Remembering the times when Punjab was undivided

Neha Saini

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 27

The ongoing Syal festival this week held two back-to-back events, both celebrating eminent personalities, whose contribution to the political and cultural history of Punjab remains invaluable. The Majha House organised two programmes of Sanjha Punjab in the third series of the fest – first one celebrated the works of popular Urdu poet Nasir Kazmi and other was talking about the legacy of Faqir brothers of Lahore.

In the first event, talks about the life and poetry of the popular Urdu poet Nasir Kazmi reigned supreme. The event was attended by Nasir Kazmi’s son Basir Kazmi virtually from Lahore. Born in Ambala in 1925, Nasir migrated to Pakistan after the Partition, “But he always remembered his home town through his ghazals and writings,” shared his son. Sharing olden memories, Basir said he was a very loving and caring father and an immaculate writer. “He was such a proud poet because he had the ability to express deeply, without using heavy words or complicated language. The simplicity with which he used to touch upon some of the most burning issues of his time is what made him unique,” he added.

Gurupadesh Singh, who has done the English translation of Nasir’s ghazals, said that his favourite time was night and would enjoy long walks alone in the night and it finds mention in most of his ghazals. “His ghazals have been sung by famous singers such as Noorjahan, Iqbal Bano and Ghulam Ali,” he said.

The second event revolved about the history and legacy of three muslim brothers – Aziz-ud-Din, Imam-ud-Din and Nur-ud-Din – who were members of the Sikh court in Lahore during Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign. Talking to Pakistani historian, author Fakir Aijazuddin, whose book ‘The Resurrected Faqirs’ traces the history of the three brothers of Faqir family who became trusted ministers in maharaja’s court.

Fakir, in conversation with Indian diplomat Navtej Sarna, said his ancestors faced challenging situations in the court as they were muslims, yet they cemented their place through skills and wisdom. They became his close loyalists. “The book is not just an account of three brothers, but also reveals the dealings of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s court and Sikh history,” said Aijazuddin, from Lahore via video-conference.

“It would be wrong to say that the court of the Maharaja belonged to the Sikhs because it was actually the court of the whole Punjab which included Dogri, Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and everyone contributed to the king’s court,” he added.