Dr Shahzad Rizvi on Muslim Saleem and revelation of his poetic art

A few months ago my sister, Dr. Imrana Nashtar, who was Reader in Aligarh University and now lives in the United States, informed me that a gentleman in Bhopal was preparing a directory of Urdu poets and his name is Mr. Muslim Saleem - thus I was introduced to Mr. Saleem in absentia. When I logged on to his blogs my introduction to him became complete:  I discovered his poetic prowess through his Urdu poetry. I thought that it would be a shame if the international readers would be deprived from enjoyment of his marvelous poems. His poems reveal his novel way of looking at the issues of life. His each couplet is so much packed with depth of thought that a careless and an uninitiated reader may miss what the poet is trying to convey. His does not write just for the sake of writing - as Urdu writers have been saying "literature for the sake of literature" - but, with a purpose and a mission in mind. From that standpoint, I think, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he is not only an observer and commentator of life, but, a social reformer. Slowly but assuredly his art has been maturing over the decades and certainly his profession as a journalist has given him diversity and a unique opportunity to grow as a person and as an artist. He does not sit at his desk every morning faithfully and start crafting verses - dragging unwilling, half-baked, and screaming lines out of the hold of his creative self - but relies on the inner creative fountains when by some unknown force they are turned on and there is a deluge of poetry. As Mr. Muslim Saleem writes himself about his creative process in "Aamad aamad"

and I quote:

"Sometime I don't write poetry for weeks or years at a time. And when the flow begins, whether I am in the office or traveling or just staying in one place, couplets, one after the other, start tumbling out of me. Some times, after a fallow period of years, for  ten – fifteen days it seems that someone has pushed the button of creativity in me; during these days I am almost in a trance, swaying back and forth, and in that state I welcome the new arrivals. When the couplets produced by my inner self during this period leave such a remarkable impression on me, a being of modest learning, then I breathe with satisfaction that the people of taste will certainly like them."

For the reason I mentioned earlier, I try to find time in my very busy life in Washington to translate his poetry because I regard it a worthy task as well as I would like Mr. Muslim Saleem's art to be known internationally. Hence I have translated his ghazal:

"WO SIRF TABASSUM KI ZABAN BOL RAHA HAI:"

In silence, he is revealing every secret

He is only speaking the language of smiles

Hunter - congratulations - get ready your trap

Your quarry of my heart is poised to fly

Though he is putting sweet melodies into the ear

Beware! He may poison the cup of your life

Attired in the robes of civilization

Packs of carnivores have been residing within the community

Love, such an unusual thing - though the beloved is silent

And yet, every limb of his speaks volumes of her emotions

- Dr. Shahzad A. Rizvi

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(Ghazal in roman script:

Khamoshi se har raz-e-nihan khol raha hai

Wo sirf tabussum ki zaban bol raha hai

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sayyado Mubarak ho, chalo daam bichhao

Seene mein parinda koi par tol raha hai

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Wo zeest ke pyale mein kaheen zahr na bhar de

Kano mein jo awaz ka ras ghol raha hai

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ulfat bhi ajab shai hai, wo khamosh hai lekin

Us shokh ka har azw-e-badan bol raha hai

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tehzeeb ki poshak se jimson ko saja kar

Basti mein darindon ka ghol raha hai

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Meanings’

1. Raz-e-nihan : Deep secret

2. Daam : Net

3. Zeest : Life

4. Azw-e-badan : Part of body

5. Poshak : Attire, dress

6. Darindon : Beasts,  

7. ghol : group

Translation of the poem "jab ham ne zindagi ki gineen rahaten tamam" of Muslim Saleem by Dr. Shahzad Rizvi

When we counted all the comforts of life
Years and years became concentrated in just a few moments
It seems a huge tree even now
Though the ravages of time have destroyed all its roots
It felt always as if the awaited one will come to me
But the echo of the footsteps turned away as it got  near me
I and the courage to protest - never - never
My veins suddenly began  to shout
When I broke all the limits spontaneously
Then I realized this is exactly what she wanted
I went around hiding my pain from the world
But my tossing and turning left its mark on the bed

English translation of ghazal (jab bhi jazbon ke liye) by Muslim Saleem by Dr. Shahzad Rizvi

English translation of ghazal (jab bhi jazbon ke liye) by Muslim Saleemby  Dr. Shahzad Rizvi

When expressing emotions words turned into daggers 

The delicate hands were transformed into murder weapons

When the high and mighty were brought down by the raging storm of time

The lowly ones rose to the occasion and took their place

Slowly but assuredly we learned the art of living
While living among Romans we turned into Romans

Since we plunged into the ocean of struggles of life
we faced such challenges that we became expert swimmers

Leaving poverty and starvation behind when we launched ourselves
our determination became steely like Alexander's to conquer the world

From afar everything was titillating and tempting and beautiful
And when we touched them up close they turned into meaningless nothings

Muslim - who happened to pass through the universe of my imagination
That many a past moments of my memory became eternally fragrant 

hkj

Dr Shahzad A. Rizvi's translates Muslim Saleem's ghazal "Ham phool gulsitaan mein..."

