Nazir Jahangir
Sir, with great courage, I would like to express my heartfelt concerns here, and I hope that my words receive your kind attention.
To begin with, I believe it’s essential to acquaint you with my literary background. I am known in literary circles as Nazir Jahangir and have dedicated fifty years to the world of literature. I’ve authored 19 books in English, Urdu, and Kashmiri, written numerous radio and television dramas, and had nearly five thousand articles published in various newspapers and magazines. However, age has now caught up with me, and I can only write occasionally. Truth be told, I’ve become somewhat of a recluse.
The introduction I’ve just given you represents the identity I present to others. In reality, I am a helpless soul with no wealth or influence, tossed about at the mercy of circumstances. Whom should I approach? To whom should I address my grievances? Where can I ventilate my concerns? Truthfully, I don’t know. The concept of justice is like a distant dream that someone planted in my mind, and my life has passed without ever finding its realization. I’ve searched for it with hope, seeking a shoulder to lean on, cry and freely express my sorrows, but this fairy of justice remains elusive. I’ve scoured deserts, combed through cities, and explored forests, yet this fairy of justice remains beyond my reach, and I haven’t found that comforting shoulder.
I must confess that old age has taken its toll, and I write sporadically these days. I repeat, the truth is, I am a helpless individual, with no influential connections. I can only express my thoughts when inspiration strikes, and I often wonder, to whom should I address them? The idea of justice’s green fairy has been instilled in my mind, and I’ve spent my life searching for her, but to no avail.
Respected Sir, please understand that when it seems like it’s me addressing you, in reality, it’s the voices of countless broken hearts, helpless souls, destitute individuals, and insignificant people speaking through me. I am just a veil and actually they speak behind it. My voice carries the unheard cries of these individuals who remain neglected by society. Sometimes, these voices manage to reach the highest echelons and corridors of power, but they lack the strength to stir even a single leaf in the breeze. If by chance one of these voices is heard amidst the noise, it struggles to resonate and awaken the conscience. This is why individuals like me, who come into this world as witnesses of oppression and bear the burdens of oppressors, often go unnoticed and forgotten.
Helpless men are akin to broiler chickens for some political activists and influential people, seen as tools to satisfy the appetites of non-vegetarians. These political activists and influential people are never loyal to anyone but their self-interest. They have consistently amassed ill-gotten fortunes worth billions. Their loyalty lies neither with the nation nor the country, evident in their opulent lifestyles. They ascend to the highest levels of power, manipulate politics and wealth, and when someone like me, a destitute man, comes into their view, they seize everything, illegitimately grab the properties of the powerless, and forcibly appropriate the lands of the helpless.
I have one polite question: How long will the destitute, the helpless, the friendless, and the powerless endure the oppression of these powerful individuals, manipulators, and bullies? How long will this exploitation persist, and when will justice prevail? Ultimately, these unfortunate souls depart with this profound sorrow.
Yes, your Excellency, I have this question for you: How long will these powerless, helpless, friendless, and destitute individuals continue to be crushed under the weighty boots of the powerful, the influential, and the bullies? How long will their oppression persist, and their lives be spent searching for justice and yearning for a shred of relief, only to die nameless and forgotten?
May I be granted audience, Sir?
I have my own pathetic tale!!
Nazir Jahangir is a journalist and columnist
