I first thought of ignoring this lack of poetic appreciation exhibited by two frontline political leaders of our country, Miyan Nawaz Sharif and Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman. But the self-proclaimed poet in me thought of correcting the two political stalwarts.
It happened on the day when the 26th Constitutional Amendment was passed in the National Assembly. As soon as Khawaja Asif finished his speech, Maulana rose in his seat to give a momentous speech about his heroic deeds in taking out the venom and bite from the draft of the proposed amendments that he likened to a black cobra in its original form. However, the Speaker unexpectedly called out the name of Nawaz Sharif, who also got up to speak. Maulana, therefore, sat down in courtesy and respect for the three-time Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Nawaz Sharif started by saying, “aik chhota sa sher hai” (it is a short couplet) from some poet. It was written on a piece of paper, which he intended to hand over to Khawaja Asif for recital, but he suddenly concluded his speech. So, Nawaz Sharif sought permission to read it himself, as it reflected the judiciary’s torments they had gone through, and aptly reflected their character.
What Nawaz Sharif actually read out was a famous qitah (quatrain) from Sahir Ludhianvi:
Naazo andaaz se kehte hain ki jeena hoga / Zehr bhi dete hain toh kehte hain ki peena hoga
Jab main peeta hon toh kehte hain ki martaa bhi nahin / Jab main martaa hon toh kehte hain ki jeena hoga
The above qitah was correctly recited by Nawaz Sharif. However, when Maulana rose to deliver his speech again, he intentionally or unknowingly pricked Nawaz Sharif with a backhanded compliment. Maulana said that Miyan Nawaz Sharif Sahab has quoted a very appropriate and befitting sher (missing out on the genre, like Nawaz Sharif). Then, he went on to make a false claim in boasting of his pedantic acumen. Maulana pointed out to Nawaz Sharif that by adding “toh” in the last line, the sher has lost its rhythmic structure or meter.
No, Maulana Sahab, it is the other way round and Miyan Sahab had correctly recited the qitah. I further take this opportunity to appreciate Nawaz Sharif for recently reciting a sublime sher from Ghalib in New York, and that too relying on his memory:
Ghalib hamein na ched keh phir josh-e ashk sai / Baithe hain hum tahayya-e toofan kiye hue
Haroon Rashid Siddiqi
Milton, Canada
