Book & Author
Rais Amrohvi: Qataat-II (Quatrains)
By Dr Ahmed S. Khan
Chicago, IL
Syed Muhammad Mehdi aka Rais Amrohvi (September 12, 1914, Amroha, British India – September 22, 1988, Karachi, Pakistan) was a prominent Pakistani scholar, poet, writer, paranormal investigator, and psychoanalyst. In October 1947 he migrated to Karachi.
His city of birth Amroha is known for its mangoes and intellectual capital. His family is notable for having produced many intellectuals and artists, including Kamal Amrohvi (cousin, film writer/director/producer), Joan Elia (brother, poet), Syed Muhammed Taqi (brother, Editor Jang), and Sadequain (cousin, artist). Rais sahib’s father Shafiq Hasan Elia — a prominent scholar of Amroha — praising Amroha’s linguistic uniqueness, had observed:
Allah Allah, what a glory of Amroha
What to say of the diction of Amroha,
Indeed, it is the average of Delhi and Lucknow
Moderate is the language of Amroha!
In the tradition of Amroha’s diction, Rais Amrohvi’s Qattaat (Quatrains) reflect a multitude of themes; satire, current affairs and politics. Professor Naqi Akhter, cousin of Rais Amrovhavi, commenting on Rais sahib’s extempore style of generating Quatrains had observed that in the early 1950s the family used to live in a small apartment. Everyday Rais sahib would listen to Radio Pakistan’s midday news bulletin and would spontaneously produce a Qattaa (Quatrain) and write it on a piece of paper. When his brother Syed Muhammad Taqi would come home for lunch, Rais sahib would hand him the freshly composed Qattaa (Quatrain) which used to appear in the next day’s daily Jang.
Rais sahib was a prolific writer, he had produced a vast array of intellectual outputs. His poetry work includes Alif, Masnavi Lala-e-Sehra (1956) , Pase Ghubar (1969), Qattaat-I (1969), Qattaat-II (1969), Hikayaat (1975), Ba-Hazrat-e-Yazdaan (1984), Malboos-e-Bahar (1983), Aasaar (1985), Kulliyat, Naseemus Sahar, and Zameer-e-Khama. His other works include Muraqabah, Ma'badun-Nafsiyaat (Parapsychology), Nafseyaat-o-Mabaad-an-Nafseyaat (Three Volumes) Ajaib-e-Nafs (Four Volumes), Le Sans Bhi Ahista (Two Volumes), Jinseyaat (Two Volumes), Aalam-e-Barzagh (Two Volumes), Hazraat-e-Arwah, Hypnotism, Tawajjuhaat (Two Volumes), Jinnaat (Two Volumes), Aalam-e-Arwah (Two Volumes), Almiye-e-mashraqi Pakistan, Achche Mirza. Rais sahib also established an institution called Rais Academy to help and educate people for improving their emotional and moral well-being.
In the foreword of Qattaat-II, Rais sahib observes: “I must point out that the book contains Qattaat for the period 1954-58, the most important period after gaining independence. Pakistan was going through the growing pains of development and stability. The fervor of Pakistan movement was diminished, and the eras of Quaid-i-Azan and Quaid-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan had ended. New leaders were emerging in the country and new nation was getting divided into new groups. These Qattaat are reflective of this period representing anxiety and change. Many things have been expressed in terms of analogies. Many incidents and events have implied to…In 1947 the problems of post-independence we were facing had gotten worse in 1954…no constitution was formulated which could safeguard the interests of different national groups belonging to various geographic regions….the constitution of 1956 was the result of an effort in haste…the Martial Law of 1958 just annulled it….the Quatrains reflect the uncertainty of this period (1947-53)…the second volume of quatrains represent the period starting in January 1954 and ending in December 1958… Rais Amrohvi, August 1, 1969.”
In the first introductory remarks of Qattaat-II, Niaz Fatehpuri sahib (1884-1966) praised Rais sahib by saying that his caliber of high-level thinking is equally matched by his ability of expressing thoughts in the written form. In the second introductory remarks, Josh Maliahabadi (1898-1982) acknowledges Rais sahib’s caliber by stating that he would consider himself Qaroon e- Zaman (the wealthiest of the Era) if Rais sahib would take all of Josh sahib’s Kalaam (poetic output) in exchange for his couplet:
Sha’id Issay Isqh Bhi na Samjay
Jiss Kurb maiN Aql mub’tilah hay
Perhaps, Isqh (love) will not comprehend
The perturbed state that my mind is in.
The following samples from Qattaat-II reveal the caliber and class of Rais Amrohvi’s craft.
February 10, 1954
Karoo’bar Chunda (Blinded Business)
Aaj Dundh’lah her aik Dhund’dah hay
Mulk maiN Bai’o’par mund’dah hay
Aur her aik kaam Gund’dah hay
Kooch too hay Karoo’bar Chunda hay
Today all kind of business is foggy
All business is stagnant in the country
And every effort is murky
Indeed there is something that’s why Blinded Business.
February 17, 1954
Where there is no One
Radio, Teleprinter, Rooznamah, Telephone
Hum-Nafs Koi Na Ho, Aur Hum-ZubaN Koi Na Ho
Vote, Election, Corporation, Mayor, Secretary
“Ra’hi’yah Aab Aaisi Ja’gah Chal kar JahaN Koi Na Ho*”
Radio, Teleprinter, News daily, Telephone
No one of essence, no one speaking same language
Vote, election, corporation, mayor, secretary
“We should live somewhere where there is no one”
*A part of Ghalib’s famous couplet
February 19, 1954
US Aid
Sai-wa-Kho’ Ka Samar Mil’tah na’haiN Kuch Bhi Rais
Kismat Bur’ghusta Ky’uoN “Un-paid” hoo kar rah Cgai
Mudh’ta’tooN say munta’zir haiN aur AaH Chuk’ti na’haiN
Rahmat e Bari bhi “U.S. Aid” hoo kar rah Ghai
Rais, No fruit for all efforts and actions
Why my fate has an “unpaid” status
Waiting for ages, has not arrived yet
Divine blessing also turned into US Aid.
