Title: Terey Kheyal Ka Chaand
Author: Ahmad Hammad
Publishers: Jahangir Books, Lahore
Price: Rs. 200, Pages; 136
By Dr. Amjad Parvez
The poets emerging among the younger generation do not have a second thought on what they need to say. They say it in a straight forward manner and believe in brevity. That is why Ahmad Hammad says that without his beloved he fails to follow what life is all about. He says that on the title of his latest poetry book titled Terey Kheyal Ka Chaand published in greenish blue colour painting on the title by Fuaz Niaz of Jahangir Books. The couplet being referred to here is Mukhtasar Baat Yeh Hei Keh Terey Bina/ Zindigi Ki Samajh Hi Nahin Aa Rahi. Similarly this generation does not live in its past and looks for betterment in future. Generally speaking, despite touching vehemently on the soars of the society they are optimistic in their approach. Hammad says Roz-e-Ainda Mein Dhal Ja Merey Beetey Huey Din/ Mujhey Maazi Key Hawaley Nahin Achey Lagtey.

As a starter, Hammad shares some pages of his diary in the introduction to this book with his readers. He says that on a visit to Karachi he found dust on Quaid’s Tomb with vultures hovering around the tomb. In the city of Karachi he found sea on one side and wilderness on the other. He thought that it was a city cut from the mainstream reality. As a poet he must have felt lonely. This reviewer remembers poet Syed Younis Ijaz’s line here that Sheher Ho Jitna Bara Utni Bari Tanhaiyan. The larger is the city the enormous is the loneliness, it offers. Hammad must have said a small poem Terey Dard Sey is such a mood. He says Mera Seena/ Agar Aatish Fashan Hota/ To Ab Tak Phat Gaya Hota (page 128). Brevity and saying a lot in it is Hammad’s forte who says poetry both in Nazm and Ghazal format in easy diction. He avoids metaphors, is direct in expression and uses the terminology of everyday life of this modern age. On page 47, Hammad says that his dreams are like the pots of a pot maker that get shattered easily. He says Merey Sapney/ Kisi Nau-Umr Koozagar Key Koozey Hain/ Jo Aksar Toot Jaatey Hein.

Love, like many other poets is theme of some of Hammad’s poetry as well. In his poem titled Muhabbat Ki Afaaqi Nazm, he says that everything is mortal except love that is immortal. It turns black nights into days. It repulses all the evils. It melts the hearts of stones. Sometimes it appears in the form of butterflies and sometimes in the form of fireflies. Sometimes it appears in the shape of grown hair of the old and sometimes in the hands of a mother. The concluding Para of this poem is very catchy. It says Koi Gehrey Dukhon Ki Khaai Mein Girney Hi Wala Ho/ Muhabbat Aagey Barh Kar Apni Jaanib Khainch Lati Hei. Traditionally love is the story of meeting and departing. It is the basis of life. Love therefore is immortal. In another poem titled Mujhey Tum Sey Muhabbat He (page 69), Hammad expresses his love without restraint. Initially he could not express his love freely but then girdles up all his courage and pours out his heart to his beloved. The format that he uses to do so is poetry. He says So Ab Raqs Kartey, Jheenptey Misron Mein/ Haal-e-Dil Samota Hun/ Koi Jaisey Wuzoo Kar Key, Muqadas Baat Karta Ho/ Yeh Kehta Ho/ Mujhey Tum Sey Muhabbat Hei. Hammad is also proud of the contributions of writers. He says in his Ghazal on page 72 that the custodians of pen must not be treated lightly as they seldom appear in this world but when they do they change the destinies of nations. He says Samey Key Dard Ka Daaroo Hein Hum Qalam Waley/ Zameen Key Zakhmon Peh Hum Aisey Log Marham Hein. He is also aware of the loneliness of a poet when he says that somebody had termed him mentally unstable. He says Kisi Majzoob Ney Mujh Sey Kaha Tha/ Keh Too Diwana Hei, Tanha Rahey Ga.

Music appears in his poetry too. In a Ghazal on page 79 he used musical vocabulary to express his sentiments. He says Koi Tujh Jaisa Lagey Daikheney Mein Laakh Magar/Terey Malhaar Sey Lehjey Mein Kahan Bolta Hei!. Hammad like any conscious youngster of this country is aware of the burning problems of the society. On the business of selling of one’s kidneys for money out of poverty and the clients making best of the helpless of the sellers, he has said a wonderful poem titled Organ Transplantation. He proposes lending his eyes instead of his kidneys such that one could dream of a better world instead. He concludes Khwab Khushboo Hei To Tabeer Hawa Ki Soorat/ Khwab Insaan Hei To Tabeer Khuda Ki Soorat.

Hammad says a lot about the present state of affairs in the globe at large and of his country in particular. If the stress put by the State on the masses regarding inflation, ever rising prices of eatables, petrol, gas and electricity raises with no respite in the offing, with no hope for producing cheap energy from water reservoirs etc, he feels that asking for a respite for the masses from the leaders is like asking for moon. The concluding lines of his poem Kab Aaeye Ga Sultani Jamhoor Ka Mausam (page 97) are indicators of a horrifying time to come. He says Kaf-e-Takhreeb Sey Umeed Karta Hoon/ Main Goya Yaum-e-Aashura Ko Yaum-e-Eid Karta Hoon. So, he prays to God to give him enough courage to protest and he says so in the small poem titled Sakoot-e-Marg Taari Hei (page 99). He asks the Almighty to give him strength to speak as consistent control on his emotions might blast of his chest. He says Kahin Seena Na Phat Jaey/ Kisi Talwar Si Berabt Saanson Sey/ Kahin Meri Reg-e-Jaan Hi Na Kat Jaey. Sustaining the pressures too have a limit no matter whether G8 sit in seven star hotels and try to resolve the food riots situations in Africa and on such emerging situation as we are witnessing in Asia or speculators raising the oil prices. Where are we leading our world to?

About Ahmad Hammad

Ahmad Hammad has written 3 articles on this journal.

Ahmad Hammad is a famous young Poet. He has a vast experience in electronic and print media as well. He worked as the Editor of World Times. He has been writing columns in various Urdu newspapers. He has been anchoring an intellectual TV show NISHIST on the Royal TV and nowadays working with the Waqt TV. He has also been working as a Co-RJ at FM-103 for some midnight shows. He is invited in the Radio Pakistan’s literary show Takhleeq as a young poet/critic on a regular basis. He has been moderating the WHYS aired from the BBC and have also been participating in the show as a voice of Pakistan. He has written two books on poetry including “Sham Be-chain Hay” and “T’ray Khyal Ka Chaand”. He has translated Allama Iqbal’s notebook “Stray Reflections” into Urdu. His book named “Taif”—a collection of essays on literary and intellectual topics is in the publishing queue. Among his forthcoming projects, an interesting book named: An Introduction to Modern Philosophy through the biographies of the Contemporary Philosophers; under the title of “Mu’aasir Maghrabi Mufakkirin” is on its way to completion. He has translated some writings from a few famous fiction writers’ e.g. Hemingway, Hawthorne, and the letters by Anton Chekov. He has written a concise guide titled “Java in a nutshell” which is a bilingual project for Java Learners. He is an astonishing blend of IT and Arts, for he holds Master degree in Information Technology, Sun Java Certified Programmers’ certificate (SCJP) and has two books on poetry to his credit. Ahmad Hammad will be writing for Pakistan Times on different subjects on a regular basis from now onwards.

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