Friday, October 12, 2012

Ghazipur Gem __Rahi masoom raza


 Rahi Masoom Raza
 Rahi Masoom Raza was a dreamer that dreamt of a entire new era in writing and the same reflected in himself and his sartorial style.
Rahi’s journey begins on 1st September, 1927 in Gangauli, a small village in the Ghazipur district in eastern Uttar Pradesh [ INDIA ]and ends with his vaseeyat in which he wills that he be laid to rest in the lap of Ganga, whom he considered his second mother. He passed away on 15 March 1992.

 In Ghazipur,he always particated in local Nashishts and Seminars with his companions Mlovi kalim ghazipuri,Khamosh ghazipuri,molvi fayyaz and many more literary personalities.Here he was a main central figure of Urdu world and literature and great respect,he had achieved.In Ghazipur, Rahi's father ,Bashir Hasan Abdi was a renowned advocate in civil court .

Raza completed his early education in and around from Madarsa Chashma e Rahmat and M.A.H.Inter College Ghazipur  from where he went to Lucknow and then Aligarh Muslim University to complete higher studies. He completed a doctorate in Hindustani Literature and pursued a career in literature.
Not only Rahi was a famous Urdu shayar but also  was a famous author, play writer and novelist of Independent India. He also wrote in Hindustani and Hindi language. He was also an eminent lyricist of Bollywood.
 In his career spanning 35 years, Rahi Masoom Raza has written lyrics, dialogues and stories for various movies and television series. His high came with the telecast of TV series 'Mahabharata' that was based on the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Masoom Raza, a Muslim, wrote the screenplay and dialogue of the TV series that went on to become the most watched TV series in India. At one time, its TRP was staggering 86 %. This was a triumph for Raza as some Hindu zealots had criticized his inclusion in the team.

Hum kaisaa geet likhe.n

dil ke ujle kaghaz par hum kaisaa geet likhe.n
bolo tum ko Gair likhe.n yaa apnaa meet likhe.n

niile ambar kii a.ngnaaii me.n taaro.n ke phool
mere pyaase honto.N par hai.n angaaro.n ke phool
in phoolo.n ko aaKhir apanii haar yaa jiit likhe.N

koii puranaa sapnaa de do aur kuchh meethe bol
lekar hum nikale hai.n apanii aa.Nkho ke kash-kol
hum ba.njaare preet ke maare kyaa sangeet likhe.n

shaam khadii hai ek chamelii ke pyaale me.n shabnam
Jamunaa jii kii ungalii pakde khel rahaa hai madhuban
aise me.n Ganga jal se Radhaa kii priit likhe.n

dil ke ujle kaghaz par ham kaisaa geet likhe.n

The Poet
He started writing poetry at a very young age in Ghazipur when he was a student in Madarsa Chashma E Rahmat oriental college. His SHAIR-GURU was Sarosh mahlishahri who was here,a bank manager.When he shifted to Allahabad, Initially, he never wrote by his real name but picked Shahid Akhtar and Ashfaq Haider as his pen-names.

 Mr. Hassan Kamal met Rahi Sahab when the latter was doing his Phd in Lucknow. Kamal who was one of his students, speaks of his charming personality - “He was my senior but then we found a common friend circle between the two of us. In those days Rahi Sahab was considered quite a romantic figure. A Shayar par excellence who was also a very handsome man! He would recite his poetry in a melodious Tarrannum (tune) making him very popular in the Mushayara circuit. In those days there were two monthly Urdu magazines being published from Allahabad, Romani Duniya and Ibn-e-Safi’s Jasoosi Duniya. Romani Duniya would publish romantic stories penned by various writers. We all knew that the writer writing his stories under the pen-name of Shahid Akhtar was none other than Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza.”

As a poet Raza Sahab was a romantic and an intellectual Shayar. But even more than that, he was a nostalgic man. From a small village in Ghazipur to Mumbai, he had come a long way. But wherever he lived he could never move away from his roots. Mr. Javed Akhtar says: “Not only does his poetry speaks of his unbroken link with his village, but even if you were to discuss an issue like UN Security Council with him, he would somehow manage to make a mention of Ghazipur. I would find that very fascinating and at the same time, adorable. He would always say that he was a Ganga-Kiraane-Ka- Aadmi (a man born at the coast of the river Ganga) and that influence always dominated his literature. I don’t think anyone has written better Shayari than him, on that peculiar culture, of a place which is half a village and half a city. That flavor remained imprinted on whatever he wrote.”

