Main naheen manta; Main naheen manta: Legendary Habib Jalib’s 19th death anniversary
Monday, March 12th, 2012 10:28:38 by Faisal Farooq
Legendary Habib Jalib, whose 19th death anniversary falls today, was a poet of the people. His poetry reflected his vision and approach to life and he never deviated from his chosen path throughout his life.
His love for humankind, his sympathy for the discriminate and his passion for the fellow-beings were meditated in his verses. He expressed the sadness, the pain, the voice and the desire of the common people in their language.
However, the pitiful tradition on part of Pakistanis is that we forget the services of our benefactors. It is quite a dilemma that we only remember and pay tributes to those whose services are rewarded by state authorities or the establishment.
This is the only reason that we are not aware of the price paid by those not in Islamabad’s good books.
When the true history of this nation will be written, then the world will know that these were the people who put life in the fading pulse of the nation at this time of fear and terror, when one was afraid even to breathe.
Habib Jalib, the revolutionary poet, never cared about his future, nor that of his family’s, and fought on relentlessly to change society so that the common man could live a peaceful life.
The hardships he and his family went through during his struggle and trials and tribulations failed to deviate him from his mission. He made sacrifices endearing him to the common people, and this was the infatuation that has lasted even he had gone.
He had addressed common people’s issues in his poetry and never hesitated of criticising flawed policies of military dictators.
Jalib had been very vocal in resisting the martial laws and dictatorships of Generals Ayub Khan and Zia-ul-Haq. No wonder the poet was victimized and kept under detention for his defiance.
Interestingly, he was also detained during the government of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for his famous “Larkana chalo, warna thane chalo” (Either go to Larkana or police station). The poet of the people always spoke against feudal lords and capitalists.
However, instead of doing any harm to him, these punishments played a significant role in the reinforcement of his thoughts and ideologies.
Jalib’s revolutionary poetry was a great contribution to Urdu literature that encouraged people to stand against oppression.
Conversely, his long tiring and painful journey came to an end on the midnight of 12 March, 1993.
During his whole life the poet of the people didn’t accept any help or remuneration from anyone or government, although he was tempted many times. Following lines helps in understanding his level of courage. Without any doubt, he was a man of common people.
Such keh kay kisi daur main pachtaye nahin hum
Kirdar pey apnay kabhi sharmaye nahin hum
Zindan ke dar-o-boam hain derina shanasa
Pohnchey train sir-e-dar to ghabraey nahin hum
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