Seepiyon ke khuloos ke aage (Before the love of shells) Poetry has been a source of delight and wisdom since

ages. To quench the thirst of soul, people open their bookshelves; pick up one of the books of poetry by Tulsidas, Kabirdas, Meer Taqi Meer, Ghalib, Rabindranath Tagore, Aurobindo or Firaq Gorakhpuri. These poets are not only eminent because of their epoch making work but they are the source of life spirit and inspiration for future poetry. Not greater than these poets, but there are some poets of the twenty first century, whose poetry has the same gravity and impact on mind and soul. They write poetry with a purpose which can enlighten the minds of people and compel them to brood on the issues of life. Mohd. Qasim Rasa, the inheritor of Daagh Dehlavi School of Urdu poetry, is one of the poets who have purpose in his poetry. He writes to seek meaning in life. His intentions are to share his thoughts, feelings, emotions and experiences with his audience genuinely. He endeavours to motivate young generation. He shows his concerns for the society and country. He has attempted each and every genre of Urdu poetry whether it is Ghazal, Lyric, Naat, Manqabat, Masnavi, Rubaayi, Qataat, or Haiku. His sensitivity and sensibility both are vividly depicted in his poetry. As it has been earlier said that poetry is a source of delight and wisdom both, Rasa Sahibs couplets are of the same nature. Sometimes his couplets may be less in pleasure but he never misses wisdom in them. In one of his couplets, he says: Mumkin ho to ik nuqte ka aaghaaz hi kar lo Ik nuqte ke aaghaaz ka hona bhi bahut hai. If possible, begin something at least, Something is enough for beginning. The poet is not lost in glamour of the world. He is conscious enough to understand the reality of life. He does not believe in abolishing tradition just for the sake of showing false intellectual capacity and so called modernity. He is earnest in following his tradition and everlasting wisdom. He observes closely the changing attitude of the world. In addition to that he is firm in what he believes. Zamaana humse bahut munharif raha lekin Humaari baat hi haq thi humaari baat chali The world remained against me, but My words were genuine and accepted by all. He is so dedicated and determined to follow the path of truth that he does not hesitate to tell even his own weaknesses. It is his courage to face all odds of his life as they are. He is contented with what he has. Therefore, in his poetry any kind of distress or disappointments is missing. He does not like to be disguised just to seek peoples false appreciation. His candidness is vividly expressed in the following couplet: Ishq karna to bahut dushwaar tha Main faqat ahsaas lekar aa gaya. It was next to impossible to love I came back having a feel of it. Rasa sahib is not only of metaphysical and transcendental mindset, he has bent to political and social issues also:

Is giraani mein har ik dil ki yahi aawaaz hai Chhota kunba zindagi ki har khushi ka raaz hai. In this dearness, each and every heart voices this Small family is the secret of the happiness of life. Ghar mein deewarein agar uthati rahin yun hi Rasa Rishta-e-fikr-o-amal dil se juda ho jaayega. If walls keep on parting house like this Rasa The heart will bid adieu concerns for all. Wahi poorav, wahi pashchim, wahi uttar, dakhan Tukade tukade meri dharti ka jigar aaj bhi hai. The same is the east and west, the same is north, south The pieces of the heart of my mother land remain even today. He depicts acumen in human psychology also. He is keen on observing the mindset of youth. He knows the truth of generation gap which has been going on since human civilization: Humse boodhon se na keeje koi ummeed magar Phir bhi kaam aayeinge hum log misaalon ke liye. Do not keep any hope from the old like us, Still we may be examples for coming generation. In one of his couplets, he depicts the culmination of human sensitivity even for those who or which are good for nothing amidst commons: Hari nahin hai magar shaakh kaatate kyun ho Ye jaane kitne parindon ko aasara degi. Its not green but why do you cut the bough? I wonder, it could shelter innumerable birds. Rasa Sahib is a student of Daagh School of Ghazal then how he can be untouched with fragility and tenderness of Ghazal. His couplets depict the very essence of the tradition of Ghazal: Phoolon se, chaandni se, saba se bahaar se Karte bhi kya kalaam tujhe dekhne ke baad. To flowers, to moonlight, to breeze, to spring What would I talk, after having your glimpse! Ghazal suna ke hum itna to kaam kar aaye Gulon mein rang, sitaaron mein noor bhar aaye. Reciting Ghazals , I have done this much of work, That I have filled colours in flowers and light in stars. Zameen ko chhute hi pair uske kaanpte hain Rasa Wo raushani ka badan bhi mujhe kunwara laga. Touching the earth, her feet shiver Rasa I felt even the body of Sunlight is virgin.

