into the veins of the performer and the listener . ” so wrote Amir khusro in a letter .

 In another letter Khusro writes

“ If we outsiders have to live in India , then we have to live in the hearts of Indians . For this our first and foremost duty is to learn the widely spoken Indian language .Learn their emotions and folklore and use it in poetry . Otherwise also I feel that any Indian language is equally sweet like the Persian or Arabic that we are used to .In so far Indian culture is concerned , I have already given you example of Rani Padhmani and Deval Devi. This is the quality of this soil that has created such great ladies . You may not get such examples anywhere in the world. ”

Khusro is an ICON in the history of art , literature and music of this subcontinent . To me he is one amongst the greatest personalities who had a genuine multicultural and pluralistic outlook . Some writers say that Tabla is his invention. Some credit him with invention of Sitar. But for sure I know that he is the creator of TARANA and KHAYAL style OF Gayaki in the Indian classical music . He was born at Badayoon ( UP ) though his father hailed from Balkh , Khusro had a mastery over Khadi and Brij dialects . He used Khadi with Persian in his poetry and other works . Some times words from each language and sometimes complete lines or sentences .

Perhaps his has been the first recorded attempt to create a real Ganga – jamuna style in Indian poetry . His language is thus Persian and Hindavi . He was quite at ease with the folk culture of the land which he describes liberally in his poems . I quote some of his lines

1 “Amma Mere baba ko Beijo ki sawaan Aaya .” This folk song continues to be sung in Up and some adjoining states . 

2 “Bahut kathin hai dagar panghat ki ” These lines are from a Qawwali written by Khusroo. This qawwali is popular till date .

3 “sagan Bin Phool rahi Sarson ” a folk song still being sung rural areas of awadh .

4 “ Parbat Baans Mangaa morey babul ” a popular folk song sung in music mehfils .

5 “ Bahut rahi Baabul ghar Dulhan – Chal tore pee ne Bulaayee ’a popular folk song sung in music mehfils .

6 “Kaahe ko Biyaahi Bidesh ” These lines of Khusro make all sentimental . No father can remain untouched by the pathos that Khusro has created.


Mixing persian with Khadi Dialect . Greatness of Khusro . Lines mixed with lines . I quote

Jo Haal Miskeen Makun Tagaaful(1)-- Duraaye naina banaaye batiyaan
Ki taab e Hijraan Naa daaram e jaan(2) _ na Lehu Kaahe Lagaaye chhatiyaan 
( amir Khusro ). The Persian lines convey
(1)Do Not Forget the plight of this poor man -
(2) O Love ! i can not stand this separation now .
 
 I quote Again

Yakayukk Az dil Do chashm e jaadoo-basad farebam beburdh Taskeen ( 1)

Kisse padi hai jo Jaa sunaave -Piyaare pee Ko Hamaari batiyaan

( Amir Khusro )

The Persian lines convey

 ( 1 ) Suddenly these two magical eyes,with hundreds of deceptions , took away my peace and made me to lose my patience .

Amir Khusro is also known for his poetic riddles or Pahelis . Many riddles became  so popular that they still continue to be discussed in the subcontinent .

I quote some

1 Ek kahaani me kahoon

Sunn Aey Mere Poot

Binaa paron Woh Udd gayaa

Baandh gale mein soot.

( A poetic riddle to describe a kite . )

2 Meethi meethi Baat Banaave

Eisaa purukh woh sab Ko Bhaave

Booda baala jo Bhi Aaye

Uss ke Aage sees Navaaye

( A riddle to describe a barber )

3 Ek naari ke Do hain Baalak

Donon Ek Hi rang

Eik Phirey ek thaada Raahe

Phir Bhi Donon sang

( a riddle to describe a Chakki )

Amir Khusro also wrote Keh Mukariyan . Many readers may be surprised by these words . Yes Keh mukariyaan is a style of conveying riddles or pahelis in Poetry . The strength of this Keh Mukariyan is finally to deny all at the end of the poem. The speaker or the poet provides hints till the end of the poem and finally provides such an answer that surprises the listener or the reader . This is keh Mukariyan style .We have a some what similar style in English poetry as well. Poets like Lewis Carrol, Emily Dickinson , Charles Simic and A A Milne have also written poetic riddles . I quote some Keh Mukariyaan of Khusro .

1 Aankh Chalaave Bhonh Chalaave

Naach koodh ke Kheil Dikhaave

Munn mein aave le jaaon andher

Aey sakhi Saajan na sakhi Bandher

( Monkey )

2 Lipat Lipat ke vaake soyee

Chhaati Paanv lagaa kar royee

Daant se daant bajey To taada

Aey sakhi Saajan na sakhi jaada

( winter )

3 Aap jale aur mohe Jalaave

Pee pee kar more munh mein aave

Eik mein ab Maroongee Mukkaa

Aey sakhi Saajan Na sakhi Hukka

( Hubble Bubble )

4 Dhur Dhur karoon To dodhaa aaye

Chhunn Aangan Chhunn bahar jaaye

Deehal chhoad kahin Na sutataa

Aey sakhi Saajan na sakhi kuttaa

( Dog )

5 Jab Maangoon Tab Jal Bhar laave

Mere munn ki Vipat Bujhaave

Munn ka Bhaari tan ka chhotaa

Aey sakhi saajan na sakhi Lotaa

( water jug )

 ( Autar Mota )

PS

Photograph No 1 is the Hazrat Bal shrine of srinagar . Photograph No 2 shows  Gurdawara  Chhatti Padshaahi of Srinagar and photograph no 3 shows the  abode of Goddess Sharika at Hari Parbat Srinagar.  All Photographs by Autar Mota .

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