 Nadeem Khan seconds Akhtar’s opinion and says, “Rahi Sahab’s heart was stuck in his village Gangauli in Ghazipur. All his poetry speaks of nostalgia. It’s total nostalgia.” Paravti Nadeem Khan, wife of Mr. Nadeem Khan stresses the same by quoting the writer himself:

“Jinse Hum Chhoot Gaye, Ab Woh Jahaan Kaise Hain

Shaakh-e-Gul Kaisi Hain, Khushbu Ke Maqaam Kaise Hain

This can be taken as a romantic song or purely a nostalgic song and along with that it also has certain political tanz (sharp comment) in it. Rahi Sahab always had a bit of satire in his lyrics. He had the knack of hitting the nail on the head where relationships and social dynamics were concerned.” She further adds “He would ask me to composes and sing his ghazals. He would call me home every time he was to write a new one.”




 Works
The following is an illustrative list of his works in different genres of writings:
  • Movie Lyrics

Literary career 

He wrote the script and dialogues for a popular TV serial, Mahabharat. The TV serial was based on the epic, the Mahabharata. The serial became one of the most popular TV serial of India. Its peak Television Rating was around 86%.

Several of Raza's works vividly depict the agony and turmoil of the consequences of the partition of India, especially its effect on the Hindu-Muslim relationship and the social tension among different Indian social groups.
They also depict life in feudal India and the ordinary happiness, love, pain, and sadness of ordinary people. At times he is the narrator. For instance, his novel Adha Gaon ("Divided Village") narrates the story of two opposing Muslim landlord families in the village Ganguali at the time when India was gaining independence.

The central theme of Adha Gaon is that different people — regardless of class and religion — were sharing same land, water and air like brothers with all their human qualities and weaknesses but communal rivalry was not that much prominent then the mutual relationship between the both the communities in United Provinces at the time of Indian Partition. In Adha Gaon, Raza paints a very colourful picture of 1940s rural India showing interdependence of Muslim & Hindus on each other be it may be in form of relationship between two landlords or relationship between master and servants (right hand man of a Muslim Zamindar is a Hindu and best friend is also a Hindu Zamindar). Theme of novel is that,that before politics tore us away we (Hindu and Muslim)were one nation, Hindustan.
 Katra Bi Arzoo ("The Lady Desire Locality") is set in the city of Allahabad, Katra being a locality of the city. The novel is set in 1970s India and as its central theme it bares the brutality of emergency in India and how general people were affected by such a draconian regime.Its an ode to anti emergency activist and shows how people through their vested interest enjoyed the fruits of emergency and how emergency ruined and destroyed the life's people. In the foreword, Raza dedicates the novel to anti-emergency activists and say that freedom of speech is basic freedom.
 Another novel, Topi Shukla, also revolves around the acts and conducts of devilish politicians of India min character topi shukla being metaphor for Indian politician.

