‘Koel Sheher ki Katha’: Hassan Mujtaba’s poetry reflects the fire inside him, says Fehmida Riaz
Mujtaba’s present exile in New York and his past in Sindh echo in his poems
Mujtaba’s present exile in New York and his past in Sindh echo in his poems. PHOTO: fb.com/TheSecondFloor
KARACHI:
Poet Fehmida Riaz said that journalist-cum-poet Hassan Mujtaba's poetry is a reflection of the fire inside him.
She was speaking at the launch of Mujtaba's poetry collection, 'Koel Sheher ki Katha', at The Second Floor cafe on Friday evening. Notable names from the literary fraternity gathered to voice their opinions on the work of Mujtaba, shed light on his exiled status in New York and his poetry.
"The sane voice in your poetry has remained one of the only ways of showing resistance to whatever is going around in Pakistan," said Riaz, while addressing Mujtaba who was present with the audience via Skype. "In this unfortunate piece of land in the world called Pakistan, arts and culture are ways to show resistance."
Riaz commented that numerous poets have expressed their exiles in poetry so much so that it seems exile has become a genre of poetry on its own. "Your poetry reflects the fire inside you," she said to Mujtaba.
A presentation of Mujtaba's poem, titled 'Fifth Avenue', was shown to the audience in which he was walking through the streets of New York reminiscing about his past life. "Avenue Fifth bhi mera, Sehwan ki galiyan bhi meri," [Fifth Avenue is mine and so are the streets of Sehwan] read out Mujtaba. The verses reflected ownership and agreement of both his present life in New York and his past in Sindh - he didn't favour one over the other.
Moderator and writer Mohammed Hanif said that usually poets who live in exile tend to be nostalgic about their roots so much so that they live in their past. Contrary to this, Mujtaba, despite living in the US, is not oblivious to his surroundings, he added.
Filmmaker and writer Farjad Nabi, too, reiterated this view by saying that one doesn't smell traditional nostalgia in his poetry. "Although he is living in exile, he doesn't consider it an imprisonment," he said.
Actor Nimra Bucha read out Mujtaba's poem, titled 'Lapata Loag' [Missing persons]. Powerful verses such as 'Neend main rehayi hai, jaag main judayi hai' [There is freedom in slumber, separation in waking] echoed in her voice and were appreciated by the audience.
Writer Aijaz Mangi cited a clear-cut relationship between Mujtaba's poetry and his persona. He said that Mujtaba's poetry is exactly how the poet feels from inside as he doesn't lead a 'dual' life. "He pens poetry less and lives it more," he said.
Recalling how he had heard Mujtaba's Sindhi poetry in New York when it had not been published in Sindh, Imdad Hussain commended the writer's work. "It restores one's faith in poetry. There is no money in poetry. But there is no poetry in money either," he said on a lighter note. He further appreciated the tone of Sindhi in Mujtaba's verses. "It's an Urdu poem written in Sindhi," he said, stressing the influence of languages over one another.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2015.
Poet Fehmida Riaz said that journalist-cum-poet Hassan Mujtaba's poetry is a reflection of the fire inside him.
She was speaking at the launch of Mujtaba's poetry collection, 'Koel Sheher ki Katha', at The Second Floor cafe on Friday evening. Notable names from the literary fraternity gathered to voice their opinions on the work of Mujtaba, shed light on his exiled status in New York and his poetry.
"The sane voice in your poetry has remained one of the only ways of showing resistance to whatever is going around in Pakistan," said Riaz, while addressing Mujtaba who was present with the audience via Skype. "In this unfortunate piece of land in the world called Pakistan, arts and culture are ways to show resistance."
Riaz commented that numerous poets have expressed their exiles in poetry so much so that it seems exile has become a genre of poetry on its own. "Your poetry reflects the fire inside you," she said to Mujtaba.
A presentation of Mujtaba's poem, titled 'Fifth Avenue', was shown to the audience in which he was walking through the streets of New York reminiscing about his past life. "Avenue Fifth bhi mera, Sehwan ki galiyan bhi meri," [Fifth Avenue is mine and so are the streets of Sehwan] read out Mujtaba. The verses reflected ownership and agreement of both his present life in New York and his past in Sindh - he didn't favour one over the other.
Moderator and writer Mohammed Hanif said that usually poets who live in exile tend to be nostalgic about their roots so much so that they live in their past. Contrary to this, Mujtaba, despite living in the US, is not oblivious to his surroundings, he added.
Filmmaker and writer Farjad Nabi, too, reiterated this view by saying that one doesn't smell traditional nostalgia in his poetry. "Although he is living in exile, he doesn't consider it an imprisonment," he said.
Actor Nimra Bucha read out Mujtaba's poem, titled 'Lapata Loag' [Missing persons]. Powerful verses such as 'Neend main rehayi hai, jaag main judayi hai' [There is freedom in slumber, separation in waking] echoed in her voice and were appreciated by the audience.
Writer Aijaz Mangi cited a clear-cut relationship between Mujtaba's poetry and his persona. He said that Mujtaba's poetry is exactly how the poet feels from inside as he doesn't lead a 'dual' life. "He pens poetry less and lives it more," he said.
Recalling how he had heard Mujtaba's Sindhi poetry in New York when it had not been published in Sindh, Imdad Hussain commended the writer's work. "It restores one's faith in poetry. There is no money in poetry. But there is no poetry in money either," he said on a lighter note. He further appreciated the tone of Sindhi in Mujtaba's verses. "It's an Urdu poem written in Sindhi," he said, stressing the influence of languages over one another.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2015.