- Dr. Andleeb Zahra
- Oct 12, 2024
- 3 min read
Usually energizing, the clear Uttarakhand mountain air seemed heavy on my chest. The Himalayas, the gorgeous mountains that had promised me a week filled with mind-blowing views and heart-stopping treks, suddenly towered over me like uncaring giants. The offender? My ideal trip became a test of fortitude due to a misplaced foot on the perilous mountain trail, a sudden turn, and excruciating pain.
Everything took place on the second day of our walk. As we got closer to our first campground, the gang was excited. Ever the eager traveler, I was a little ahead, taking pictures of the meadows covered in wildflowers. My world tipped with one false step onto a hidden rock covered in vivid blossoms. My ankle began to burn so badly that I lost breath. With worried expressions on their faces, my companions hurried to my side.
After the initial shock, I was left with a dull, throbbing pain that hurt every time my heart beat. The sharp reality of an ankle swelling and the unnerving sense of reliance replaced the dream of accomplishing difficult hikes. We hobbled back to the base camp, the group's happy banter giving way to a worrisome quiet. The camp doctor looked at my ankle, a wiry man with gentle eyes. He concluded that the patient had a sprain that required little movement for the following few days. A wave of despair overcame me. The well-thought-out schedule, and the assurance that I would be pushed to my limits, all appeared to fall apart around me.
Every day, the rest of the gang left for their adventures, leaving me confined to the camp. The inaccessibility of the once-inviting mountains appeared to mock me. I had an odd combination of jealousy and frustration. Envy at the easy laughter resounding from a distance, and frustration at my own awkwardness. But the camp had its own set of struggles and victories, like any microcosm of life. Unexpected places provided me comfort. There was a sense of a shared experience among the other campers, some of whom had minor injuries of their own. The resident naturalist told us about the flora and fauna in the area while we played board games and traded stories beneath the stars.
Gradually, my viewpoint started to change. Even if they were temporarily unreachable, the mountains started to appear constant and provided a quiet source of power. I began to notice the beauty all around me, such as the way the sun played with the foliage at dawn, the beautiful starry sky at dusk, and the symphony of songbirds. I was able to re-connect with myself and appreciate the small things that I frequently took for granted because of the imposed stillness.
My inadequacies were also brought to light by the experience. My physical strength and capacity to push myself had always been my pride. I felt humbled to be brought low and to have to depend on others. However, it also demonstrated to me the resilience of the human spirit and its capacity to find happiness and meaning in the midst of difficulty. I developed a fresh respect for the mountains by the time it was safe for me to walk once more, if with a little limp. Despite being shorter than anticipated, the last hike felt like a victory lap. I reveled in each step, feeling the cool mountain breeze caress my skin and inhaling the aroma of pine.
More than a few trinkets accompanied me as we descended from the highlands. Resilience, the value of finding delight in the unexpected, and the understanding that real strength comes from overcoming obstacles as much as adjusting to them were all lessons I took with me. Initially a representation of a disability, the twisted ankle has evolved to symbolize the resilience of the human spirit.
About the Author:
Dr. Andleeb Zahra, an Assistant Professor of English at Barabanki, brings fifteen years of teaching experience to her role. She has served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Navyug Degree College, Rajendra Nagar. Passionate about art and literature, a lover of beauty and an empath, she finds solace and expression in writing poems in Hindi. With a commitment to making a positive impact on her students' lives, Dr. Zahra aims to instill in them the values of compassion and good citizenship.
- Archana Suresh Patil
- Oct 10, 2024
- 4 min read
We are blessed parents of two children with special needs. All kids are special to their parents, and our children are special in some different ways. My elder daughter has a hearing impairment whereas my younger son is autistic. I, as a mother found out the special abilities in my children and nourished them to achieve their goals.
Life has never been kind to us but the “Never Give Up” slogan in our family has helped us stand strong through all the consequences that came our way. Yes! it would never have been possible without our togetherness.
My children, my husband and I always stand for each other. I am a non-practicing pathologist. My husband is a lawyer. My daughter is a National Level Bharatanatyam dancer, yoga instructor, makeup artist, aspiring model and Art teacher. Additionally, she owns her own business which deals in online handmade jewellery and homemade chocolates. My son is focused on reaching his goal of having a doctoral degree in Mathematics. At present, he is pursuing his Ph.D from BITS Pilani, Goa campus and also serving as a Teaching Assistant there.
