Habib Jalib
Encyclopedia
Habib Jalib was a Pakistan
i revolutionary poet. A left-wing activist and politician, he was a staunch democrat who opposed martial law
, authoritarianism
and state oppression.
, British India. He migrated to Pakistan
after partition and worked as a proofreader in Daily Imroze
, Karachi
. He was a progressive writer and soon started to grab the audience with his enthusiastic recitation of poetry. He wrote in plain language, adopted a simple style and addressed common people and issues. But the conviction behind his words, the music of his voice and his emotional energy coupled with the sensitivity of the socio-political context is what stirred the audience.
. He was a member of the Communist Party of Pakistan
; later when the Communist Party was banned and started working under the banner of National Awami Party
(NAP), Jalib joined the NAP. Due to his blunt expression of his beliefs, he suffered hard time all his life and spent most of time in Jails.
regime of Ayub Khan due to his defiant views on Ayub Khan's capitalistic policies. He wrote his legendary poem "Dastoor" during those days.
Criticizing those who supported Ayub Khan's regime, he wrote:
A humble man with limited means of livelihood, Jalib could never reconcile with the dictatorship of Ayub Khan. So when Ayub enforced his tailor-made constitution in the country in 1962, which a former prime minister Chaudhry Muhammad Ali
likened to the Clock Tower of Lyallpur
, Jalib wrote the following poem:
Due to his daring revolt against the order of the day, Jalib was banned from official media but he remained undeterred. He rather started a tirade against the tyranny with more resolution. It reached its zenith when Fatima Jinnah
decided to contest elections against Ayub Khan. All democratic forces rallied around her and at her election meetings, Jalib used to recite his fiery poems in front of an emotionally-charged crowd. His most popular poem at that time was:
In another incident which has become a part of the resistance folklore of the country, the Governor of West Pakistan, the Nawab of Kalabagh
, invited filmstar Neelo
to dance in front of a foreign dignitary (Be bold and read here Shah Reza Pahlavi of Iran
!). As she refused, the police was sent to bring her, which led to a suicide attempt on her part. This incident inspired a poem by Jalib, which was later included by Neelo's husband Riaz Shahid
in the film Zarqa. The song was:
came to power, many of his colleagues were able to hit fortunes. He, on the other hand, kept his integrity and stuck to ideology. According to sources close to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, one day Habib Jalib went to Bhutto's place to meet him. Bhutto on seeing him said that when are you going to come (referring to joining his political Party) Jalib said, "Have the oceans ever fallen in rivers".
).
came into power and released Habib Jalib. Fortunes were distributed to those who supported the government rather than those who supported democracy. Disappointed at the state of the nation, when asked if he felt any change after democracy, he said:
His family refused the offer of the then government to pay for his funeral expenses. Qateel Shifai
expressed his sorrow and grief in these words:
Jalib himself remained a victim of a cruel social order. He was imprisoned for some time after being wrongly implicated in various crimes.
With no regular source of income, he had a rootless existence, but he never considered compromising with his tormentors and coming to terms with established order. And yet Jalib’s poetry only reflects his anguish. It is not an expression of his anger or frustration. At times it is pensive, couched in sarcasm
, but his typical soft melodious tone is always there. He believed that the Pakistani leaders should stop obeying the Westerners. His following poem reflects this.
Some poems in his own voice
. In 1994, the Communist Party of Pakistan merged with the Mazdoor Kissan Party
to form the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party
.
Two members of the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party — Shahram Azhar
and Taimur Rahman
— launched a music video reciting Jalib's famous poem "Musheer Se" under the band title Laal
, symbolizing Jalib's struggle for the workers and peasants.
Laal
band remastered and remixed
the revolutionary poem "Dastoor" in Habib Jalib's voice and included it in their 2009 album Umeed-e-Sahar.
On 23 March 2009, President of Pakistan has given the highest civil award (posthumously) to the legendary poet, which was received by his daughter.
Solo artist Umair Salim composed his poem "Dastoor" in a musical track to tribute the poet on his death anniversary in 2009, followed by a music video portraying Habib Jalib's life.
