Fahmida Raiz
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
A brief biography
From: November 21, 2018: Dawn
The eminent progressive writer, who was also hailed by many as a pioneer in feminist literature, had been suffering from illness for the past few months.
Apart from authoring more than 15 books on fiction and poetry, she was also a human rights activist. Her first literary work was published in 1967, titling ‘Pather Ki Zuban’. Her collection of poetry includes ‘Dhoop’, ‘Pura Chand’, ‘Admi Ki Zindagi’ and more. Her novels include ‘Zinda Bahar’, ‘Godaavari’ and ‘Karachi’. She was famous for her revolutionary and contrary to tradition poetry.
When Badan Dareeda, her second collection of verse, appeared in 1973, she was accused of using erotic and sensual expressions in her poetry. The themes prevalent in her verse were, until then, considered taboo for women writers.
Fahmida Raiz also contributed to the Urdu literature as a translator. Whether it was Ismail Kadare from Albania or Maulana Rumi, she was knowledgeable about world fiction and classical poetry.
Born into a literary family of Meerut (India) in July 1946, Fahmida Riaz, in addition to her literary pursuits, always played an active role in social and political activities.
She lived in self-exile for over six years in India when former military dictator Gen Zia-ul-Haq ruled over Pakistan.
She was appointed managing director of what was then the National Book Council of Pakistan during the first PPP government (1988-90). In Benazir Bhutto's second tenure as prime minister, she became associated with the ministry of culture.
In 2009, she was appointed the chief editor of the Urdu Dictionary Board in Karachi.
Selected ghazals
One
chār-sū hai baḌī vahshat kā samāñ
chār-sū hai baḌī vahshat kā samāñ
kisī aaseb kā saaya hai yahāñ
koī āvāz sī hai marsiyāñ-ḳhvāñ
shahr kā shahr banā goristāñ
ek maḳhlūq jo bastī hai yahāñ
jis pe insāñ kā guzartā hai gumāñ
ḳhud to sākit hai misāl-e-tasvīr
jumbish-e-ġhair se hai raqs-kunāñ
koī chehra nahīñ juz zer-e-naqāb
na koī jism hai juz be-dil-o-jāñ
ulmā haiñ dushman-e-fahm-o-tahaqīq
kodanī sheva-e-dānish-mandāñ
shā.ir-e-qaum pe ban aa.ī hai
kizb kaise ho tasavvuf meñ nihāñ
lab haiñ masrūf-e-qasīda-goī
aur āñkhoñ meñ hai zillat uryāñ
sabz ḳhat āqibat-o-dīñ ke asiir
pārsā ḳhush-tan-o-nau-ḳhez javāñ
ye zan-e-naġhma-gar-o-ishq-shi.ār
yās-o-hasrat se huī hai hairāñ
kis se ab ārzū-e-vasl kareñ
is ḳharābe meñ koī mard kahāñ
Two
jo mujh meñ chhupā merā galā ghoñT rahā hai
jo mujh meñ chhupā merā galā ghoñT rahā hai
yā vo koī iblīs hai yā merā ḳhudā hai
jab sar meñ nahīñ ishq to chehre pe chamak hai
ye naḳhl ḳhizāñ aa.ī to shādāb huā hai
kyā merā ziyāñ hai jo muqābil tire aa jā.ūñ
ye amr to ma.alūm ki tū mujh se baḌā hai
maiñ banda-o-nāchār ki sairāb na ho pā.ūñ
ai zāhir-o-maujūd mirā jism duā hai
haañ us ke ta.āqub se mire dil meñ hai inkār
vo shaḳhs kisī ko na milegā na milā hai
kyuuñ nūr-e-abad dil meñ guzar kar nahīñ paatā
siine kī siyāhī se nayā harf likhā hai
Three
kabhī dhanak sī utartī thī un nigāhoñ meñ
kabhī dhanak sī utartī thī un nigāhoñ meñ
vo shoḳh rañg bhī dhīme paḌe havāoñ meñ
maiñ tez-gām chalī jā rahī thī us kī samt
kashish ajiib thī us dasht kī sadāoñ meñ
vo ik sadā jo fareb-e-sadā se bhī kam hai
na Duub jaa.e kahīñ tund-rau havāoñ meñ
sukūt-e-shām hai aur maiñ huuñ gosh-bar-āvāz
ki ek va.ade kā afsūñ sā hai fazāoñ meñ
mirī tarah yūñhī gum-karda-rāh chhoḌegī
tum apnī baañh na denā havā kī bāñhoñ meñ
nuqūsh paañv ke likhte haiñ manzil-e-nā-yāft
mirā safar to hai tahrīr merī rāhoñ meñ
Four
patthar se visal mangti hun
patthar se visāl māñgtī huuñ
maiñ ādamiyoñ se kaT ga.ī huuñ
shāyad pā.ūñ surāġh-e-ulfat
muTThī meñ ḳhāk-bhar rahī huuñ
har lams hai jab tapish se aarī
kis aañch se yuuñ pighal rahī huuñ
vo ḳhvāhish-e-bosa bhī nahīñ ab
hairat se hoñT kāTtī huuñ
ik tiflak-e-justujū huuñ shāyad
maiñ apne badan se kheltī huuñ
ab tab.a kis pe kyuuñ ho rāġhib
insānoñ ko barat chukī huuñ
Five
ye kis ke aansuon ne us naqsh ko miTaya
ye kis ke āñsuoñ ne us naqsh ko miTāyā
jo mere lauh-e-dil par tū ne kabhī banāyā
thā dil jab us pe maa.il thā shauq saḳht mushkil
tarġhīb ne use bhī āsān kar dikhāyā
ik gard-bād meñ tū ojhal huā nazar se
is dasht-e-be-samar se juz ḳhaak kuchh na paayā
ai chob-e-ḳhushk-e-sahrā vo bād-e-shauq kyā thī
merī tarah barahna jis ne tujhe banāyā
phir ham haiñ nīm-shab hai andesha-e-abas hai
vo vāhima ki jis se terā yaqīn aayā
Six
ye pairahan jo meri ruh ka utar na saka
ye pairahan jo mirī ruuh kā utar na sakā
to naḳh-ba-naḳh kahīñ paivast resha-e-dil thā
mujhe ma.āl-e-safar kā malāl kyūñ-kar ho
ki jab safar hī mirā fāsloñ kā dhokā thā
maiñ jab firāq kī rātoñ meñ us ke saath rahī
vo phir visāl ke lamhoñ meñ kyuuñ akelā thā
vo vāste kī tirā darmiyāñ bhī kyuuñ aa.e
ḳhudā ke saath mirā jism kyuuñ na ho tanhā
sarāb huuñ maiñ tirī pyaas kyā bujhā.ūñgī
is ishtiyāq se tishna zabāñ qarīb na lā
sarāb huuñ ki badan kī yahī shahādat hai
har ek uzv meñ bahtā hai ret kā dariyā
jo mere lab pe hai shāyad vahī sadāqat hai
jo mere dil meñ hai us harf-e-rā.egāñ pe na jā
jise maiñ toḌ chukī huuñ vo raushnī kā tilism
shuā-e-nūr-e-azal ke sivā kuchh aur na thā
