Dr. Anjum Barah Bankawi: The dignified tone of Urdu Ghazal
Awaz E Bihar••0 views•5 min read
Akhtar Jamal Usmani. Barabanki, Mb. 9450191754
The land of Awadh has long been a cradle of language, expression, and poetry. The historic city of Barabanki in this region holds a prominent position in the tradition of Urdu poetry. This city is associated with several names of Urdu poetry that the Urdu world has always been proud of. Khumar Barabankvi, Shamsi Minaei, Saghar Azmi, Sarwar Barabankvi, and Ustad-e-Shairi Aziz Barabankvi were the custodians of poetic traditions. Dr. Anjam Barabankvi is also a strong link in this series. He is a poet, researcher, and litterateur who has not only illuminated the name of his ancestors but has also given dignity and cultural consciousness to Urdu ghazal.
His ancestral hometown is Mela Rai Ganj, a town in Barabanki district, where he was born on July 1, 1964. His real name is Syed Kaleem Karar, but today the Urdu world knows him as Dr. Anjam Barabankvi. The academic atmosphere and training at home taught him the values of dignity and balance, which have been reflected in his personality.
Dr. Anjam Barabankvi's real uncle, Sarwar Barabankvi, who had migrated to Pakistan after partition, was also a renowned poet. Thus, poetry was his inheritance, and he was trained in such a poetic environment. According to tradition, his basic education in religious studies and ethics began at home. He received his early education, from high school to intermediate, in his hometown of Barabanki.
It was during this time that several literary circles were active in Barabanki, and their monthly sessions were held regularly. He started attending the sessions of Bazm-e-Afkar, which was supervised by Aziz Barabankvi. Akhtar Mohani, the spirit of the bazm, encouraged him. This was the beginning of his poetic journey.
For higher education, he joined Lucknow University, where he earned a BA and then an MA in Urdu. Lucknow was a major center of Urdu language and literature, and it was here that he became familiar with the subtleties of language and cultural symbols.
Dr. Anjam Barabankvi's first teacher was Aziz Barabankvi, who taught him the art of poetry and the rules of writing. Later, he also received guidance from Azhar Barabankvi. The training he received from his teachers was not just formal; it had a profound impact on his poetry, which is reflected in the balance, decency, and dignity of his work.
In search of a livelihood, he moved to Bhopal in 1991, a city where Urdu ghazal was gaining a new identity. The city had a rich tradition of mushairas, and he had the opportunity to be in the company of great poets like Dr. Bashir Badr. Here, he received guidance from Dr. Bashir Badr, and his thoughts and poetry were influenced by him.
He wrote a thesis on "Shahanshah-e-Ghazal Dr. Bashir Badr: Personality and Art," for which he was awarded a Ph.D. from Barkatullah University, Bhopal. This thesis was not just a ordinary research document but a reflection of Bashir Badr's poetry, his intellectual aspect, and contemporary meaningfulness.
Dr. Anjam Barabankvi has published several poetry collections, which are a testament to his continuous creative activity. Some of his notable collections include "Khamoshiyon Ka Naghma" and "Zamana Kuch Aur Hai." The poetry in these collections is an example of contemporary awareness, presenting the changing society, the decline of values, and human joys and sorrows in an effective manner.
Dr. Anjam Barabankvi's personality is characterized by his intellectual breadth and command of the Hindi language. He has published several collections in Hindi, including "Aitbar," "Sawagat," and "Lahje Ki Chandni." He has also made significant literary contributions by compiling the works of renowned poets like Nur Amrohvi.
His love and dedication to his fellow citizen, the late Dr. Saghar Azmi, are evident in his book "Dr. Saghar Azmi: Alfaz Se Awaz Tak." Dr. Anjam Barabankvi's poetry is imbued with cultural consciousness, truth, and dignity. His words have a profound impact, and his poetry is a reflection of the times we live in.
Some of his notable poems include:
Humein aana hai haal-e-dil sunane Tumhein kis roz aasani rahe gi
This poem is a reflection of the era's engagement and human insensitivity.
Suraj ko roshni se adawat zarur hai Usne kisi chirag ko jalaney nahin diya
This poem presents a stark social reality in simple words, where a test has become a norm.
In this ghazal, human dignity is elevated above material things.
Mujhe sonay ki qeemat mat batao Main mitti hoon, meri azmat bahut hai
Dr. Anjam Barabankvi is a representative of the dignified tone of Urdu ghazal, which takes responsibility for its words. He has been awarded several honors by various literary organizations and institutions in India and abroad.
It is a pleasure to note that on December 27, a social organization, "Caravan-e-Insaniyat Barabanki," will organize a function in his honor, called "Jashn-e-Dr. Anjam Barabankvi," in his hometown of Barabanki. Urdu literature has high expectations from him, and it is certain that in the future, Dr. Anjam Barabankvi's name will become even more prominent in the literary history of Urdu.