 In his "Neem ka Ped" Raza tells the story of an "asami", a tenant labourer and his landlord master. The story starts in pre-independent India and ends in post independent India, showing the vagaries of both the feudal and democratic systems in India with its darker side. The main protagonist is a landless labourer who is very faithful and obedient to his master and dreams only of making his only son an educated person. Fortunes dwindles in landlords home and he is sentenced to jail for murder of an upcoming leader of congress because of manipulations of his cousin who is also a landlord but nurses a grudge against the landlord. After independence son of labourer becomes a member of parliament and son of landlord his trusted aid and advisor but as the saying is "power corrupts" the son of labourer who had now became an M.P. gets corrupt and selfish and in that is destroyed. Highly popular T.V. serial by same name was made on these novel in which Pankaj Kapoor marvellously depicted the landless labourer.
Singer Parvati Khan is his daughter-in-law. She is married to his son Nadeem Khan, who is a director and cinematographer.
Aaina (dialogue)
 1992 Kal Ki Awaz (dialogue / as Late Dr. Rahi Masoom Reza / screenplay / as Late Dr. Rahi Masoom Reza / story / as Late Dr. Rahi Masoom Reza)
 1992 Nishchaiy (dialogue)
 1992 Zindagi Ek Juaa (dialogue / as Late Dr. Rahi Masoom Reza)
 1992 Parampara (dialogue / as Late Dr. Rahi Massom Reza)
 1991 Jhoothi Shaan (dialogue)
 1991 Pyaar Ka Saaya (dialogue)
 1991 Lamhe (dialogue)
 1990 Pyar Ke Naam Qurbaan (dialogue)
 1990 Jawani Zindabad (dialogue)
 1989 Gentleman (writer)
 1989 Goonj (dialogue / screenplay)
 1989 Dost Garibon Ka (dialogue)
 1988 Commando (dialogue)
 1988 Mahabharat (TV series)
 1987 Avam (dialogue)
 1987 Hiraasat (dialogue)
 1987 Dance Dance (dialogue)
 1987 Imaandaar (dialogue)
 1987 Khazana (dialogue)
 1986 Anubhav (dialogue / as Dr. Rahimasoom Reza)
 1986 Dahleez (screenplay)
1986 Aakhree Raasta (dialogue)
 1986 Kala Dhanda Goray Log (dialogue)
 1986 Swati (dialogue)
 1986 Bhagwaan Dada (story)
 1986 Aap Ke Saath (dialogue)
 1986 Ilzaam (dialogue)
 1986 Baat Ban Jaye (dialogue)
 1986 Saveray Wali Gaadi (dialogue)
 1985 Jhoothi (dialogue)
 1985 Sitamgar (dialogue)
 1985 Ulta Seedha (dialogue)
 1985 Tawaif (dialogue)
 1984 Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki (dialogue)
 1984 Yaadgaar (dialogues / as Dr. Rahi Masoom Reza)
 1984 Zameen Aasmaan (dialogue / as Dr Rahi Masoom Reza)
 1984 Paan khaye Saiyan Hamaar (dialogue)
 1984 Jaag Utha Insan (dialogue)
 1983 Bade Dil Wala (dialogue)
 1983 Achha Bura (dialogue / as Rahi Masoom Raza)
 1983 Prem Tapasya (dialogue)
 1983 Mangal Pandey (dialogue)
 1983 Main Awara Hoon (dialogue)
 1983 Kissi Se Na Kehna (dialogue)
 1982 Disco Dancer (written by)
 1982 Nikaah (literary advisor)
 1982 Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon (dialogue)
 1982 Bemisal (dialogue)
 1982 Jeevan Dhaara (dialogue / screenplay)
 1982 Main Intequam Loonga (dialogue)
 1981 Aapas Ki Baat (dialogue)
 1981 Ek Hi Bhool (dialogue)
 1981 Dhanwan (dialogue writer)
 1981 Rocky (dialogue / as Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza)
 1981 Naram Garam (dialogue)
 1980 Hum Paanch (dialogue)
 1980 Ek Baar Kaho (dialogue)
 1980 Karz (dialogue)
 1980 Khwab (dialogue)
 1980 Do Premee (dialogue)
 1980 Judaai (dialogue)
 1979 Jurmana (dialogue)
 1979 Gol Maal (dialogue / as Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza)
 1978 Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (dialogue)
 1978 Phaansi (dialogue)
 1977 Hatyara (dialogue)
 1977 Kotwal Saab (dialogue)
 1977 Alaap (dialogue)
 1976 Bairaag (dialogue / as Rahi Masoom Raza)
 1975 Prem Kahani (dialogue / screenplay)
 1975 Mili (dialogue / as Rahi Masoom Raza)
1974 Patthar Aur Payal (dialogue)
 1974 Sagina (dialogue)
 1972 Raaste Kaa Patthar (dialogue / as Rahi Masoom Raza) 
 jinse ham chhooT gaye, ab vo jahaaN kaise haiN?
shaaKh-e-gul kaisii hai? Khushboo ke makaaN kaise haiN?

ai sabaa ! too to udhar hii se guzartii hogii
us galii meN mere pairoN ke nishaaN kaise haiN?

