Sultan Shamsi is one of the contemporary Urdu poets continuing the glorious tradition of poesy in the subcontinent. He has a number of poetry collections to his credit that have been published by the leading publishers of India with standard printing norms and pleasing design to the eyes. Andaz-e- Sukhan is in my hand while expressing my impressions and writing some words about a distinguished poet, Sultan Shamsi belonging to the northern region of Bihar, Madhubani.
The impressions of Professor Mushtaque Ahmad, Registrar of LN Mithila University, Darbhanga, Bihar adores the back cover of the aforementioned book:
“Urdu literary historical annals are witness that not only the poets of the known literary schools have devoted their energy to enrich the Urdu literary traditions but also the poets of remote areas also have spent their lives to develop and enhance the Urdu language and literature. The historical region of Darbhanga also has been a center of culture and civilization where the poet Sultan Shamsi hails from.”
In the forward to Andaz-e-Sukhan, the author outlines his literary journey that I got the primary education in a madrasa. I passed matriculation in first division from Kamtaul High School. Mushaira was organized every year by the students’ organization “Bazm-e-Sukhan” under guidance of the distinguished teachers such as Maulvi Mohd Ismail and Master Mohd Abu Saleh. I also would participate in these poetry symposiums getting opportunity to meet with poets like Mahar Shakravi, Wafa Malikpuri, Shadan Farooqui, Badar Lakhnavi, Shabnam Kamali, Talib Jalwarvi, Raza Kareem, Raza DSP, Owais Dilkash and others. When I was enrolled in Millat College, the distinguished poet Ijtiba Husain Rizvi was the principal and Abdul Mannan Tarzi, Muneer Farooqui and other students interested in literature were my classmates, so the literary environment of the college was favorable. Moreover, frequent poetry gatherings and literary functions were a trend during 1961 to 1965 in Millat College. In the city of Darbhanga also, monthly poetic meetings would be held by the literary society “Halqa-e-Fikro Fan” under Maulana Noor Islahi, Imam Jama Masjid, Katki, Urdu Bazar Darbhanga, in which I would participate sometimes. I was heartedly interested in these literary activities and held poetry meets frequently at my residence in Iqbal Lodge, Mohalla Raheem Khan, Darbhanga, which was mostly attended by Mehboob Anwar, Munir Farooqui, Dr Shakir Khalique, Imtiyaz Qamar, Alauddin Haidar Warsi. This environment was instrumental in spearheading my literary journey. I passed the examination of BA Honors from Millat College affiliated to Bihar University.
In 1966, I began teaching in Middle School Kamtaul. Later on I rendered my services as a Teacher in Pronchha High School (Muzaffarpur). I was appointed as a postal clerk in the postal department in 1970. I was transferred from Postal Division Shilling to Begusarai and to Samastipur in 1976 where I enjoyed three springs of my life. Here I became a member of ‘Bazm-e-Lauho Qalam’ and got opportunity to meet with Naushad Aurangabadi in this organization.
Sultan Shamsi Sb writes some words about his family:
I belong to the family of Syed Farzand Ali, village Malikpur, PS Jale, District Darbhanga. My reverend grandfather Fareed Ali was born to Syed Farzand Ali of the village Malikpur. Parents of Fareed left for heavenly abode only some months after he was born and he was brought up by his Phuphi in Bardaha and thus, my reverend grandfather Fareed Ali adopted Bardaha as his home.
Bardaha is a small Village/hamlet in Bisfi Block in Madhubani District of Bihar State, India. It comes under Bardaha Panchayath. It belongs to Darbhanga Division . It is located 17 KM towards west from District head quarters Madhubani. 132 KM from State capital Patna
In outline of his life, Janab Sultan Shamsi Sb writes about his family:
I have been blessed with my sons Dr Qaisar Hilal, Aamir Nihal, Professor Akhtar Hilal, Muzaffar Iqbal, Ghazanfar Jalal alias Gagan, Anwar Kamal (poet), Kaif Ahmad Kaifi, Muhammad Khurram Jah and Mukarram Jah Faizi and my daughters are Nikhat Parveen, Mahjabeen, Ghazala Yasmeen and Rakshanda Yasmeen.
Interestingly, Shamsi Sb is my distant relative as well. I had gone to Sir Syed Colony in Muzaffarpur to deliver the articles of Haldi Ceremony of my brother Khalid to be married to Syeda Maham Shiraz, whose Khala Jaan had recently been married to Syed Sharib, grandson of Mr Shamsi. Mr Sharib’s father was present there, who introduced his poet father and family to me. This family ‘Alhamdulillah’ is one of the known academic and literary families of the northern Bihar.
Sultan Shamsi Sahab writes in his preface about poetry ‘poetic compositions spring out the consciousness of an artist. A poet modulates his feelings, impressions, conceptions, experiences and approaches in poetical images in line with his specific thought process and feelings. He strongly feels about social settings, internal and external complexities of being, social imbalances and myriad issues giving vent to them in poetic diction.
The world of literature also changes constantly in terms of many movements and ideologies. I have followed the classical traditions adapting myself to the changing scenes of poesy as well.
What is poetry? Encyclopedia Britannica summaries it as under: “Poetry is a part of literate that evokes a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience or a specific emotional response through language chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound, and rhythm. Poetry is a vast subject, as old as history and older, present wherever religion is present, possibly—under some definitions—the primal and primary form of languages themselves.
Upon carefully reading of Andaz-e-Sukhan, a poet of profundity and individuality comes out before us. Sultan Shamsi Sb himself alludes to this characteristic of his creating calling:
| शम्सी तेरे सुखन से गुलशन में उजाला है. | Shamsi, your poetry illuminates the world | |
| अनदाज़े सुखन तेरा कुछ सबसे निराला है. | There is something unique in your calling of poesy. |
Hence, I am of the valued opinion that Janab Shamsi Sahab has been a part of literary scene continued in Azimabad the regions around it like Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga and others. We hope more valued poetry output from him. In Sha Allah! (Hamd Siddiqui)
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