HAM PHOOL GULISTAN MEIN CHUNEIN

A poem by renowned litterateur Mr. Muslim Saleem
English translation by:  Dr. Shahzad Rizvi

Our good fortune brings us joys while others suffer
Eyes are averted when they happen to fall on him

Jafar Askari on Muslim Saleem

Jafar Askari is the son of famous Urdu critic Prof. Syed Ahtesham Hussain. He spent a considerable time in Allahabad where Muslim Saleem had a chance to meet him regularly at his Khuldabad house. Later, Jafar Askari moved to and settled in Lucknow. He joined Shia College there and has now retired as Urdu reader. Here is what Jafar Askari thinks about Muslim Saleem and his poetry.

Critical note on "The Last Resident", a novel of Dr. Shahzad A Rizvi by Maria S. Rost

"The Last Resident"

By Dr. Shahzad A Rizvi. Critical note by Maria S. Rost

(Here is a review of Dr. Shahzad A. Rizvi’s book "The Resident" by noted American Professor and critic Dr. Maria Rost, who taught English Literature for many years.)

      Dr. Shahzad A. Rizvi’s latest novel, The Last Resident, is set in the northern city of Bhojpal, India.  Its young hero, Nigel Hadley, is a British diplomat who is given the responsibility of overseeing Bhojpal in the office of “Resident” during the last days of British rule over India, and is hence the last British civil servant to serve in that capacity.  It may be difficult to decide where in a modern book store this work should be shelved, for it is a romantic novel as well as a cross between historical fiction and fictional history.

     There is a good deal of rich visual detail to place us in the exotic city of Bhojpal and to serve as the background for the many twists and turns the plot takes.  Young Nigel is the ideal romantic hero, intelligent, courageous, full of idealism and good will, quickly popular for his ability to speak Urdu and his understanding of and compassion and fondness for the Indians he is eager to serve. He is more comfortable living simply among the people than with the pomp and circumstance his position traditionally entails. It is not surprising that even Gandhi himself takes a liking to him and that he and the beautiful and virtuous Indian princess, Mehru, fall in love, nor that, as in any romantic novel, they have many obstacles to overcome before they can be together.

      More surprising than these two are the characters of the Nawab of Bhojpal and his Cambridge-educated Prime Minister, the brilliant Jewish scholar Jacob Joseph.  In the belief that one cannot be a good Muslim without thoroughly understanding Judaism and Christianity, the other two major Mosaic religions, the enlightened Nawab had searched for a qualified scholar of Judaism and hired Joseph to tutor his daughter.  Mr. Joseph, who is also referred to as Master Sahib, a respectful form of address to teachers, earned the esteem not only of his employer, but, as Prime Minister, of the whole princely state.  It was largely through his efforts that Jews fleeing the Nazi regime found shelter in Bhjopal, as later did Hindus fleeing from what was to become the Muslim country of Pakistan, thus making the city a model of tolerance and integration.

       At a time when the two political parties in our own country seem incapable of reaching agreement on almost anything and when there is rampant fear of Islam following 9/11, Dr. Rizvi’s novel is balm to the soul.  It introduces us to a culture outwardly very different from our own, but, though not overtly didactic, means to teach us that we all share a common humanity.

Muslim Saleem: An analysis by Dr. Shahzad A. Rizvi, Washington

Muslim Saleem: An analysis

By Dr. Shahzad A. Rizvi, Washington

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(Dr. Shahazad A.Rizvi is a Washington-based writer. He was born to Syed Nashtar Khairabadi, illustrious son of Hazrat Muztar Khairabadi, in Gwalior. He entered Hamidia College, Bhopal, in 1953 and received M.A. in English Literature in 1960. In 1964 he received M.A. in English from AMU. The same year he left for the United States and studied there for many years receiving two more MAs and PH.D. In addition, he takes courses Oxford, London, and France. In 1971 he became a professor in Washington D.C. and taught there for many years. During this period he had a chance to be an interpreter for the President of the United States. Currently Dr. Shahzad Rizvi is a writer and a poet in English and his following books are published as e-books: 1. The Last Resident, 2 Behind the Veil, 3. The Story of a Finnish Woman, 4. Collection of stories for grown-ups, 5. Stories for children. One can find them and download them at: www.kahany.org)

