Property of Amjad Islam Amjad

Amjad Islam I was introduced to Amjad’s poetry later, before going to his dialogues. ‘Ad Mukhi’ and ‘Savad Aa Gaya Badshahhu’ were two phrases that were popular in the nineties. Whoever you want to get rid of, someone has come to your life due to his bad nature and you want to be saved, someone’s presence is overwhelming you, put a funny smile on your face, move your lips and say: ‘

Ad Mukhi’.

This strange composition had so much power that it crossed all linguistic boundaries and was not only understood but also spoken in all regions of the country, from Karachi to Khyber and Attock to Gwadar. What could be a greater argument for the popularity of a dialogue than this, but this phrase was far beyond that level of popularity.

In the good old days when there was a movie in Pakistan, the boys would repeat the dialogues as soon as they left the cinema hall, thinking of themselves as heroes, but the dialogues like ‘Ud Mukhi’ were not limited to the street neighborhood, but the conversation of the courtyard of the house and the living room. Became part of the future. This was also a new record of popularity. The sister would say something innocently and the brother would say ‘ad mukhi’ innocently. In the same way, in the circle of contemporaries and sincere friends, the phrase spoken by the tongue of Abid Kashmiri came out of the lips and went to the rooms.

What was there in the dialogue of our Amjad Islam Amjad that would have come out of his pen and become common? There was only one reason for this, such a consciousness of human feelings and emotions that rises above the distinction of man and thou. Be it drama or poetry, this force has made Amjad Islam Amjad a household member of Pakistan and a character who not only knows our hearts, but also gives him a language.

It was during our boyhood that we read this poem:

‘ If ever I remember

Avoiding holding hands on the air waves

I will meet you in the perfumes

Finding me in the rose petals

I will meet you in the mirrors of dewdrops

If you do not find me in the stars, in the dew drops, in the fragrances

So watch your steps, I will meet you in the distance around me.

Our Ashfaq Sahib has written in his exemplary travel book ‘Safar dur Safar’ a strange incident of a meeting which used to do penance and used to say: ‘Ape e pana en kundiyan te ape e kuchna en door’ followed by a mysterious manner. I would say:

‘Me te michi phad lei’

After reading these kinds of poems of Amjad Sahib, it seems that the noose attached to the string coming out of his magical poems is stuck in our gullet and we move towards them helplessly. In a somewhat similar situation, three travelers left their homes and reached MAO College, Lahore. One of them was named Amjad Hussain Amjad. It was the time of MAO College when the news of fighting would come out of this street of Lahore and make the whole country sad. As soon as this person stepped into the college premises, a thin tall man came up and very politely asked who are you, why have you come here? The passengers, alarmed by the news of the battle, looked at the questioner and said:

‘I want to meet Amjad Sahib’

The questioner chanted, there are visitors, visitors. The dust cleared and in the large teacher’s cabin against the wall facing the adjoining street on the left appeared the smiling red and white face whose attraction had drawn the travelers hither. First of all our Amjad put his diary in front of him for autograph. When Amjad Sahib asked his name, he told it. Mr Qasmi was sitting on the next table. Amjad looked at him with an interesting smile and then asked Amjad:

‘Man, there can be no concessions’.

Our Amjad looked at them with surprise then at us. Ashfaq Ahmad Kashif, a participant in the caravan, said that he will not accept it, sir. Amjad Sahib smiled and said, “Let’s go. Then we walked under his leadership. At that time, there used to be a big Chhapar Hotel on the left side of the gate of MAO College, I think Attaul Haq Qasmi Sahib must have created the composition of Chhapar Continental by looking at it. Under the leadership of Amjad Sahib, we reached here and were treated to the famous mixed tea of ​​this place as well as his and Qasmi Sahib’s banter and jokes.

There were hundreds of opportunities to meet Amjad Sahib here and there and to listen to him in mushairas. If it was possible, the meeting would have taken place. Every time they met with the same kindness, warmth and love. A more meaningful relationship with him came during the time when I had the opportunity to work with President Mamnoon Hussain in the Presidency. During this period, many mushairas were held there.

Naturally, the activities of organizing the Mushaira were largely left to me. During the preparation days before the Mushaira, he would call me almost daily and give me many advices and even instructions. Once they said, “Dude, don’t bother with my repeated calls and suggestions.” You are a serious writer and understand the nuances of this street, but poets and poets are different things. That is why I am in constant touch with you. This style of guidance and mentoring is special for our elders, Amjad was a man of this tradition.

Once in the President’s House during the meal after the lecture, I reminded him of his poem ‘Love Poem’ and said, “Sir, it’s been a long time, you haven’t written any such poem.” They said, this is a poem of the time when you will be a boy, I will also be young. Life moves forward, we should also move forward. He used to tell the truth. They had advanced, so far that they were beyond our reach. Now the translations of their delicate emotions are poems and we are. This is our only asset.