May 16, 1954
Changing the Capital
Woo Sub Kuch Kah Ra’hay haiN ahad-e-Nu main Aap’nay Rah’numah
Kai tha Ahad-e- Pari’nah main Joo Huk’aam-e-Mut’lak nay
Su’nah Tub’dee’lee-e-Darul-Khilafa ka Joo Mun’soo’bah
Mubark’bad Dee Rhoo-e-Muhammed Shah Tugh-lak nay
In this new era, our leaders are doing everything
The accord that was done by leaders of the past
On hearing the plan to change the capital
The soul of Muhammed Shah Tughlaq* congratulated
*(he made Daulaatabad (Deccan) the capital instead of Delhi)
June 26, 1954
Food – Mood
Ka’yah Ba’ta’ouN Ghi-zah Na-kiss hai
Dil koo Iz’tarab rah’tah hai
“Food” Ak’sur Kha’raab mil’tee hai
“Mood” Ak’sur Kha’raab rah’tah hai
What should I say about terrible food
What kind of perturbed state my heart is in
Often I get terrible food
Often I have bad mood.
June 27, 1954
Crumbs of Atom Bomb
Joo Shay Mil’tee hai Ration shop say loo’gooN koo Car par
Na Aa’tah hai, Na Mai’dah hay, Na Bhoo’see hay, Na Boo’rah hay
Hoo’aiy haiN bud’mazah Kaa’moo’daa’hun, Mas’moom haiN Mai’day
Yah America ka Gha’hooN hai ka Atom Bomb kaa Choo’rah
The Thing that people are given at the Ration Shop
It is not flour, not superfine flour, neither husk nor sawdust
Palate and mouth are in agony of bad taste, and Stomachs getting toxic
Is it the American wheat or the crumbs of atom bomb!
July 4, 1954
Hajj-e-Badal
Kiss’ee Mo’min kay bad’lay main ho Joo Hajj
Zaban-e- Shirah maiN “Hajj-e-Badal” hai
Joo Hajj “Good Will” kay Ze’mun main ho
Woo Diplomatic wa Political hai
The Hajj that is performed on behalf of a Momin
In religious terminology is regarded as “Hajj-e-Badal”
And the Hajj performed during “Goodwill mission”
Is regarded as Diplomatic and Political.
June 18, 1955
Kash’Koal (The begging bowl)
Pah’lay thee Mud-e-Nazr Yaa’rooN koo Amerika ki Aid
Aab Samaj’tah Rooss ki Im’daad bhi un-mool hay
Yah’nee Aab tak Bheak ka Pa’yalah tha sirf aik hath main
Aab Bahumdillah Doo’nnoN Ha’thooN main haiN Kash’koal
Previously in view of chums was the American Aid
But now they also regard Russian Aid as rare
So far only one hand was holding the begging bowl
Now, with praise to Allah, both hands are holding begging bowls.
January 15, 1957
Qorma – Pulaoo
Fikr-o-Faqa kay furaib-e-kahna main her’giz Na Aao
Ah’lay’Danish ka Asool-e-Zin’dagi hay Khoob Khao
Khusk Af’kaar-o-Aqa’aid say na’haiN Koo’ey La’gao
Mera Maz’hub hay “Qorma” mera Aqeeda hay “Pulaoo”
Do not get deceived by thoughts of hunger and poverty
The principle of the wise is to eat well
No interested in the dryness of thoughts and beliefs
My religion is “Qorma” and my faith is “Pulaoo.”
March 10, 1957
Aa’Shiq Numah (Like Lover)
Ishq nay aik Nuk’tah dil’kush su’nah
Woo bhi Aik Ashiq numah Ma’shooq say
Hay Issy main Deen-o-Dun’ya key Falah
Payar kar Khaliq say, aur Dar Makh’looq say
Love came to know an alluring point
And that’s from a lover like beloved
The salvation for the religion and the world lies in;
Love the Creator, and be afraid of the Creation.
January 1, 1958
Sau Ka Note (Hundred Rupee Note)
Quaid-e-Azam ka photo Sau Rupay ka note par
Iss main hai Nuk’tah ghum-e-Ghur’bat kay ma’rooN ka liay
Sau Rupay ka note hay Sar’mayah’dari ka Nishan
Ya’nee Quaid haiN faqt Sar’maya’darooN kay Liay
Quaid-e-Azam’s photo is on the hundred Rupee note
There is a point in it for the sufferers of poverty
Hundred Rupee note is an icon of Capitalism
Meaning Quaid is only for Capitalists.
December 30, 1958
Umr Ein’da (Life ahead)
Hum ko Aab tak Zingagi nay kai deya?
Khair pher bhi Az’rahe ma’kar-o-Ni’fak
Umr Ein’da! Salam wa Mar’haba
Umr rafta! Al’widah wa al-farak
So far what life has given us
Still for sake of hypocrisy and deceit
Life ahead, peace and welcome
Life gone, Goodbye and departure.
Rais Amrohvi sahib is the master of his craft. Qataat-II (Quatrains) is a valuable book of Urdu literature — it is a unique gift for the lovers of Urdu poetry. Readers can enjoy Rais sahib’s unique style of satire and his mastery of Urdu.
[Dr Ahmed S. Khan ( dr.a.s.khan@ieee.org ) is a Fulbright Specialist Scholar (2017-2022)]
