O P Sharma
Kaya Batoon har ghari is zehan mein Mere maazi ki hein kuchh parchhaiyan Kuchh gham-o-alam, kuchh ranj-o-alam Saath hein inke m’ri tanhaiyan.
This is the opening couplet of noted author Dr Jitendra Udhampuri in the book under review. It gives a glimpse of the type and thought process of the poems in the book which makes absorbing and exciting reading.
Well Woven Poetry
The present book is Dr Udampuri ‘s first venture in Urdu poetry though he has penned a number of collection of poetry in Dogri and Punjabi . But his 71-odd poems and ghazals in Urdu are very interesting endowed with depth of thought and high flight of imagination.
Urdu language has its own beauty and style while its poetry is invariably superb and popular. Dr. Udampuri ‘s Tanhaiyan has depicted popular themes like natural beauty, patriotism, social order, romanticism and day to day life. And he has also given his agenda for social and moral reforms in his imitable idioms through his poetry.
Poetry with message
A specimen of fascinating poetic lines about Jammu follows:
Yeh ulfaton ka shehr hai
Yeh mandiron ka shehr hai
Kya aan, kya shaan hai
Yeh shehr sab ki jaan hai
Yeh kitnabBaa-tameez hai
Yeh shehr dil azeez hai
Yeh log chara-saaz hain
Bade hi dil-nawaz hain
And about the Kashmir valley, his poetic composition is :
Afreen Kashmir tujh par afreen Kya milega tujh sa koyee dil naseen Dekh kar tujh ko yeh aata hai yaqeen Tu zamane bhar mein hai Khuld-e-Bareen Renowned Urdu poet Arsh Sehbai, who has written foreward has highly praised the creative work of Dr Udampuri and put a good word for Udampuri’s poetic compositions in this book.
I have gone through the book and enjoyed some of the poems which have the stamp of quality, metre and suitable words and sentiments. Particularly, my choice fell on some ghazals and poems like :- Ek Yaad, Urdu, Jammu, Fann-o-Fikr, Geet, Bacche and few poetical words titled Meri Shayeri displayed on the inner cover title of the book.
Literary Value
Dr. Udampuri has been honoured with numerous Awards and Honours at the State, National and International Levels including Sahitya Akademi Award in 1981, Senior Fellowship by Union Ministry of Culture in 2007, another National Award by Union Ministry of Human Resources, New Delhi, Best Book Award by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Language for four times and J&K State Awards in 1991 and 2006. Dogra Sahatiya Ratan Award , Dogra Ratan Award, American Medal of Honour and World Medal of Honour by Biographical Society. And he got the prestigious Padma Shri in 2010.
The printing and overall production of the book is of good quality. The literary merit will make it worth reading material for readership. It is expected that “Tanhiyan” will be certainly be a valuable addition to Urdu literature and largest number of people read and also adorn it in their book shelves.
(Starline Syndicate Service)