But as nation remembers this great poet, Pakistani channels have aired a story that Habib Jalib’s life partner is fighting with illness and she is deprived of the money President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister have announced for her.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i revolutionary poet. A left-wing activist and politician, he was a staunch democrat who opposed martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
, authoritarianism
Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism is a form of social organization characterized by submission to authority. It is usually opposed to individualism and democracy...
and state oppression.
Early life
Habib Jalib was born on March 24, 1928 as Habib Ahmad in a village near HoshiarpurHoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur is a city and a municipal council in Hoshiarpur district in the Indian state of Punjab. It was founded, according to tradition, during the early part of the fourth century. In 1809 it was occupied by the forces of Maharaja Karanvir Singh and was united into the greater state of Punjab....
, British India. He migrated to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
after partition and worked as a proofreader in Daily Imroze
Daily Imroze
Daily Imroze is an Urdu language newspaper in Pakistan.The editor-in-chief of Imroze was Iftekhar-ud-Din. It was the first newspaper to introduce photo journalism in Pakistan. It improved the standard and quality of the newspapers in Pakistan with its style, content and layout.Daily Imroze was...
, Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. He was a progressive writer and soon started to grab the audience with his enthusiastic recitation of poetry. He wrote in plain language, adopted a simple style and addressed common people and issues. But the conviction behind his words, the music of his voice and his emotional energy coupled with the sensitivity of the socio-political context is what stirred the audience.
Political views
He was a Marxist-Leninist and aspired to the ideals of CommunismCommunism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
. He was a member of the Communist Party of Pakistan
Communist Party of Pakistan
The Communist Party of Pakistan is a communist party affiliated with Communist Party of the Russia. Before the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the party had long association and ties with the Communist Party of the Soviet Union ....
; later when the Communist Party was banned and started working under the banner of National Awami Party
National Awami Party
The National Awami Party was a leftist political party in Pakistan. The party was founded in Dhaka in erstwhile East Pakistan in July 1957 through the merger of several leftist and progressive groups. It advocated provincial autonomy, rights on the basis of ethnicity, recognition of ethinicities...
(NAP), Jalib joined the NAP. Due to his blunt expression of his beliefs, he suffered hard time all his life and spent most of time in Jails.
Ayub Khan's martial law
Habib Jalib was first imprisoned during the martial lawMartial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
regime of Ayub Khan due to his defiant views on Ayub Khan's capitalistic policies. He wrote his legendary poem "Dastoor" during those days.
Criticizing those who supported Ayub Khan's regime, he wrote:
- کہیں گیس کا دھواں ہے
- کہیں گولیوں کی بارش ہے
- شب عہد کم نگاہی
- تجھے کس طرح سراہیں
- Kahin gas ka dhuan hae
- kahin golion ki baarish
- Shab-e-ehd-e-kum nigahi
- tujhay kis tarah sarahein
- There is smoke of teargas in the air
- and the bullets are raining all around
- How can I praise thee
- the night of the period of shortsightedness
A humble man with limited means of livelihood, Jalib could never reconcile with the dictatorship of Ayub Khan. So when Ayub enforced his tailor-made constitution in the country in 1962, which a former prime minister Chaudhry Muhammad Ali
Chaudhry Muhammad Ali
Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Chaudhry Muhammad Ali (Punjabi, ; (July 15, 1905 - December 2, 1980) was a Pakistani statesman who served as the fourth Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1955 to 1956.-Early life:...
likened to the Clock Tower of Lyallpur
Lyallpur
Lyallpur may refer to* the former name of Faisalabad city, Pakistan* Lyallpur Town, a municipal area of Faisalabad city, Pakistan...
, Jalib wrote the following poem:
- دیپ جس کا محلات ہی میں جلے
- چند لوگوں کی خوشیوں کو لے کر چلے
- وہ جو سایےمیں ہر مصلحت کے پلے
- ایسے دستور کو، صبح بےنور کو
- میں نہیں مانتا،میں نہیں مانتا
- Whose light shines only in palaces
- And carries the joys of only a few people
- That derives its strength from others' weaknesses
- That system, like a dawn without light
- I refuse to acknowledge, I refuse to accept
Due to his daring revolt against the order of the day, Jalib was banned from official media but he remained undeterred. He rather started a tirade against the tyranny with more resolution. It reached its zenith when Fatima Jinnah
Fatima Jinnah
Fatima Jinnah , was one of the figurative and pioneering woman figure in Pakistan Movement and was the younger sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. An active political figure in the movement for independence from the British Raj, she is commonly known in Pakistan as Khātūn-e...
decided to contest elections against Ayub Khan. All democratic forces rallied around her and at her election meetings, Jalib used to recite his fiery poems in front of an emotionally-charged crowd. His most popular poem at that time was:
- ماں کے پائوں تلے جنت ہے ادھر آجائو
- Maan kay paon talay jannat hai idhar aa jao
- The paradise is under the feet of the mother. So come into her fold.