Muslim Saleem belongs to the generation of people who were born shortly after the independence of India and grew up as this independent nation grew and became a big power on the world scene Creation of Pakistan, two-nation theory, "communal politics," separate existence of Hindus and Muslims,  was never part of ethos of this generation. This generation was basically caught up in soul-searching, ascertaining its identity - where it fitted in the scheme of things - what role it could play as the twentieth century was whizzing by and the twenty-first was knocking at the door. For this generation national and international issues of great magnitude loomed larger on the firmament of their psyche than the petty and inane diurnal issues.

City of Lakes Bhopal in Dr. Shahzad A Rizvi's two novels

Dr. Shahzad Ahmed Rizvi, who is a Washington-based writer, has written several books in English, but the venue of his two novels is Bhopal, where Dr. Rizvi spent several years of his early life and did his MA (English) from Hamidia College. Both the novels are totally fictional and have nothing to do with the Royal Family or any other citizen of Bhopal. The novels, The Last Resident and Behind the Veil can be read on Dr. Shahzad’s website www.kahany.org. (Report by Muslim Saleem, Bhopal - April 6,  2011).........................................................................................................................

 The Last Resident:  Nigel Hadley, an Englishman, after taking a degree from Oxford University, enters Indian Civil Service during the last years of the British rule in India. As he boards the ship at Southampton bound for India he discovers that the new Viceroy and his niece, Pamela, is also aboard. She is going to India with her uncle to recover from a failed love affair. Viceroy pushes them to get married and while in India appoints Nigel as a Collector of Aligarh. Nigel likes the university but Pamela does not care for Aligarh. On Sir Syed Day Nawab of Bhopal comes to Aligarh - he is an Aligarian - and Nigel meets him and both men like each other. Nawab Sahib comes up with the idea that Nigel should be appointed British Resident in Bhopal where his wife could be happy. Viceroy agrees and Nigel is appointed as the Resident and moves to Bhopal where Nawab Sahib gives him Minto Hall for the Residency. In Bhopal, Nigel falls in love with Shahzad Mehrun Nisa who is married to a cruel man. Pamela is murdered and all suspect Nigel that may have killed her. The whole issue is resolved by the Prime Minister of Bhopal, who is also Mehru's teacher. Many interesting developments take place during the course of the story In Delhi, Aligarh, Simla, and finally in Bhopal. You have to read the book to enjoy the novel which is a work of fiction and has no connection with the late Nawab Sahib and his family.

 Behind the Veil: It is the story of an Indian Muslim woman who falls in love with a writer after reading a story by him. Her parents try to dissuade her but she remains determined to marry him sight unseen. After the marriage her husband turns out to be a great disappointment and proceeds to harm his entire family. Story takes place in Bhopal and goes through many interesting stages and keeps the reader turning the pages. You have to read it to appreciate it.

Muslim Saleem: A Man of Versatile Genius. By Dr. Syeda Imrana Nashtar Khairabadi

Muslim Saleem: A Man of Versatile Genius.

By Dr. Syeda Imrana Nashtar Khairabadi

Muslim Saleem  special issue of ADABI KIRAN periodical released...

What a wonderful and happy occasion! What a proud moment for Muslim Saleem to receive this honor. Hearty congratulations and best wishes for him and his family.

Muslim Saleem belongs to a noble and scholarly family. His father Dr.Saleem Wahid Saleem was a great poet of Urdu, Persian and English. Dr. Saleem Wahid Saleem is famous for his out-standing work "Khayyam-e-Nau" which is a poetic translation in Urdu of Umar Khayyam's Rubaiyat. He is also famous for his great epic poems "Wuhi rang hai" and "Khudayaan-e-Jamhoor", and other poems such as "Madh-e-Sarwar-E- Kaunain", "Nawa-e-Firaq",Taar-e-Nafas", "Nigar-e-Subh", "Teer-o-Nashtar", "Aahni Azm", "Lonliness", "Husn-e-Kalaam", "Shikast-e-Yaas", "Noor Jahan", Khwaab", "Qurb-e-Awwaleen", "Azeem Shafqat"and a Satire"Hai jab raat ko ghar ahl-e-qalam aataa hai". Muslim Saleem is a great son of a great father.

Muslim Saleem got his education from Aligarh Muslim University and Allahbad University. Both the universities are proud of him. Due to his great efforts and amazing endeavors Muslim Saleem can be said the pride of Urdu Adab and journalism.