My daughter was around six months old when we discovered that she was hard of hearing. She had to undergo many tests and when she was almost one year and eight months old , she started wearing hearing aids. After that, her speech therapy, special training and school life started. Meanwhile my son was born. He used to respond to sounds but did not respond to his name or any commands, so again we suspected that there would be some issues with him. He was extensively tested and diagnosed with autism.
My daughter took pre-school training from The Central School for the Deaf. When she was just three years and five months old, her schooling started. At the time we didn't have proper schools for special needs in the city. So for her special training, we had to travel daily for four hours. Later when my son was diagnosed, I used to travel with both the kids to Mumbai for their special training. To reach our destination we had to change two trains and then travel by bus or taxi. This journey continued for two years. After preschool training, we got both children admitted to a regular school. My daughter who had learnt lip reading used to sit on the first bench and lip read her teacher. This helped her to cope with her school life. Simultaneously, my son slowly and steadily was adjusting to school life. He was non verbal till the age of four, but later started speaking and doing good in his academics. He always used to top his class.
Along with their regular schooling, my daughter who had a passion for dancing, was admitted to Bharatanatyam classes whereas my son grew more friendly with books.
Both children have gone through various medical issues from their childhood. My daughter from the age of one, was suffering from severe migraine attacks and used to get admitted to the hospital often. Later when she was twelve years old, she started to face issues with low blood pressure. As if these challenges were not enough for her, this year in March, she had a vertigo attack. After three days we discovered that whatever little bit of hearing she still had (say about five percent), she had lost that too. By now she has undergone a Cochlear Implant operation and is able to hear almost everything (we still have to continue with therapies for at least one year). We say it's like a rebirth for her now, after her implants. On the other hand, my son at the age of seven, was detected with celiac disease. After a biopsy, he was diagnosed with early stages of intestinal cancer. After treatment for six months, my son recovered from his issues, but till date, he has to maintain a restricted diet. Facing different issues has taught us never to give up. These difficulties in life have made us stronger with each step.
As days passed by, my daughter finished her twelfth class and went on to do a diploma in Nrityayog Sutra. She completed her Art teacher training and has been conducting different workshops on art in schools for children with special needs. She has completed her advanced course in Bharatanatyam and has performed in more than sixty stage shows. She has also been blessed with many awards for her achievements. She has got first place in India in an online dance competition organised by Le Rhythm affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, India. Apart from this, she has done modelling for ‘Tribes India’ a government brand, and also owns her handmade jewellery business for the past six years. Her journey with her jewellery making, dance shows, and modelling assignments will continue for years to come and she needs everyone's good wishes for that. Today she is known as the 'World's best hearing impaired Bharatnatyam dancer'.
My son who is good in academics has bagged more than thirty different scholarships to date. He is an NTS scholarship holder and has topped India in the KVPY scholarship. His JEE rank is 16 (PWD), and his AIR in CSIR- NET is 69. At present he is doing his Ph.D in Mathematics, staying independent since 2016, managing all his expenses on his fellowships.
Life has never been an easy game for us but the 'Never Give Up' slogan of our family has helped us to stand strong always.
Stay positive, Stay strong.
About the Author:
Archana Suresh Patil is a non-practising pathologist, blessed mother of two special children, parent counsellor and motivational speaker. She has been the recipient of several awards like Best Parent, Supermom Aadhunik Hirani, Mai-lekh Puraskar and Swayamsiddha. She is involved in talks, seminars and communication around Disability in the social and academic community.
