By: Sajjad Hussain Nekokara
Poetry is an ancient and persistent element in language and evidently corresponds to a characteristically human way of seeing the world. It is also composed of diverse elements include a form of words, shapes, patterns of rhyme, rhythm, ideas or issues gained significance in the life of poet and life to be conveyed to the readers, listener through techniques and specific aspects. The language which is used in poetry is also different. Sometimes a reader cannot understand the real meaning of a poem easily because every person will have different understanding about one poem.
All poets have their own characteristics in writing. Some of them usually use nature as the object of their poem. Some of them use love, affection and friendship as the object. In the other hand, there are some poets who use their life experiences in their poetry. The poets sometimes use poem as the social criticism of the era. Therefore, Aasma Tahir is one of the prolific poets who tries to explore the truth with multiple perspectives. Aasma Tahir is a bright, intelligent and determined young poet with an urge to succeed and a burning desire to write something new. She is a woman of high structure in terms of prudence and wisdom. Aasma Tahir began writing poetry at a young age and also secured a degree of an M.A in English Literature from the University of the Punjab. She is an imaginative writer and is got published in well renowned literary magazine such as Funoon, Tasteer and Loh. Her literary work continues to inspire those who want to live in a world where love, equality, justice are applied to everyone regardless of the skin creed, sexual orientation. In her poem “Blood Festival” for example the line “Oh Dear Troops! Let’s be friends instead of enemies” is a reference to the colonial period in Indian Subcontinent and shows that how the East India Company shattered the blood of innocent people. A well renowned poet, dramatist and TV Director Ayub Khawar reviews Aasma Tahir’s “Blood Festival” in these golden lines”
“This poem is the key of that door, behind that the blood of innocent people shattered by the stonehearted East India Company”
Aasma Tahir’s best known poems are Empty Souls of Lovers, Blood Festivals, Depression, Humkalami, Khokhlay Log, Qudrat Ki Flashlight and Kashmir.
In her poem “Kashmir”, she analyses the valley of Kashmir from cultural, violence, ethnical and religious perspectives. She believes that wherever these Indian troops are they battle with others. Brutality against Kashmiris is in their bloods. Aasma Tahir also claims that how Indian Army is trying to invent a new past for the Kashmiris, fabricating historical wrongs they want to right, dredging up “evidence” of Muslims malfeasance and misappropriation of natural glory.
Many of her poems, especially “Blood Festival”, “Kashmir” contains universal identification with ordinary objects. Her use of language frees the readers form their traditional perceptions and beliefs about human experience. The success of her poetry lies in the fact that despite the signifying that occurs in many of Aasma’s poems, the themes are topic are universal enough that all readers would understand and appreciate them.
In the wake of large-scale technological and industrial transformations, poetry is declining day by day. People’s obsession with the superficial conception of things has blinded them to the aesthetic worth of things. Excessive indulgence in the outer world has turned our eyes from the world within us. To revive poetry again the steps are needed to be taken on the governmental level. It could be done in various ways. Establishing art schools in order to help interested people excel in this field of art. Promoting ‘reading’ in society for connecting the general public to regional and world literary heritage. Further encouraging young poets to try writing and endowing them with scholarships for the sake of financial assistance. Arranging poetic symposiums to boast poets toward reciting their poems in front of the general public and receive appreciation. It can also be done by preserving the classic manuscripts of poetry and recognizing the efforts of great poets by venerating them publicly and conferring upon them awards.
The writer is a lawyer and can be reached at [email protected]