Ustad Bukhari, the voice of love and liberty

KARACHI - The poet is representative of a society; he fights for his people, encourages downtrodden, infuses confidence into lifeless, criticises wrong politicians and fascist elements of the country, guides ordinary through thick and thin and suffers burns upon his body for his stand on truth throughout his life. Sindh has produced such people in every age. Ustad Bukhari is one of them. Indeed, no poet exists without romantic poetry, so the same case is with Ustad Bukhari. His romantic verses touching beloveds praise reach to collective love for humans, country and land. Experience, meditation, friendship, environment and formal and informal education play vital role in shaping creative people including poet. Ustad Bukhari is, in general, a rural man; he has lived in a town named Dadu. He, by profession, was a lecturer with some thousands to push his mundane life. This is why he could not get widespread recognition as his contemporary Sheikh Ayaz enjoyed. While Ustad Bukhari is not less than him; they are termed equal. Ustad Bukhari has witnessed great movements; such as One Unit launched in General Ayubs government, 83 Movement during General Ziaul Haque. The wounds creative people have received during the campaigns are obvious in their writings. Ustad Bukhari is not immune to them. His pen friends include great name in Sindhi literature Ibrahim Joyo, Siraj Memon, Rasool Bux Palijo, Allahdad Bohio are some names, which have helped him ripe his thought and sharpen poetic skills. Being grown up in country environment, he has huge love for rural people. His poems reveal that Ustad Bukhari longs, yells within and stays sleepless nights for the charming-starved life of peasants, sick, pupil with shabby clothes and torn shoes and helpless women. Furthermore, Ustad Bukhari seems to have been impressed by Ghalib, Allama Iqbal, Shah Abdul Latif Bhatai, Sachal Sarmast, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, VI Lenin, Mao Ze Dong, Hu Chi Minh, and Socrates, who are reflected in his works. Ustad Bukhari belongs to Sindh; therefore he has characters from Sindhi society with universal thought. They have distinguished and meaningful life to convey what the poet wants through them. Immortal heroes he has taken are: Shah Inayat of Jhok, Pir Subghatullah Shah Rashdi alias Pir Suriah Badshah, Doolah Darya Khan, Roplo Kolhi, Jeeando Hur, Makhdoom Bilawal, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto etc. Ustad Bukhari has over twenty books, the author has gone through thirteen: Qukan ya kalian (Movement or restness), Na kum nibryo, nag hum nibryo (Neither work finishes, nor gladness emerges), Otu Jotu (Scholarly leadership), Luhre Luhre me lalaan (every verse is like fire) Dharti sur te (Land dominates mind), Luhr Luhr Darya (Waves reflect river), Per na hatun poete (No reverse for men) etc. The poet begins his creative journey from immature meditation and infatuation poetry to mature and universal. Needless to say, great works guide people and create awareness amongst them so that they could lead themselves and differentiate between right and wrong; Ustad Bukhari enjoys that grace in Sindhi literature. Except Sami and Shah Abdul Latif Bhatai, all Sindhi poets have tested themselves in all genres; but their work has another tale to tell. Ustad Bukhari is not different. His books reveal that he has grip over poem, Geet, Vai and four stanza poems, but his calibre is not matching in Ghazal, Terru and prosaic verses. Ustad Bukharis thought has fought zigzag fight to be universal. Main three levels of his artistic genius namely Romance, Nationalism and Humanity are selected to show his achievements as a poet. ROMANCE I have insatiable wishes, but life one, I have to chose, work or love, The choice I have to make from mundane you and routine, I am longing for hundred lives, Love Beauty is truth, Bukhari And love is like candle, Repeat it gets from Philosophers, This vision is too ancient, That I have to follow. NATIONALISM Aryas were looters, they lost their identity during looting, Attackers Turkhan, Madad Khan met with same fortune, Sindh is on map, it, o ill-wishers, for ever to live, Usual are raiders, Sindh witnesses destruction, but ultimately wins. They wont mould, meaningless is death, Rocks bow, but it is unknown to dauntless, Lovers give heads to cutters, but do not go with shameful life, Such are from us, Such are from us. HUMANITY Darkness is, has to be eyed, like Pacific Ocean, Fresh leadership is to lead everywhere, New thought like weather is common, Knowledge needs labour, and we will do here. I require one land, sky, home, If there is one mother, father, God, And if water does not fall apart with splash of stick, Why humans have different list. To sum up, Usad Bukhari has represented Sindh, peasants, labourers and all oppressed sincerely. He has also preferred collective betterment to personal. His life study suggests that he has never withdrawn his thought, not composed poems to appease any one and not received any reward to make his life comfortable. He was known as masses poet, and remained like candle for them till he breathed his last. This is why he has ruled over ordinary people through his art has been sung by local singers to beautify Mehfils and in cassettes.