Mamta Kalia

personality like Lenin is rare who dare
say–the problem would be solved this
way, and curiously enough when the
problem was seen through, his very same
staunch associates would turn his
enemies.
Firaq Sa’b did you ever meet
Premchand?
‘Oh yes, several times’ lipping the
cigarette, an affectionately fluid smile
flickered across Firaq Sa’b’s face.
Do you remember?
I remember in a meeting, they were
talking about love and affairs etc. In
a matter of fact manner, I asked
Premchand, dearie, did you ever love
someone? Not worth mentioning he said,
but there was a time when I would take
a fancy for this grass-cutter woman.’
Did the affair make any progess, I asked
Premchand said, ‘This much only that
whenever I spotted her, I would lovingly
place my hand on her shoulder and tell
her, look, here is the grass, there it is,
92 :: April-June 2010
and every time she would tarry her grass
cutting activity.’ Persisting in silence for
a while Firaq Sa’b spoke. Whether we
need such a Premchand today, who can
say, look, here is grass, there it is, not
only here but on a different land too.
Whether we will ever be able to cultivate
this sensibility and manner to tell someone
the same thing and sow in our being
this emotional sublimation of love?’
‘Having said his mind Firaq Sa’b got
lost in his own thoughts; turned off the
fan connected to the switch close to
his bed, and lit a cigarette. Turned the
fan on–He is seated almost propped
against the wall, nearly motionless. What
a wonder, despite his lower limbs being
listless, his voice was forceful. Not only
for speaking, but for singing too!’
Yes, now he was murmuring his own
couplet ‘Tujhe ay jindagi, hum door se
pahchan letein hein’ (O life we can
recognize you from afar)–as if his faraway
gaze was really looking at life..in person!
Firaq Gorakhpuri (1886-1982) the legendary Urdu poet surpassed his
contemporaries in his frankness of expression, both in life and literature.
He was professor of English at Allahabad University. He received Jnanpith
Award for his outstanding work ‘Gulenagma’ in 1969.
Anita Gopesh, born 1954, is a Hindi short story writer and a poet.
She is professor of zoology in Allahabad University. Her first collection
of short stories ‘Kitta Pani’ has been published by Bharatiya Jnanpith.
She was a close neighbour and soulmate of Firaq Gorakhpuri who was
great as a poet and greater as a patron of the younger generation.
Anita lives in Allahabad.