Mamta Kalia

and set definition for everything. Would
certainly have one for this too, which
would be deep and intriguing–this thought
had only prompted me to ask him.
‘Good, that you have asked, or else
the discussion would have remained
incomplete.
“Beauty doesn’t mean form,
complexion and features’–stressing
typically every word Firaq Sa’b spoke–
the internal beauty that radiates on face
that is beauty. You see, as of now, Firaq
thinks too highly of himself–but if Kabir
were to come and sit alongside him,
Firaq would be effectively demolished,’
suggesting the cutting down of his stature
with a flick of his hand, Firaq said.
You’ve mentioned Kabir and that too
with so much reverence; this piques
questioning whether a poet is born so,
or becomes one circumstantially.
This one is not so easy as to answer
in a yes or no. I don’t think any poet
is a ‘born poet’ or ‘innate’. He may be
having seeds of poetry in him which
may blossom in a creative environment
and turn him into a poet. His becoming
one requires a suitable ‘physical
supplement’. I guess when he is a child,
a little ‘aristocratic aloofness is necessary
for this nurturing.’
There have been several debates on
necessity of a beloved behind a creative
person. What do you think about it?
Whether a beloved would be deemed
to be having a role in the making of
an author?
Why not? Of course, but to some
extent only. Beyond a certain point that
sublimates from ‘love for person’ to ‘love
for universe’. Love shapes his intense
sensibilities and to such an extent that
transcending an individual, he starts
thinking in terms of the universe.
Even today names of the beloveds
of several poets are cited significantly,
for example, Keats.
Sharply cutting in on my conversation,
Firaq Sa’b said, ‘at the same time there
are many whose beloveds find no mention
e.g. Tennyson, Goldsmith, or in our
country, Kabir. Where did they get
inspiration from? We don’t find any
mention of such a reference to them.
Read carefully the literature of Keats
who is considered to be a poet of love.
There’s a lot more in his poems than
mere love or beloved.’
Elaborating on what he was saying,
he continued–‘in fact, inspiration is a
complex thing. Sometimes a woman’s
beautiful personality enthralls one;
sometimes the poem itself gets created.
Driven by physical inspiration, if a poet
gets into a dozen affairs, then the beloved
in his literature would reflect the
composite of goodness of them all.’
Let me relate a small incident
involving me. Poetess Vidyavati Kokil
would visit my place. Her husband also
accompanied her. I liked the voice of
her husband. I captured his harmonious
voice in the voice of my beloved in
the following couplet–
sham ke saye ghule hon jis tarah
aawaz mein,
thandkein jaise khanakti hon gale ke
saz mein.
‘This means you believe in the power
of love.’
With this Firaq’s big eyes widened.
‘Who can deny it? It is the force of
love that rests the earth on its axis,
or else hatred would have swallowed
it.’ Man is born to love and sublimate
April-June 2010 :: 89