Epic in Urdu literature is not as popular as verse composition restricted to a few stanzas of a ghazal, lyric, or a thematic poem such as elegy of entirely religious nature. The compositions of these distinct forms are not time-consuming and mostly are the results of volitional thought process, generally referred to as aamad (unveiling).
Impulsiveness of a restless human being full of ideas and experiences is another factor that forces a man to pour out his thought in the form of a piece of prose or poetry and get some relief from the agony of drawn-out muteness of the being.
These two processes have generally been the main source of literary output of many known writers. But those who have created a place for their work in literature and that too in the art of providing nuances to the use of words that carry a wealth of meanings have given a longer 'shelf life' to their books than the volitional writers.
Not much literature on these two broadly categorised writings is available in Urdu literature but whatever one gets hold of is not sufficient to decide which way to go and how to classify the quality of a piece of writing. Many readers prefer knowledge and many the pleasure of the language. Both are short-lived attainments and wear off with the passage of time. However, academics have a different point of view and prefer writings that unveil mysteries of words that communicate differently with different people. To them it is the pith of the matter that carries weight.
Among the contemporary writers who have regard for the furtherance of knowledge and scholarship, Fiza Aazmi is one of them. He has come out with his new book Aawaz-e-Shakistagi, which has been formatted, on an epical pattern. There is a sequence of events that have persuaded him to write twelve inter-connected poems. The unity of thought and the transition from one idea to another is smooth and without any gratuitous incitement. However, the necessary stimulus to read further is there.
Each poem has a name or better call a title. Whatever has been recorded in these poems is spanned over a period of fifty years of his experience with the oddities of life. There is description of glorious past and a miserable present with some hope in the future. In addition to the poetic pleasures that Aawz-e-shakistagi has, there is plenty to find for further study on the meaning of civilisation, culture, nationhood and technology for gaining superiority by one race of humans on the other.
Fiza Aazmi has articulated his ideas about Pakistan, its rulers, changes in the psyche of the people of Pakistan, relations with neighbouring countries and the way future need to be protected against the evils. He has explicitly shown his concern about the protection of the cultural heritage of the people living in different parts of Pakistan and the civilisation that they have inherited from the ancestors. It is a thematic work and needs to be viewed with seriousness of an academic.
"Yeh such hai aalme iblagh main tum inqilab-e-nau kay bani ho
Yeh sach hai wusaat-e-dunya ka afsoon tum nay tora hai
Yeh such hai sari dunya ko naye rishtoon main jora hai
Yeh such hai waqt aur wusaat ko bahum kar diya tum nay
Yeh such hai aaj dunya aik dubbay main samayi hai
Yeh such hai aaj dunya main tilsmi tar ka aik jal phaila hai
Yeh sach hai fasley ghut kar ab aik markaz peh mayal hain
Yeh qurbat, yeh shanasayee, yeh wehdat, yeh hamageri
yeh sub marhoon-e-minat hain tumharey ilm- aur tehqiq-o-kawawish kay
(Page 78-79, stanzas 30).
Fiza Aazmi has attacked the concept of clash of civilisation and its consequence with force. In his opinion Samuel Huntington has dealt with the subject in a non-academic manner and has tried to politicise the issues connected with the idea of clash of civilisations.
Though Fiza Aazmi has not come out with any provocative indigenous concept of clash of civilisations on the subject but he has tried to initiate a debate on the subject. It is interesting and worth reading. This is his seventh book.
Name of the book: Awaz-e-Shakistagi
Writer: Aqeel Ahmed Fiza Aazmi
Publishers: Javedan Publications, 28-H- Rozvia Housing, Society Karachi
Pages: 245
Price: Rs 250
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