In another incident which has become a part of the resistance folklore of the country, the Governor of West Pakistan, the Nawab of Kalabagh
Nawab of Kalabagh
Malik Amir Mohammad Khan also known as Nawab of Kalabagh was a prominent feudal lord, politician and the seventh nawab of Kalabagh state, in Mianwali District of north western Punjab, Pakistan. He belonged to the Awan tribe of ancient repute. He was crowned as Nawab of Kalabagh after the death of...
, invited filmstar Neelo
Neelo
Neelo is a well known actress from Lahore and mother of the film actor Shaan.-Early life:Neelo was born on 30 June 1941 in Bhera, Sargodha. She appeared as an extra standing in a mob scene in Hollywood's Bhowani Junction which was shot in and around Lahore...
to dance in front of a foreign dignitary (Be bold and read here Shah Reza Pahlavi of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
!). As she refused, the police was sent to bring her, which led to a suicide attempt on her part. This incident inspired a poem by Jalib, which was later included by Neelo's husband Riaz Shahid
Riaz Shahid
Riaz Shahid was a noted Pakistani filmmaker, film writer, and journalist. His real name was Sheikh Riaz, but was called by his nickname Shahid. Originally from Kashmir, Riaz settled in Lahore where he started his career as a journalist for newspaper Chataan and later joined Faiz Ahmed Faiz's...
in the film Zarqa. The song was:
- تو کہ ناواقفِ ادبِ غلامی ہے ابھی
- رقص زنجیر پہن کر بھی کیا جاتا ہے
- Tu kay nawaqif-e-aadab-e-ghulami hae abhi
- Raqs zanjeer pehan kar bhi kiya jata hai.
- You are not aware of the protocol of a king's court. Sometimes one has to dance (before them) with the fetters on.
Bhutto's government
In 1972 when Zulfikar Ali BhuttoZulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
came to power, many of his colleagues were able to hit fortunes. He, on the other hand, kept his integrity and stuck to ideology. According to sources close to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, one day Habib Jalib went to Bhutto's place to meet him. Bhutto on seeing him said that when are you going to come (referring to joining his political Party) Jalib said, "Have the oceans ever fallen in rivers".
Zia-ul-Haq's martial law
During General Zia-ul-Haq's dictatorship, Jalib joined movement for democracy. He wrote the famous poem on Zia, where he asked how he could write darkness as Zia ( Zia literally means light in UrduUrdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
).
- ظلمت کو ضیا، صر صر کو صبا، بندے کو خدا کیا لکھنا
- Darkness as light, Hot desert wind as a morning breeze
- How can I write a human as God?
Benazir Bhutto's government
In 1988, General Zia-ul-Haq died in air crash and general elections were held. Benazir BhuttoBenazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
came into power and released Habib Jalib. Fortunes were distributed to those who supported the government rather than those who supported democracy. Disappointed at the state of the nation, when asked if he felt any change after democracy, he said:
- حال اب تک وہی ہیں غریبوں کے
- دن پھرے ہیں فقت وزیروں کے
- ہر بلاول ہے دیس کا مقروض
- پائوں ننگے ہیں بے نظیروں کے
- Haal ab tak wahi hain ghareeboan kay
- Din phiray hain faqat waziroan kay
- her Bilawal hai Dais ka maqrooz
- paoon nangay hain Benazeeroan kay
- The status of the poor is still the same
- the days of the ministers have indeed changed
- every Bilawal (name of the only son of Benazir BhuttoBenazir BhuttoBenazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
) of the country is under debt - while Benazirs (literally the poor) of the country walk without shoes
Death
Habib Jalib died on March 12, 1993.His family refused the offer of the then government to pay for his funeral expenses. Qateel Shifai
Qateel Shifai
Aurangzeb Khan or Qateel Shifai was a Pakistani Urdu poet.-Early life:Qateel Shifai was born in Haripur, Hazara Division, British India .-Career:...
