By Muhammad Habib Sanai
Jan Khaskheli earns his bread by working as a full-time journalist and as a reporter he writes on very innovative topics such as birds and their habits, hidden aspects of ecosystems, plights of artisans, common men of rural areas, fisherfolk, agricultural workers, water situation, crop situation, environmental degradation etc., mostly in English and also sometimes in Sindhi. However, his first passion and love remained in Sindhi literature. Almost twenty years ago his first book of Sindhi short stories “Gum thiyal Manoo joSafarnamoo”, (Travelogue of a missing /disappeared person) was published that contained a collection of his short stories.
Now after a long break, his second book but first book of poetry entitledKhawaben je mosam jo hik geet (A song related to the season of dreams)has been published.
This anthology contains 62 prose poems, which mostly were written during the eighties and nineties when he was living in Karachi. As a result, most of his poems are related to Karachi, which is in itself a big departure, especially in Sindhi poetry because prior to him no Sindhi poet has written about Karachi in that fashion or manner.
During his stay in Karachi from the mid-eighties to mid-twenties, he mostly worked with Sindhi newspapers, but he remained attached to Sindhi AdabiSangat’s Karachi branch, which was at that time, the most vibrant branch of Sindhi writers and literary leaning leftist and nationalist political workers. But he also remained active in Urdu literary circles and attended regularly meetings of Awami Adabi Anjman, the Literary committee of Karachi Press Club etc. Jan has now shifted in Hyderabad,
Some poems are long and some are short. The recurring theme is not personal wins and love longings, but socio-politico-economic situations and events occupy his poems. Manoj Kumar, who has written the preface of this book, has termed him as poet historian of pain.
The book starts with a poem about the poor women who got trampled while taking Eid gifts in Joria Bazar, Karachi on 14 September 2009:
To Moon
Attraction for wheat flour forced poverty to join a crowd….
Suddenly laughter of death frightened poverty
Hope got trampled …
Wheat flour got kneaded with bodies…
Now after a long break, his second book but the first book of poetry entitled Khawaben je mosam jo hik geet (A song related to the season of dreams) has been published.
This anthology contains 62 prose poems, which mostly were written during the eighties and nineties when he was living in Karachi. As a result, most of his poems are related to Karachi, which is in itself a big departure, especially in Sindhi poetry, because prior to him no Sindhi poet has written about Karachi in that fashion or manner.
During his stay in Karachi from the mid-eighties to his mid-twenties, he mostly worked with Sindhi newspapers, but he remained attached to Sindhi Adabi Sangat’s Karachi branch, which was at that time, the most vibrant branch of Sindhi writers and literary-leaning leftist and nationalist political workers. But he also has remained active in Urdu literary circles and attended regular meetings of Awami Adabi Anjman, the Literary committee of Karachi Press Club etc. Jan has now moved to Hyderabad.
Some poems are long and some are short. The recurring theme is not personal woes and love longings, but socio-politico-economic situations and events that occupy his poems. Manoj Kumar, who has written the preface of this book, has termed him a a poet historian of pain.
The book starts with a poem about the poor women who got trampled while taking Eid gifts in Joria Bazar, Karachi on 14 September 2009:
Lyari, which is now a hotbed of gang wars, was once peaceful and cosmopolitan part of Karachi. He laments its present plight in one poem:
Pain is like bell When it tolls in streets of Lyari,Leva dance is started.
In another poem he talks about Manora and its surroundings:
This sea and temple of Manora …
And that church ….
Oh Time come and use your full strength
To quieten the violent sea
And wipe out smell of hate.
In various poems he has tried to depict the torment and anguish of Karachi and its residents:
Rose blooming season
Today in our motherland
Bullets are freely playing in streets
… At city circle
Along with heroes of stories, history,
Songs and poems,
Our longings are also burnt.
Relations
All dogs of city
Have become guardians of hate
And for wishing to dream
Today have developed friendships
Once again with stars.
Story of a city
Hundred kissable damsels
And branches of roses
Fell down after getting injured
Get trampled
For their crime of love for life.
He also speaks about the various ills afflicting our society such as honour killings, hunger, poverty, draught in Thar etc.
Hunger Either in Cold or in Hot Ways and markets give him a place Across the hub river, His Mother, Along with another minor son, Peeping from the door holes Will be waiting for son Might be she so hungry.
Drought
Hearing crying of children,
Prior to issuing of red milk
From breast of any mother
Feeble eyes shed tears
Some poems discuss international events or personalities. Below are excerpts from a few poems having an international bent:
Tamil girl
Over emaciated boat of longings
A Tamil girl with gun
Is following track of silence
Suicidal death is calling her.
Nelson Mandela
In eyes of Mandela
Those dreams still unfulfilled
Will dance in the streets
After draping jewels of realization
In the end, I am giving excerpts from some of his poems so that you can enjoy a variety of themes and images portrayed in them:
Short story of a long journey
We singers of songs
In the season of sorrows
Instead of laughter,
Are humming Nohas/dirges
Still
Have not lost despite barking of dogs at every nook and corner
Have not wavered
We are travelling.
Keenjhar
From afar breast of Keenjhar
Seems like a desert
Or a play ground
Children get on boat and run
Take fishing net
Swing and sing
All day they play in water
At dusk boats are like nests
Of river birds.
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