Nazeer Banarsi (Born on 25th November, 1909) is a patriotic poet, who uses simple and powerful diction in his poetic compositions to convey his thoughts and feelings. One of his major characteristics is that his poetry covers tone and texture of Indian exalted culture and traditions. Nazeer Banarsi is pure Banarsi. His ancestors also are ancient inhabitants of Kashi. Banaras residents love him and he adores his home city dwellers. His family occupation is Tababat (Greek Medicine). His real elder brother Hakeem Mohd Yaseen Maseeh educated and trained him. He has been the disciple of Munshi Abdur Razzaq Betab Banarsi, who is linked to the Family of the famous Urdu poet Mashafi. Betab Banarsi was his cousin brother.
Nazeer Banarsi opines about the poetry: “I consider poetry not only the service to the literature but also to the nation. The objectives of these services cannot be fulfilled in true sense unless simple and idiomatic Urdu is used maintaining its sublime style.” He adds further: “I have composed poesy in every genre of poetry but ghazal has been akin to my temperament from the very inception.”
The topics in the poetry of Nazeer Banarsi include humanism, social, economic and religious justice, hatred against communalism, love for liberty, unity and fraternity.
Here are some of his moving couplets:
मुझ से पूछो मेरे एहसास पे क्या बीत गई
तुम तो यह कह कर अलग होगये दीवाना है
(Ask me what pain I felt
You left regarding me insane)
मुझ को रोने दो मुझे रोने में मिलता है मज़ा
मुस्कुराओ तुम कि तुम को मुस्कुराना चाहिये
(Let me weep, I take pleasure in weeping
You smile because you should smile)
मुझे ग़म नही है इसका कि बदल गया ज़माना
मेरी ज़िन्दगी के मालिक कहीं तुम बदल ना जाना
(I do not worry that the world has changed
O, the owner of my life, you should not change!)
His poem “तुमहे याद हो कि ना याद हो” is very popular.
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