By Shafi Ahmad
When you look back at the years gone by are you satisfied with the achievements?” The question was posed to the learned teacher .
“ Veriyan gayi dooni grend(The years passed could be counted like walnuts).” Was the reply in conformity to the Kashmiri lexicon the counting on finger tips.
“ Wont kus te burzul kus(which one is hard and which one is soft )?”
“Time will decide.” Comes the reply during a conversation.
“He teaches and explains like an affectionate teacher” is what my friend said. Curious to meet the teacher, found him thinner in façade and leaner in structure. Just thought for a moment about his body weight but, subsequently, calculated the load he carries ; load of literature, poetry, translation, teaching and what not. Such a frail body and so much of carrying capacity!
Yes, that is Dr. A R Malik aka Prof. Majrooh Rashid who joined the university of Kashmir in 1991 as a lecturer. He has
been teaching literary criticism, modern poetry, practical criticism, Lal Ded and Shaikh- ul-Alam. He not only teaches poetry but spreads his heart out in the form of poetry be it Kashmiri or English. He has been receiving accolades for his works in literature as well as poetry. Here follows an example;
The Strange Teacher : Majrooh Rashid Edited by Seena Sreevalson
you were a strange teacher
always
who taught me everything
I pretend to know.
you would write beautifully
in the cursive script
on the crisp and the blank walls
of the heart
and surprisingly
you could never speak the words
that you taught me
and wrote with intent and generosity
there.
The teacher with scholarly traits is optimistic about future of Kashmiri language and confident of his students and other scholars moving ahead and contributing to the development of language.
“ Unlike our times Kashmiri subject is not set to ridicule any more. Now even payment seats get filled in Kashmiri department.”
He explains the efficacy and standard of poetry in his own way. “ The poetry can be divided into many levels. One is written in lyrical way which can be sung on the musical instruments while other is serious thing which may or may not find rhythm with the instruments. Akh Poetry chi kan renznawan but man renznawan is the best poetry.(one is which is soothing to ears but what is soothing to soul is the best).”
About his poetry Mushtaq Barq says , “He is a poet who knows both language and diction. He writes in Kashmiri and English as well.” Barq further adds, “ His writing has a blend of Rahi and Firaq. Especially his Kashmiri Ghazal is superb example of his skill.”
Besides, two monographs and a number of literary articles, he has two books one in English and one in Kashmiri to his credit. His articles/translations have been translated and published in Samkaleen Bharti Sahitya and Indian Literature of Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi. His English translations have been included in the masterpieces of Medieval Indian Literature.
In national level seminars he discussed Kashmiri poets like Ahad zargar, Rasa Javidani, Hakim Mnazoor, Naseem Shafaie and other related subjects. Mushtaq Barq ,while discussing Prof Majrooh says, “Believe me , his Kashmiri research paper on Naseem Shifae is a master piece.”
Majrooh ,the wounded in Urdu, must have been in pain but psycho analysts and face readers believe differently. He holds an oblong face structure over his shoulders which characterizes as cheerful. “Oblong face shapes are often considered quite beautiful and popular because they have a wide jawline which makes the distance between the eyes quite wide. This makes the eye quite prominent and also emphasizes the smile of the person. “ opine the experts analyzing face structures.
In translations he does not lag behind but has served both rather three languages Kashmiri, Urdu and English through his translation work. On one hand he brought likes of Frenz Kafka, Nirmal Verma and Ghan shyam Desai closer to Kashmir through his English to Kashmiri translation and on the other hand he took Kashmir to English world through his translation work of Margoob Banihali, Chaman Lal Chaman, Rehman Rahi and the like.
With so much work in hand ,some completed some work in progress, the learned man needs to trust himself. In order to express himself he writes a poem expressing confidence and showing trust.
Trust
Trust is a bird
keeps on perching
on clam branch of faith.
Once a gusty wind blows
from the perfidious and slippery
chasms of the hill
of Passion ,
the bird flies away
far from the sight
dissolves in darkness
and gets rid of his vision.
And his fantacies, even, are matchless.
Father son conversation is beautifully expressed in the form of another poem ;
Mural
My father would tell me,
when I was a school going kid,
“Look here darling
there is a big chamber
in the basement of human soul ,
on its left wall
a mural is painted.
Two crimson roses waving in the breeze
their fragrance rending the air.
When you grow up
and learn to step out of your body
unknown perrons
will appear in front of you
leading you
to the room in the cellar
for cherishing the painting.”
I would enjoy father’s narrative
as a fairytale … but
I really see the roses bloom
the breeze rustling
through the undergrowth of existence
singing of eternal scent.
Can’t you inhale?
Post Script ;
Going through the achievements in the teaching and literary field of the multifaceted literary giant one is satisfied that names of not so popular translators can be forgotten who gave the title “In the Ghastly Lap of the Darkest Night” to one of Majrooh Rashid’s Kashmiri short stories.
Shafi Ahmad is a writer and coloumnist , can be reached at wanishafi999@gmail.com
