Saturday, October 26, 2024

SHANTIVEER KAUL: TUM NA JAANE KIS JAHAAN MEIN KHO GAYE




TUM NA JAANE KIS JAHAAN MEIN KHO GAYE...SHANTIVEER KAUL

 

                                                                                  (The author with Shantiveer Kaul)

                                             

‘Main Kisi aur hi jazeeray mein

Tu koi bahr-e-bekaraan jaise

Meri nazron ki dolti kashti

Teri nazron ki mauj se milkar

Jaane kyon sochti

Kinara hai? ’.... (Shantiveer Kaul)

 

(I have arrived on some unfamiliar island

You appear like a limitless ocean,

The tumultuous boat of my eyes

Meets the waves of your eyes,

And thinks it to be the safety of the bank)

 

It was sudden, unexpected and a rude shock when I read Ashok Ogra’s message on social media about Shantiveer Kaul’s passing away. We had spoken some days back. He never told me he had some renal problem. That day also, he spoke with the usual affection and care. That day, he told me this:-

 

“I am happy for you to be nominated for the SaMaPa Award 2023. I am equally happy for your new book, “The Shikaras in the Frozen Lake “. I think every Kashmiri needs to read it. Keep going. I shall be in Bengaluru for some more months. Then I shall come to Delhi. We meet. Take care."

                                                  


Son of Dina Nath Nadim, the eminent Kashmiri poet, Shantiveer was a polyglot, translator, poet, art critic, columnist, a great friend, genuine guide and above all a great human being. Never ever have I seen him being judgemental on men and matters? He had his eyes on world literature and a capacity to see both sides of the coin on any issue. On my request, he did the beautiful translation of Ali Sardar Jafri’s Nazm (tu ne samjhi hi nahin kya hai shikaayat meri) used in the 'Aasmaan Mahal ' movie. There can be no better translation.

 

                              


  (Book Review published in the Daily Excelsior)

 

 I reviewed his recent book, "Hukam e Safar Diya Tha Kyon” for some newspapers and magazines. The book is a great compilation of his modern Urdu Nazams. About Shantiveer’s poems, Saifi Sironji writes this:-
” When I read Shantiveer’s poems, I kept reading them again and again. Something impossible to say in the Gazal format, Shantiveer has said all that freely through his Nazms. Some of his poems are so beautiful that one feels duty-bound to appreciate Shantiveer’s creativity and thought process. I wonder why we have remained deprived of this beautiful poetry till now. Thank God this collection stands published.”

 

                                          


  (Shantiveer with his book ‘Hukam e Safar Diya Tha Kyon’)

 

And Muneebur Rehman writes this:-


” The poems included in this collection are in simple language yet full of creative energy and liveliness. Like a wrapped-up carpet, these poems open line after line to reveal the beauty of composition and poetic imagery. I am of the opinion that Shantiveer’s poetry fits aptly into Robert Frost’s definition of good poetry. I am optimistic that in the Nazm genre of what is emerging in Urdu poetry in the entire Indo-Pak subcontinent, this collection shall find many well-wishers apart from enhancing creative inertia.”

This poetic collection derives its title from Allama Iqbal’s famous couplet:-


“Bagh e bahisht se mujhe hukam e safar diya tha kyon
Kaar e jahaan daraaz hai ab mera intezaar kar”


(Why did you command me to leave paradise?

my work here is unfinished so you will have to wait)

 

Although the collection in its entirety has been dedicated to some unnamed entity, the book bears individual poems dedicated to the memory of poet Kumar Paashi and Short story writer Hriday Kaul Bharati. The poem dedicated to the memory of Kumar Paashi begins like this:-

“Tu hai ameer e karwaan
Ye baat to durusat hai
Ye baat bhi durusat hai
Ye mera Karwaan nahin.”

                                                     

 I also reviewed his coffee table book on the art of G R Santosh. In this book, Shantiveer Kaul writes this about the Neo-Tantric art of Santosh:-

                                                               
“Viewed from a certain perspective most of Santosh’s Neo-Tantric paintings look like stylised portraits of the female form, seated in Padmasana (the lotus position). This is no mere coincidence. There is a definite suggestion of the female torso in the placement of geometric elements within the composition. This stylisation is symptomatic of the devotion of Santosh to Shakti, the Divine Mother. Santosh wrote Shakti Vichara in 1980, a long poem in the hallowed tradition of the epic Bhavani Sahasranama, dwelling exclusively on Shakti in her various manifestations.”

                                                                                   

                                  

    (Shantiveer’s pocket-size book on G R Santosh)

 

Apart from poetry, Shantiveer’s interests were theatre, art, journalism, translation, scripting plays and documentaries and writing on any subject under the sun. He joined Doordarshan as a producer and got noticed by the highest echelons in the organization for his exceptional creative qualities. His documentary on Indian Painters is remembered to this day. He left Doordarshan and started working independently in various creative fields. He wrote the script/ screenplay of Angela, a telefilm that was nominated for Asian Television Awards. Never ever have I seen him indulging in self-publicity? A man of sharp intellect, Shantiveer spoke less, thought too much and never failed to demonstrate empathy, affection and care for those who came close to him. A little lethargy on his part made him suffer on many fronts. He didn’t publish what he wrote and he didn’t compromise on what he believed to be correct in a world bereft of human values. He earned many friends; some tall like Juan Elia, Kumar Pashi, artist G R Santosh, Ameer Qazalbash, Makhmoor Saidee, Raj Narain Raaz, Saifi Sironji and many more.

Shantiveer was unique on all fronts. Much ahead of his time. He will always be missed. I don't know which number I should dial now to seek guidance and encyclopedic clarity on issues.

I am sure he shall be happy in the company of celestial entities up above. May he be pleased amidst the ‘Lights and Flowers’ of Swargdhaam. My heartfelt condolences to Flora Bose, Ahinsa Kaul, Panchsheel and his other relations. May Almighty grant courage to his nears, dears, friends and relations to bear this irreparable loss.

 

‘Chhup gaye woh saaz e hasti chhed kar

Ab to bus awaaz hi awaaz hai.’

                                

                                                        

 

 

(Avtar Mota)




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