February 18, 2024
Urdu Academy of North America pays tribute to Habib Jalib
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Urdu Academy of North America dedicated its February 18, 2024 literary event to the life and work of popular Urdu poet Habib Jalib. Qazi Habib was MC of the event. He presented a well researched maqala on the work of Habib Jabib. The event began with a speech by Tashie Zaheer, President of the Urdu Academy of North America.
As usual a number of Urdu lovers presented poetry of Habib Jalib: Sarwat Jahan, Tasadduq Husain Attari, Roohi Husain, Anjum Zishaan, Rana Rahbar, Akhila Mangesh, Zafar Khan, Abdus Sattar Ghazali, Mobeen Khalil, Masood Hasan, Suraya Jabeen and Asim Bajwa.
Habib Jalib was born in 1928 in Hoshiarpur, East Punjab. He migrated to Pakistan after partition and worked as a proof reader in Daily Imroze, Karachi. He enjoyed a very simple and humble life. 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 sociopolitical context is what stirred the audience.
Jalib's poetry entered another phase as Pakistan drifted away from democracy with the imposition of Martial Law by General Ayub Khan, the first military dictator of Pakistan. He vigorously opposed military rule, denied the convenient “law of necessity”, and challenged the dictatorial policies both through his poetry and political activism. In “recognition” of his sociopolitical services he was rewarded with imprisonment by the Ayub Khan’s regime. He continued to receive this treat throughout his life at the hands of various governments, both military and civil. He was not a “darbari” poet and seemed like an “opposition leader” to all governments.
The popularity of Habib Jalib surged up tremendously after his poem “Dastoor” (the Constitution) which he wrote in response to the imposition of a “new” constitution by General Ayub Khan, in June 1962. The constitution was a turning point in our history which derailed Pakistan from parliamentary democracy towards a dictatorial and autocratic “presidential rule” of Field Marshal Ayub Khan.
Habib Jalib defied the constitution in the following words:
In 1964, Jalib actively supported Ms. Fatima Jinnah in her presidential campaign against Ayub and wrote another famous poem on Ms. Jinnah.
When Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto came to power, it was assumed that Jalib would enjoy some peace because of similarities between his sociopolitical views (anti-capitalism) and the PPP manifesto. This was however not to be. As Bhutto grew more powerful in the wake of the weakened military after the surrender of Dhaka, the gap between the PPP manifesto and the government policies grew wider. Jalib turned his voice against the Bhutto government and was jailed as before.
When Bhutto was hanged by another military dictator, General Zia-ul-Haq, Jalib wrote a poem against the “justice” of the military ruler, thereby initiating another thread of confrontation against the new military rule. He actively participated in the movement for the restoration of democracy and faced hardships from the Zia regime, and was once again sent to jail.
Habib Jalib was not a spectator, but an active player. His poetry reflects the pulse of the masses. He was a true “representative” of the people of Pakistan, especially the oppressed masses. He wrote on diverse topics, personalities, events, and ills of the society. He used his poetry as a tool to fight against social injustice, opression and abuse of power etc.. His poetic works when viewed collectively, seem like the sociopolitical timeline of Pakistan.
Faiz Ahme Faiz believed that no poet since Wali Dakkani has been able to capture greater audience than Habib Jalib. He is truly the poet of the masses.
Habib Jalib died on March 12, 1993 and was laid to rest in Shah Fareed Graveyard, Sabzazar, Lahore.
On March 23,2009, Habib Jalib was awarded the highest civil award Nishan-i-Imtiaz (posthumous) which was received by his daughter, Tahira Habib Jalib.
Watch videos on YouTube See more pictures