expressed his sorrow and grief in these words:
- اپنے سارے درد بھلا کر اوروں کے دکھ سہتا تھا
- ہم جب غزلیں کہتے تھے وہ اکثر جیل میں رہتا تھا
- آخر چلا ہی گیا وہ روٹھ کر ہم فرزانوں سے
- وہ دیوانہ جس کو زمانہ جالب جالب کہتا تھا
- Apney saarey dard bhula kar auron ke dukh sehta tha
- Hum jub ghazlain kehtey thay wo aksar jail main rehta tha
- Aakhir kaar chala hee gya wo rooth kar hum farzanoun se
- Wo deewana jisko zamana Jalib Jalib kehta tha
Poetry
Jalib’s poetry reflected his vision and approach to life. He never deviated from his chosen path. His love for humankind, his sympathy for the underdog and his passion for the fellow-beings were reflected in his verses. What is quite significant and somewhat rare in a poet who is also charged with political ideology is his capacity to suppress his anger against the injustices and tyrannies that he witnesses in life.Jalib himself remained a victim of a cruel social order. He was imprisoned for some time after being wrongly implicated in various crimes.
With no regular source of income, he had a rootless existence, but he never considered compromising with his tormentors and coming to terms with established order. And yet Jalib’s poetry only reflects his anguish. It is not an expression of his anger or frustration. At times it is pensive, couched in sarcasm
Sarcasm
Sarcasm is “a sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt.” Though irony and understatement is usually the immediate context, most authorities distinguish sarcasm from irony; however, others argue that sarcasm may or often does involve irony or employs...
, but his typical soft melodious tone is always there. He believed that the Pakistani leaders should stop obeying the Westerners. His following poem reflects this.
- فرنگی کا جو میں دربان ہوتا
- تو جینا کس قدر آسان ہوتا
- میرے بچے بھی امریکہ میں پڑھتے
- میں ہر گرمی میں انگلستان ہوتا
- مری انگلش بھی بلا کی چست ہوتی
- بلا سے جو نہ میں اردو دان ہوتا
- سر جھکاکے جو ہو جاتا 'سر' میں
- تو لیڈر بھی عظیم الشان ہوتا
- زمینیں میری ہر صوبے میں ہوتیں
- میں واللہ صدرِ پاکستان ہوتا
- Farangi ka jo main darbaan hota
- Tho jeena kis kadar aasaan hota
- Meray bachay bhi amreeka may parthay
- Main Har garmi may main Inglistaan hota
- Meree English bhi balaa ki chusth hotee
- Balaa say jo na main Urdu-daan hota
- Sar jhuka kay jo ho jaata sir main
- Tho leader bhi azeem-u-shaan hota
- Zameenain meree har soobay may hoteen
- May wallah sadr-e-Pakistan hota
Some poems in his own voice
- ظلمت کو ضیا Zulmat Ko Zia
- قائدِ اعظم دیکھ رہے ہو اپنا پاکستان Quaid-e-Azam Dek Rahe Ho Apna Pakistan
- فرنگی کا جو میں دربان ہوتا Farangi Ka Jo May Darban Hota
- مزارے لغارے Mazaaray Laghaaray
- وطن کو کچھ نہیں خطرہ Wathan Ko Kuch Nahi Khathra
- یہ منصف بھی تو قیدی ہیں Ye Munsif Bhi Tho Qaidi Hain
- گل سن Gal Sun (Punjabi)
- میں نے اس سے یہ کہا Mein Ne Uss Se Yeh Kaha
- دستور - میں نہیں مانتا Dastoor (Main Nahi Manta)
Recent tributes
Until the end of his life in 1993, Jalib remained a member of the Communist Party of PakistanCommunist Party of Pakistan
The Communist Party of Pakistan is a communist party affiliated with Communist Party of the Russia. Before the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the party had long association and ties with the Communist Party of the Soviet Union ....