- Pradeep Trikha
- Oct 10, 2024
- 6 min read
Abul Hasan Yamin-ud-Din aka Amir Khusrau (1253-1325 AD), known as 'Tutee-i-Hind', (Parrot of Hindustan) was a versatile talent. A poet, historian, singer, musician, Sufi saint, politician, linguist, lexicographer, bibliophile and philosopher. He witnessed the rise and fall of the Slave (Ghulam) dynasty, the Khilji dynasty and the rise of the Tughlaq dynasty. Eleven Sultans descended the throne of Delhi, out of which he remained under the patronage of seven. He was a scholar of Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Hindi and knew Sanskrit. Ziauddin Barani, a well-known historian, points out in 'Tarikh-e-Firoz Shahi' (1357) that:
"Emperor Jalaluddin Firoz Khilji was pleased with a playful Persian poem by Amir Khusrau and gave him the title of 'Amir', which was a matter of great respect in those days. In those days, those who received the title of Amir had their separate status and glory.”
Khusrau’s Masnavis and prose works also have great historical importance since they form 'direct and empirical' evidence for historians. Khusrau is considered the father of the Hindustani style of music – he conceived the sitar and the tabla. He was the first poet to write in Hindi and was also the first to use the word 'Hindavi'. Despite his proficiency and fame in Persian, he had felicity and proficiency in Hindi. He says:
“I am the daughter of India. If you want to know from me, ask in Hindi. I will be able to tell you unique things.”2
Khusrau regards India’s flora, fauna, clothes and beauty as superior to Persia, Rome and Russia. As a proud Indian he says: “This country is heaven, otherwise why would Hazrat Adam and Peacock have come here.”3 In ‘Nuh Sipar’ (1318) he wrote: “This is my birthplace and this is my motherland.”4 His hold on Indian public life was innate and inherent. Brajratan Das, a linguist and an eminent scholar of Persian, points out: “What was his heart, was a lute, which used to play intermittently without being played.”5 Khusrau, was an ardent disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya. He had no religious narrow-mindedness or radicalism, generosity was his forte. He often reiterated: “kafire- ishqam muslimi mara darkar nistahar rage-man taare gastah hajte-zunnaar neest”, that is - “I am an infidel of love, I do not need to be a Muslim. Veins, in my body have turned into wires, so I no longer need the sacred thread."
Alauddin Khilji became Sultan in 1296 AD by killing his uncle, Jalal-ud-Din. High regard for Amir Khusrau continued in court, he was bestowed with the title of Khusrau-e-Shairan (a poet par excellence) and increased his salary by one thousand tankas. Khusrau in ‘Khazain- ul-Fatuh’ (Tarikh-e-Alai) gives an eyewitness account of the historical events of that period.
Persian poetry in the hands of Amir Khusrau flourished. Mirza Ghalib had a high regard for Khusrau among the Persian poets of India. Praising his poetic excellence Ghalib says: “There is no other bona fide Muslim among the ahle hind (Indians) except Khusrau Dehlvi, Mian Faizi also comes into view out rightly at some places.”6 He wrote ninety-nine books in Persian, which contained approximately lakhs of couplets.
A versatile genius he also contributed in the field of history and music. Being a soldier and a warrior Khusrau often accompanied his patron rulers in their war campaigns. In his Masnavis, he has given direct and empirical details of the war campaigns of his patrons, which has a very important role in determining medieval Indian history.
Khusrau's Hindi poetry has been in use for centuries, but scholars are not unanimous about its authenticity. Khusrau used the word ‘Hindi’ five times and the word ‘Hindavi’ thirty times and named the Khadi dialect in a way:
“yush chuha gurvah billii maar naag
sejno rishta va hindi sui tag.”
Khusrau's accessible Hindi poetry can be classified into three categories. Firstly is his Diwan Ghurrat-ul-Kamaal (the Prime of Perfection), ‘Rubaiyat-e-Peshwaran’ and a Masnavi- Tughlaq Nama the poems which have the elements of Hindavi in his Persian poetry. His riddles are interesting :
paan sada kyun? ghora aada kyun?
“Why is the betel leaf rotten? Why the horse remained stubborn?
Answer: Not turned either way
and
jootaa kyun na pehnaa? samosa kyun na khaya?
[Translation ] Why didn't shoes were not put on? Why didn't you eat samosa?
Answer: Tala na tha (in Hindi tala means sole as well as fried)
Dhakosla is another type of rhyme, that attempts to give a meaningful form by combining different words; such as:
“kheer pakai jatan se, charkha diya chala, kuttaa aya khaa gaya, tu baithee dhol baja, laa paani pila”
[Translation] “cooked kheer with effort and spinning wheel moved, dog consumed the kheer, you went on beating the drum, come, give me water to drink.”
