- Saba Akbarabadi wrote national songs even before Partition
By: Parvez Jamil
Known for his quiet, yet inspiring contribution to Urdu poetry, naat, marsia, ghazal, rubai and unique research on the Persian poetry of Ghalib, Omar Khayam and Amir Khusro is Saba Akbarabadi. His role in the Pakistan Movement is worth highlighting.
Zamzama-e-Pakistan, a creative collection of Saba’s three patriotically pulsating poems, published on 14 May 1946 in Agra, was the first publication dedicated to the Quaid-i-Azam before the creation of Pakistan. While courageously fighting the poetic battle for Pakistan under extreme circumstances, Saba produced Zamazama-e-Pakistan, the thunderous roar and the blitzkrieg of the Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent for a separate homeland and a promise of Pakistan.
Refusing to side with the intriguing and powerful imperialists, challenging the dirty politics of nepotism and favoritism, and exposing the nefarious designs of changing loyalties, Saba had chosen a daring course of expressing his patriotic feelings through Zamzama-e-Pakistan. This became a source of enlightenment and inspiration for the Muslims.
At a time when the opportunists were supporting the high and mighty for personal gains and physical security, a weak Saba’s strong poetry had become a morale-booster for many Muslims. Instead of mincing words, by giving verses of altruism and patriotism amid various offers and opportunities, and being adamant against threats and dreads, Saba’s Zamzama-e-Pakistan was a timely revolutionary expression against the ruthless forces of imperialism, Hindu extremism, the crafty Congress and the traitors Muslim cause.
Zamzama-e-Pakistan makes an ideal beginning with a poem Sarpa-e-Noor. It’s a total and universal enlightenment associated with the divine and humane personality of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). According to this poem it is through Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) that God communicates, guides, consoles and helps His creation, and that Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) graced human values to such heights that even the skies and heavens bow in respect. The Prophet (PBUH) eradicated the gap between the rich and the poor, made personal sacrifices to help the poor, the old and the weak, promoted unity and fraternity in diversity, taught the Muslims to be united and not to disperse under pressure and attached top priority to dignity of labour and the pursuit of knowledge.
The Prophet (PBUH) practised what he preached and personally became a trendsetter in love, peace, justice, tolerance, selflessness and respect in all walks of life. It is through Sarapa-e-Noor that Saba visualizes Pakistan and prays his heart out for this land of the pure, full of promise and potential.
It was under the Quaid-i-Azam that the caravan of Islam in India gained strength once again… At the threshold of the creation of Pakistan, Saba’s Zamzama-e-Pakistan became a morale booster
The second poem highlights Pakistan in the historical perspective. This awakens a classical poet to write such poetry of revolution and rejuvenation where life and death have no meaning as compared national grace, dignity and honour in the comity of nations. Saba recollects when India was plunged into selfishness, wickedness, corruption, tyranny and exploitation. It was a time when ills and evil reigned supreme, when Mohammad Bin Qasim landed In Sindh with the divine and humane message of Islam. India was then enlightened through such pioneering, selfless and inspiring leadership of Khawaja Islam Shah, Naseeruddin Balban, Babar, Akbar, Alamgir and others who united the Muslims from Bengal to Kashmir, all marching towards one reality, Pakistan. Recalling the episode of Bahadur Shah Zafar, Saba laments those traitors who betrayed the Muslim cause, strengthened imperialistic hands and enforced martyrdom on a pious king only to revive and activate the cause for Pakistan– a Pakistan free from greed, hypocrisy and exploitation, and a Pakistan of love, peace and justice under one Quaid, one nation and one flag to be cautioned and protected from traitors and betrayers both from within and without.
Kutba-e-Babri, the third poem begins with a wish and a wow for such Divine Light that illuminates the darkness of ills and evil by the higher values of humanity. It was truly a testing time for the Muslims when the burden of the White Man’s exploitation and the Banya tricks were telling on them. The Muslims, whether they were Ghaznavis, Ghauris, Khiljis or from Sindh, Kabul or Bengal, who enlightened India with decency, governance and civilization, were subjected to the worst kind of human jealousy, tyranny and duplicity. Better late than never, Babar rose with his few brave men to correct things and settle scores for the sake of suffering Muslims. At Fatehpur enlightenment was pitched against darkness when a handful of Muslims led by Babar conformed the evil, proud and massive focus of Rana Sanga. Babar’s address, which was full of Inspiration form the greatest source of strength, Allah and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and the vim and vigour of the Khulafa-e-Rashideen, was a life-tonic for the Muslims. The atmosphere echoed with Nara-e-Takbeer and in a swift action, a few soldiers of Allah overwhelmed the massive focus of evil to raise the flag of Islam and establish truth in India. The Moghuls laid the foundation for sound and stable government. Their courage and determination ruled every heart and inspired every thought. Art, architecture, literature and poetry flourished, and human dignity, respect, equality, truth and justice prevailed. This Muslim stability and prosperity was not to be tolerated by the jealous and cunning banyas who encouraged traitors within the Muslim ranks and found grand allies in the colonial masters to conspire against the Muslims in order to weaken and force them into oblivion and suffering. The English and the Hindus tried to exploit the Muslims. They did everything to prevent them from utilizing their promise and capitalizing on their potential.
It was under the Quaid-i-Azam that the caravan of Islam in India gained strength once again. The Quaid restored confidence of the Indian Muslims by refreshing and rejuvenating them with their winning traditions. He had become a model of inspiration drawn from the Islamic Principles of unity, faith and discipline. At the threshold of the creation of Pakistan, Saba’s Zamzama-e-Pakistan became a morale booster. India was divided and a reality was carved out as a homeland for the Muslims of India – Pakistan a symbol of love, peace and justice!
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