. In 1994, the Communist Party of Pakistan merged with the Mazdoor Kissan Party
Mazdoor Kissan Party
The Mazdoor Kisan Party was a communist party in Pakistan.-Creation:At the end of 1967 the National Awami Party in Pakistan split into the factions of Maulana Bhashani and Wali Khan. The leftist members of the NAP, many of whom were active in a Peasant Committee, decided to follow the Wali Khan...
to form the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party
Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party
The Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party is a political party in Pakistan formed in 1995 through the unification of the Communist Party of Pakistan and the Mazdoor Kissan Party .-History:...
.
Two members of the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party — Shahram Azhar
Shahram Azhar
Shahram Azhar is a Pakistani singer and is the lead vocalist of Laal The Band. He has a masters from Warwick University and is a graduate of Lahore University of Management Sciences. He is currently going to study for a Ph.D in Economics, at University of Massachusetts in USA...
and Taimur Rahman
Taimur Rahman
Taimur Rahman is an academic, political activist and a musician from Pakistan. He is the band leader and spokesperson for the music group named Laal. His father Rashid Rahman is the editor of Daily Times. He is also the General Secretary of the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party. He was involved with...
— launched a music video reciting Jalib's famous poem "Musheer Se" under the band title Laal
Laal (band)
Laal is a musical band from Pakistan known for singing socialist political songs, especially on the poetry written by leftist Urdu poets such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Habib Jalib...
, symbolizing Jalib's struggle for the workers and peasants.
Laal
Laal (band)
Laal is a musical band from Pakistan known for singing socialist political songs, especially on the poetry written by leftist Urdu poets such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Habib Jalib...
band remastered and remixed
Remixed
Remixed may refer to:*Remixed, an EP by Le Car*Remixed *Remixed , 2001*Remixed , 2001*Remixed *Remixed , 2003*Remixed...
the revolutionary poem "Dastoor" in Habib Jalib's voice and included it in their 2009 album Umeed-e-Sahar.
On 23 March 2009, President of Pakistan has given the highest civil award (posthumously) to the legendary poet, which was received by his daughter.
Solo artist Umair Salim composed his poem "Dastoor" in a musical track to tribute the poet on his death anniversary in 2009, followed by a music video portraying Habib Jalib's life.
But as nation remembers this great poet, Pakistani channels have aired a story that Habib Jalib’s life partner is fighting with illness and she is deprived of the money President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister have announced for her.
See also
- Faiz Ahmed FaizFaiz Ahmed FaizFaiz Ahmad Faiz was a Pakistani intellectual, poet, and one of the most famous poets of the Urdu language. He was a member of the Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind and an avowed Marxist. In 1962, he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union...
- Communist Mazdoor Kissan PartyCommunist Mazdoor Kissan PartyThe Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party is a political party in Pakistan formed in 1995 through the unification of the Communist Party of Pakistan and the Mazdoor Kissan Party .-History:...
- Ahmed FarazAhmed FarazAhmad Faraz born Syed Ahmad Shah on January 14, 1931, in Kohat, was a Pakistani Urdu poet. He was considered one of the greatest modern Urdu poets of the last century. Faraz is his pseudonym 'takhalus'...
- Mir Gul Khan NaseerMir Gul Khan NaseerMir Gul Khan Nasir, also widely regarded as Malek o-Sho'arā Balochistan was a prominent politician, poet, historian, and journalist of Balochistan, Pakistan. Born on 14 May 1914 in Noshki, Gul Khan Nasir was at the forefront of the Baloch Nationalist Movement and was most active between 1935 to 1980...
- Ustad DamanUstad DamanUstad Daman was a Punjabi poet and mystic. He was the most celebrated Punjabi poet at the time of the Partition of British India in 1947...
Books
- Sir-e-Maqtal
- Zikr Behte Khoon Ka
- Gumbad-e-Bedar
- Kulyaat e Habib Jalib
External links
- Habib Jalib bio at WhoIsWho Pakistan
- Habib Jalib at Kavita Kosh (Hindi font)
- Poetry of Defiance, Sung by Habib Jalib with translation in subtitles (Me Ne Us Se Ye Kaha, Zulmat ko Zia Kia Likhna, Jaag Mere Punjab, Zia Referendum)
- A collection of some of Jalib's poems
- Habib Jalib ( Great Poet of Pakistan ) Part 1'