Shakeel Rasheed
Munawwar Rana has also left us to meet his Ultimate Creator. The use of the word ‘also’ is significant as Rahat Indori left for his heavenly abode in the not too distant a past leaving all and sundry with teary eyes.
Both were poets of a similar temperament, unafraid to speak the truth and impervious to any external pressure. Munawwar Rana’s demise serves as a stark reminder of the eternal truth that everyone who enters this world must eventually depart. Accepting this reality might provide some solace to the heart, understanding that nature had predetermined the number of days for Munawwar Rana. Who was Munawar Rana? The obvious reply is that he was a poet.
However, there’s another facet to this response – he wasn’t just a poet; he was also a rebel. His unwavering belief in human values was a remarkable attribute. Munawwar Rana harboured a heart that throbbed for the country, its soil, mothers, the underprivileged, and the children labouring in train compartments.
He staunchly opposed communalism, fearlessly combated fascism, and actively promoted the country’s traditional brotherhood, Hindu-Muslim unity, and the Ganga-Jamuni culture.
Munawwar Rana may not have been an extraordinary poet, but his deep connection with and love for his land sets him apart from contemporary poets. His demise is likely to evoke sadness, given the rarity of such a profound attachment to one’s homeland.
Munawwar Rana’s life was a continuous struggle, not in terms of financial hardships, but in his effort to mend the rifts in people’s hearts through his poetry.
Unlike many others, the late poet never yielded to those in power. In moments demanding truth, he fearlessly spoke it, defying the norms of conformity. Some claim that Munawwar Rana courted controversy, but this is a mischaracterisation. He simply expressed his views on pertinent issues. For instance, he spoke out against the lynching of Akhlaq in Dadri, criticised Yogi Adityanath’s victory, opposed the decision to hand over Babri Masjid land for the Ram Temple, and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the issue of CAA and NRC.
Labeling his statements as controversial is unjust. Munawwar Rana exercised his rights as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. In a time when many remained silent, his outspokenness was not a crime. His act of returning the ‘Sahitya Akademi’ award, in protest against the inhuman ‘mob lynching’ of Akhlaq, reflected his courage and conviction. Munawwar Rana’s love for his country, its people, and its soil was evident throughout his life.
Jism par mitti malenge pak ho jaenge hamAe Zamin ek din teri khurak ho jaenge ham
(We shall accumulate dust upon our bodies, finding purification.Oh, earth, one day, we shall become your sustenance.)
In the pursuit of the nation’s well-being, Munawwar Rana confronted anyone exploiting the country’s name for personal gain, be it Prime Minister Modi or Chief Minister Yogi. At one juncture, he asserted that Modi remained oblivious to the cries of Indian Muslims, and he vehemently criticised Yogi. Few Urdu poets dare to address rulers in such a direct manner!
Munawwar Rana’s passing is a significant loss to the Urdu language and poetry. There are not many individuals who craft verses connected to the land. His departure from this transient world is particularly poignant as a robust voice against communalism and fascism has now become silent.
While Munawwar Rana may not have been an Allama Iqbal or Ghalib, his popularity and significance are evident by the shared sorrow, even from those he criticised during his lifetime; Prime Minister Modi’s deep respect and condolences are a case in point. May Allah forgive all Munawwar Rana’s shortcomings and grant him Jannat ul Firdaus, Amen!
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* To read the original article in Urdu, click on the link: https://www.roznamakhabrein.com/you-find-it-easy-to-be-a-munawar-rana/
** Shakeel Rasheed is Editor of Mumbai Urdu News. The article is originally in Urdu and its English translation has been rendered by Clarion India’s Mohammad Alamullah