A revolutionary is hidden in his heart. He does not let his heart weak in any condition. He knows the significance of awakened consciousness. Therefore, he says: Khamoshiyan baja hain magar bazm mein Rasa Jaage huye shaoor ko tanha na chhodiye. Silence is golden but in a gathering Rasa Awakened conscience should not be left alone. His courage acclaims loudly. His struggle for life continues even in the worst phase of life. He does not let down his spirit. This is what distinguish him from an ordinary person. Zindagi main ne guzaari hai ye kaise kah dun! Har qadam waqt se ik jang ladi hai yaaro. How should I say I have passed my life? Every step I have fought a battle, friends. He is amiable despite all idiosyncrasies of people. He believes in harmony and friendliness. He is always ready to remove distance in any relationship. Faasale samete hain humne apni baahon mein Qurbaton ko bikhra do tum bhi aaj raahon mein. We have scraped together the distances in our arms You should also spread nearness in ways today. Poverty is a curse to his mind. He knows that it is a disease which should be removed as soon as possible. Therefore in one of the couplets, he calls up for removal of poverty from the country. Laga ke maathe se hum khaaq-e-sar zameen-e-watan, Ilaaj-e-ghurbat-e-hindostaan talaash karein. Smearing the ash of the land of our country on our forehead Lets search the remedy of poverty of Hindostaan. A subtle and farsighted vision can see the truth of human psyche. Rasa sahib is able to perceive the hidden slavery in so called freedom. Man is confined to his own desires and materialistic achievements. Even he does not hesitate to stake his country to fulfill his selfish desires. It is vividly expressed in a couplet: Masheeni daur ka insaan samajh na paayega, Na isase qalb-e-pareshan ki daastaan kahiye. The man of machine age cannot understand Do not tell him the tale of agonized heart. Zanjeer hi nahin phir bhi khanak kyon hai faza mein, Aazaad ghulaamon ko ye samjhaao to jaanein. There is no fetter even then why clinking is in the ambience, Make so called free but slaves understand than it is appreciable. He contemplates earnestly on the problem of brain drain. The migration of talented youth is creating an intellectual and innovative backwardness in our country. He is well aware of the loss of the nation. Na jaane le gayi fikr-e-muaash usko kahaan Parinda laut ke phir aashiyan mein aaya nahin. I wonder where the need for living has taken him

The bird has not come back to his nestle again. Being a seer, he can perceive the artificiality of the world. He knows the reality of life. He is not fascinated by ostentation and illusory picture of this world. He can see falsehood veiled in glamour and glittering. Nairangi-e-zamaana isi ka to naam hai Hum muskura rahe hain fareb-e-bahaar mein. This is what the illusion of the world is, We are smiling in deceiving spring. Poetry is not confined to mere pleasure but it is a food of soul. A true wisdom seeks significance even in trivial matters of life. Nothing is trivial for a poet, as he observes meticulously every aspect of life. Every small thing is a creation of God. The end of life is also similarly significant as the life itself is. The poet observes the meaning of grave in a wide perspective. Therefore, his one of the poem Qabra reveals innumerable dimensions of grave. He sees it as perpetual home for everyman: Qabra hi daayami maskan hai har insaan ke liye Chaahe jis haal mein insaan rahe Grave is the only perpetual home for every man, In whatever condition Man may live. Rasa sahib is not only a distinguished contemporary poet of Urdu but a modest human being also. Personally I have seen him smiling even in problems. He knows how to respond difficulties. His devotion for literature and affection for humanity makes his personality uncommon, though he himself lives like a common man. One will never find him other than the most humble and amiable human being among the poets of Gwalior. The translation of his selected couplets is the result of his confidence in me. I am not an authority in translation, but his trust and affection inspired me to do this work. I have tried to keep the original meaning of the couplets. This is an effort not to show my scholarship but to make these couplets in the reach of the people who are not well versed in Urdu language. They can read transliteration to know the original Urdu couplet and translation to understand their meaning. I hope my effort in this sense will be acceptable to all readers.