Us Darr Ka Jogi (Sumaira Hameed)- Fiction Review by Shahbaz Ali Naqvi (Shoby)
Before starting my review, let us take a moment and enjoy few of these couplets from one of my "Taveel Ghazal" from my debut poetry book Main Bekhayali Mein Sang Tere...
بھلا کے روز و شب کے سب جھمیلے
وہ میرے دکھ اٹھانا چاہتی تھی
زمانہ چاہیے تھا اس کو سارا
میری بانہوں میں آنا چاہتی تھی
وہ لمحے جو خموشی کی نزر تھے
وہ ان میں کچھ بتانا چاہتی تھی
اسے میرا جہاں بھی چاہیے تھا
وہ خود بھی کچھ لٹانا چاہتی تھی
حقیقت کیوں کہانی کی طرح ہے
محبت کیوں فسانہ چاہتی تھی
بلا کا جال تھا اس کی نگاہیں
مجھے جن میں پھنسانا چاہتی تھی
وہ پاگل تھی یا پاگل کر گئ ہے
وہ کیوں دل میں سمانا چاہتی تھی
میرے اس دل میں کیونکر بس گئ وہ
جو اک بہتر ٹھکانہ چاہتی تھی
ملن بھی اک ازیت تھا یہاں پر
محبت ہار جانا چاہتی تھی
شہباز علی نقوی
Reason why I quoted my Ghazal is a simple one. The moment I read Us Darr Ka Jogi, I recalled this Ghazal and thought, had this fiction been written prior to my Ghazal by Ms. Sumaira, I would have very conveniently said that the expressions & feel of my this Ghazal is inspired from Sumaira Hameed's Uss Darr Ka Jogi. The resemblance as far as the feelings are concerned are shockingly positive.
Some characters don't need a name. There mere presence in the narrative is more than enough to strengthen the belief that they were here to live a long lasting life in your memories. If you think that gone are the days of that pure innocent love dipped in utmost shyness that used to be a tale of every town, then think again. As I always say, re-visit your premises and you will surely find a real life story which would be a practical representation of what Sumaira Hameed has written. Some where some Ranjha would surely be going crazy for his Heer. (And I am not saying it for those street frenzy, Tere Naam type guys who go crazy for every passing by girl).
Remember Janardhan from Imtiaz Ali's critically acclaimed musical romance Rockstar. The college canteen owner categorically said to him, look if you want to make a real name out of your singing, you need to have a heart break and he went on to search for a love (going wrong) situation which ultimately lead him to be Jordan, the musical icon.
No one and literally no none can deny that youth is the prime time period when every one of us regardless of gender, cast, creed or color blossoms a feel to be loved and loved in a special way. Our Qudoos had the same desire too and he wanted to fell in love with someone who fells in love with him. And that poor rural layman didn't knew that someone has already lost her heart over his simplicity.
Usey bara intezar tha ke koi us per apni jaan luta de... Koi jogan ho ker usey jogi ker de. And when it was disclosed to him that it has happened, he couldn't sum up courage to face the music and went back to village, only to get some more of the burning. Hikmat ke chorahon per bhi hijr ke nasoor duhaiyan detey phirtey hain... Idher udher phirtey hain... Phir bhi na rah patey hain na yaar... The reason being her father's known nature. Her father the mean Hakeem saab. You may call him the male version of Miss Havisham (Great Expectations). What happened next, should be read in Us Darr Ka Jogi.
“Ah, clear they see and true they say
That one shall weep, and one shall stray”
Dorothy Parker
Let me confess you get to know if it is a Sumaira Hameed's literature right from the word go. She can trick you with her beginnings. Check the goosebumps moment... Awaz kuch aisi thi ke woh sota hi reh jata to kitna zulm hota... Is per... Us per... Dono per...Beautiful way of expression. Hats Off Ms. Sumaira. Story doesn't conclude here. Sumaira is one of those few genuine artists, who enjoy playing with the fabrics of the words and this fiction is no different. A galaxy of brilliantly executed monologues are here and they work as a treat for those who love to read with supreme pleasure. Aap ka kiya gham hai jee... Jab khud hi batana hota, to yahan kiyo ati???
For Yaaram fans, this time Sumaira has a lot more in the store for you. Many of the phrases were having so much resemblance with Yaaram and they were inviting you to enjoy the proceedings the way we enjoyed Yaaram. Woh janti thi, woh aey ga... Woh janta tha woh jaey ga... Sumaira gives a very sweet taste of first love. See how authentically she portrayed the feel of young lovers. Us ne sir ko utha ker uper dekha... Phir sir ko jhukaana bhool gaya... Kaajal ki jagah aaj ankhon mein surma laga tha or mehboob qadmon mein betha tha... It was quite amazing to see the paradigm shift in terms of expressions & dialects when Sumaira takes the story from Lahore to the village. Dil per jandri lag gai hai kaka... Khol do ya khulwa do. I just loved this coming of age for main characters.
I feel this fiction is a very suitable reply for those who were saying that Sumiara can write only dark stories. Although she has already broken this fake myth by delivering some real hilarious (and decent at the same time) comic situations in many of her written pieces but this time she kept her focus on entertainment quotient a bit more. Her primary character (both of our protagonists) show them as jolly good, happy go lucky people and the lively atmosphere was all over the story along with the depiction of intense hard hitting melodramatic romance. Needless to say that Sumaira is a master when it comes to evolve characters.
Another important aspect which should never be ignored is that the story took place in the center of lively city Lahore, yet it had a touch of that particular spiritualism or Sufism in it which is a signature style of Sumaira Hameed's writing. Not only the title had its due share of Sufism (with the word Jogi in it) but also the love of Qadoos & our untitled lady (I would prefer to call her Heer) was more of a spiritual in nature rather than what we experience in this era.
In totality, this is yet another Sumaira Hameed's read with an ocean of expressions, beautifully discovered characters and some heart touching quotations.
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