Amir Khusrau has written many songs based on Indian folk life and traditions. These songs are directly related to the lives of common people; such as –
“amma, merey baba ko bhejo ji ki saawan ayaa,
beti tera baba to budhii ri – ki saawan ayaa”
[Translation]
O! Mother please send my father to fetch me as monsoon is round the corner O! Daughter, your father is too old - now the monsoon has come.
Khusrau is the father of Qawwali (chorus rendering). It has been used more in religion, ritual, entertainment and worship. He has also composed Hindi-Persian mixed verses like Do Sukhan. His couplets in Persian convey the beauty, culture and similar things of India to the Persian countries; such as :
“turk-e-hindustanian man, dar hindavi goyam zaban.
shakkar e misri na daram ka, ja, aram goyam sukhan.”
[Translation]: I am an Indian Turk. I respond in Hindi. I don't have any sugar or dharma (currency) with which I can talk to the Arabs."
His Hindavi poetry has the highest number of puzzles. His Kah Mukriyan, Nisbat, Do Sukhne and others are also adaptations of riddles. Since the Rig Vedic period, riddles have been prevalent in the Indian tradition. In the seventh century, puzzles were found in Bana 7 and Kama Sutra. They have a tradition in other literary works in Sanskrit including Dandin's 'Kavyadarsh' and Vishwanath's 'Sahityadarpan'. Khusrau gave a new form to this popular genre. In the Indian tradition, Paheli (riddle) has been given a place in the Adham (low) category of poetry, because the expression of interest in it does not happen immediately and spontaneously. Muhammad Wahid Mirza has rightly written that “hardly anyone could compete with him at that time in oratory skills because apart from Persian, he was familiar with Turkish, Hindi, Sanskrit and many languages of India.” 8
The pride of Indian Persian poetry abroad is Khusrau, perhaps. the Persian lovers abroad billed him as 'Tutee-e-Hind'. He was a worldly wise poet who during his lifetime time witnessed the rulers in quick succession during the Sultanate period. He was not only patronised but also loved and favoured by everyone. With his poetic talent and skill, he challenged several of his contemporaries. During his times, some other poets like, Masood Saad Salman,9 who also started reciting Sher in Hindavi. Since Khusrau was drenched in the Indian folk lifestyle and was born and brought up in India unlike several Persian poets, his liberal sensibilities sans religious-communal prejudice is brought to light in his poetry. Khusrau’s poetic forte was the common man’s dialect, he drew symbols, metaphors and similes from the social milieu. During his time, there were several theological poetic languages and poetic aspirants could use only them. Khusrau was the man of the moment of the society he lived in.
Notes & References
1. Auer, Blain, (2015) ‘Pre-modern Intellectual Debates on the Knowledge of History and Ziy al-Din Barani’s Tarikh-i Firuzshahi’, Indian Economic and Social History Review, vol. 52 (2), pp. 207-223.
2. Khusrau, Amir. The Nuh Sipihr (1318) [Nine Skies]
3. Op.Cit
4. Op.Cit
5. Brajratna Das, Khusrau kī Hindī Kavitā (Kashi, 1922)
6. Gopi Chand Narang, Amir Khusrau ka Hindavi Kalam (Delhi: Photo Offset Printer, 1987) p.23
7. Bana, means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi and Hindi.
8. Muhammad Wahid Mirza. The Life and Works of Amir Khusrau, Lahore: Panjab University Oriental Publications, 1936 p.26.
9. Masood Saad Salman, a contemporary of Amir Khusrau, was a great but unfortunate poet of Lahore.
About the Author:
Pradeep Trikha, Professor and Head (Retired), Department of English, MLS University, Udaipur, is a poet, translator, literary critic, and academician. His expertise also lies in English, Medieval Literature and Indian Classical Literature. He has delivered lectures in the University of Washington, Seattle, Harvard University, and Boston. He has been a visiting fellow at the University of Sydney since 1999 and the University of Muenster, Germany since 2022. His latest book is Mediations on Memory: Poetics of Forgetting.