pattharoN vaale vo insaan, vo behis dar-o-baam
vo makiiN kaise haiN? shiishe ke makaaN kaise haiN?

kahiiN shabnam ke shigoofe, kahiiN aNgaaroN ke phool
aa ke dekho merii yaadoN ke jahaaN, kaise haiN

le ke ghar se jo nikalte they junooN kii mash'al
is zamaane meN vo saahib-e-nazaraaN kaise haiN?

yaad unkii hameN jiine bhii na degii ''Raahii''
dushman-e-jaaN vo masiiha_nafsaaN kaise haiN?

''Raahii'' Masoom Raza
Dil ke ujle kagaz par ham kaisa geet likhe
Dil ke ujle kagaz par ham kaisa geet likhe..
bolo tum ko gair likhe ya apna meet likhe..

nile ambar ki angnai me taro ke fool..
mere pyase honton par hai angaro ke fool..

in phulo ko akhiir apni haar ya jit likhe..
koi purana sapna de do aur kuchh mithe bol..

lekar ham nikale hai apni aankho ke kash kol..
ham banjare prit ke mare kya sangit likhe..

sham khai hai ekk chameli ke pyale me shabnam..
jamuna ji ki ungali pakade khel raha hai madhuban..
aise me ganga jal se radha ki prit likhe....!
Rahi Masoom Raza
Hamm to hai pardesh me, desh me nikla hoga chand
Hamm to hai pardesh me, desh me nikla hoga chand...
apni rat ki chhatt par kitna tanha hoga chand...

jin aankhon me kajal ban kar tairi kali raat ho..
unn aankho me aansu ka ekk katra hoga chand..

Rat ne aisa pech lagaya tooti hath se dor ho..
aangan wale neem me jakar atka hoga chand..

chand bina har din yun bita jaise yug bite ho..
mere bina kiis hal me hoga kaisa hoga chand...!!!
Rahi Masoom Raza
Jinse Ham Chhoot Gaye
Jinse ham chhooT gaye, ab vo jahaaN kaise haiN?
shaaKh-e-gul kaisii hai? Khushboo ke makaaN kaise haiN?

ai sabaa ! too to udhar hii se guzartii hogii
us galii meN mere pairoN ke nishaaN kaise haiN?

pattharoN vaale vo insaan, vo behis dar-o-baam
vo makiiN kaise haiN? shiishe ke makaaN kaise haiN?

kahiiN shabnam ke shigoofe, kahiiN aNgaaroN ke phool
aa ke dekho merii yaadoN ke jahaaN, kaise haiN

le ke ghar se jo nikalte they junooN kii mash'al
is zamaane meN vo saahib-e-nazaraaN kaise haiN?

yaad unkii hameN jiine bhii na degii ''Raahii''
dushman-e-jaaN vo masiiha_nafsaaN kaise haiN?
Rahi Masoom Raza
Strange roads of the strange city
Strange roads of the strange city
kept smiling on my loneliness

for long time I wandered there
for long time you came to my mind

hardships came, hardships I suffered
I lived daily as if I had breathed out

Life kept on testing me
I kept on testing my life


So on and so forth I lived my life
What was wrong me, you didn't like?

I was ready to give my life for you
Money not love was of value to you

I wish I had never met you
No I cannot live without you

Take me back my darling
All my life I'll be a serf to you

Kiss your rear no matter what you do
My heart has now for ever fallen for you

O my poor bastardly heart, I am
Suffering now only because of you!
- Added verses and translation by Ravi Kopra
Rahi Masoom Raza

Hamare shauq ki yeh Inteha thi
Hamare shauq ki yeh inteha thi
qadam rakkha ke manzil raasta thi

Bichhad ke daar se ban ban phira woh
Hiran ko apni kastoori sazaa thi

Kabhi jo khwaab tha woh paa liya hai
Magar jo kho gayi woh cheez kya thi

Main bachpan mein khilaune todta tha
Mere anjaam ki woh ibtedaa thi

Mareez-e-khwaab ko to ab shifa hai
Magar duniya badi kadwi dawa thi
Rahi Masoom Raza

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