Urdu poet and writer Dr Saleem Wahid Saleem 'KHAYYAM-E-NAU': May 2011

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Dr Saleem Wahid Saleem, a glimpse by Dr Shahzad Rizvi

Dr. Saleem Wahid Saleem- a glimpse

By Dr. Shahzad Rizvi

It is high time that the poetry of Dr. Saleem Wahid Saleem get its due. It is now well-known that Dr. Saleem Wahid Saleem (distinguished father of Mr. Muslim Saleem, a prominent journalist and litterateur) worked in obscurity and isolation in Pakistan toward the end of his life. His democratic and liberal views came head to head with dictatorial regimes and extremist tendencies.

His ideal was that the peoples of the world belonging to various religions and ethnic groups pursue their faith according to the dictates of their conscience and live in harmony with one other.

On a personal and micro level, he valued human values more than worldly grandeur. Dr. Saleem has expressed in his Urdu ghazal, "DASTE TALAB NA KAR DARAAZ JAAHO HASHAM NA KAR QUBOOL," what a person should strive for in life. It is a universal truth that poetry in one language does not lend itself well to translation into another language; something unique to its linguistic and poetic tradition is always lost in the transformation. However, I have made an effort at its translation as follows:

Neither ask for, nor accept, the vainglory of this world

Refuse to stoop to begging for coins

Know that your dignity should not be debased

Do not accept the comforts of life for which you must degrade yourself

If you have no gold, silver, pearls or diamonds to give away

Then it is shameful to accept them

Do not complain endlessly of tyranny

Nor shake your fist at Heaven, nor accept an agony of pain

Life is short; hence do not suffer during the lovely Spring

Enjoy the pleasure of the morn and do not accept the sadness of the night

Better to sacrifice the grandeur of a king for dignified poverty,

Choose the simplicity of Arabia and reject the pomp of Persia

O Saleem, bring into your heart a mother's love, not your own ego,

As you love God, refrain from wasting yourself on earthly desires.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Dr. Saleem Wahid Saleem By Dr. Shahzad Rizvi

Dr. Saleem Wahid Saleem
By Dr. Shahzad Rizvi

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It is time that the great literary works of Dr. Saleem Wahid Saleem were introduced on national and international levels. Hence I decided, by means of translating this introduction, to make a small contribution for the benefit of international readers. My hope is that Dr. Saleem's place in literature will be restored posthumously to the pantheon of literary giants, as it deserves to be. -- Dr. Shahzad Rizvi:

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Urdu literature, this verdant and lush garden, is an expression of the grace of thought and strength of pen of hundreds of litterateurs, poets, and writers. These stalwarts have spent their energies as silent workers in the embellishment and raising of its standard. Among these workers was Dr. Saleem (1921-1981), who rendered a great service to Urdu literature in silence. Dr. Saleem's father, Khalifa Abdul Wahid, an Indian of Kashmiri descent, was General Manager of the Bank of Tehran. During this period he was married to a Qajari princess, Her Highness Fakhrus Sadaat. From this union, Dr. Saleem Wahid Saleem, Ms. Akhtar Malik, and Ms. Shamsi were born. When Dr. Saleem Wahid Saleem was eleven, his family came to India. The climate of India did not suit Begum Fakhrus Sadaat, and she soon passed away. Thereafter, the responsibility of raising the three children was taken over by relatives.

Dr. Saleem Wahid Saleem's support and educational expenses were undertaken by the founding Principal of Aligarh Muslim University's Tibbya College, Dr. Ata Ullah Butt, who also took Dr. Saleem into his home, "Butt Kada." Dr. Saleem received his BUMS degree from Aligarh, and later he received an MRAS degree from London. While in London, he worked as a Persian announcer for the BBC. Because of his early eleven years in Iran, Persian was Dr. Saleem's mother tongue; and, since French instruction was prevalent in Iranian schools, like English in India, he became quite proficient in these languages. He learned Urdu, English, Arabic, and Hindi on his arrival in India.
Dr. Saleem Wahid's early life was shaped by the mirthful and romantic atmosphere of Iran, and his later years were formed by the rich literary climates of Lahore and Aligarh, with their long Urdu traditions. His world view was nourished by England's intoxicating and dazzling culture.

Prior to Indian Independence, Dr. Saleem's works were regularly published in literary journals. And when he had to move to Pakistan because of certain imperatives, his great creations graced Pakistani literary journals. In 1970 he became a recluse, and in obscurity immersed himself in study and writing.
Dr. Saleem Wahid Saleem possessed an innate ability to create poetry, but in addition he demonstrated an unusual ability and talent in translating verse. A most prominent example is "Khayyam-e-Nau," a translation of 176 rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. According to such experts as Tufail Ahmed, this translation is a great contribution to Urdu literature as well. Dr. Saleem also translated "Tuzke Jehangiri," which was very well received. In addition, he translated some of the works of other foreign literary luminaries, such as Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, W. H. Auden and Mao.