Amrita Preetam's message

If life without Waris Shah was not bad enough, we now have to do without someone who understood the need to go to the Sufis in the most trying of our moments. Amrita Preetam is no more. She died in New Delhi on October 31, sharing the date of her departure with another famous woman of her period, Indira Gandhi (died October[31,1984).

The comparison is apt since both; women were coached by their fathers from a very young age in times of great upheavals and both later tried to break away from the mould under the changing contemporary influences coming out of the shadow
of their original mentors.        j

Born in Giyranwala in 1919, Amrijta was already a poet with a collection to her name in 1936—\feting under the guidance of her 'religious-minded' father Karjtar Singh Hatkari. When partition came in 1947, the number of collections had risen to eight The moralistic daughter had overcome her initial inhibi­tions and as a member of the Progressive Writers, she was now ready to make her most famous call to Waris Shah.

As she spoke, hers was hailed a| one of the most potent voices to have expressed the pains t le rioters inflicted on the people of Punjab at partition: Today ! ask Waris Shah to rise in his grave and speak', she said as she drew attention to the Pun­jab fields and rivers that had been coloured red by the blood­letting that accompanied the division of India.

 It was a cry that shook the conscience of millions, among them poets and writers. Ashfaq Ahmad's short story 'Gadarya' and many of Saadat Hasan Manto's stunning works are two of  the many examples where the writers were inspired by the events on either side of the partition. All these works, like Am­rita Preetam's desperate knock at Waris Shah's door, had a sec­ular ring about them. It was about people and not about Hin­dus or Muslims or Sikhs. Fifty-eight years down the road as governments in Pakistan and India seek openings for a relationship along Wagah and along Thaiparkar and Kashmir, they must bear in mind the high price the people have to pay for adversity.                                           

Death Silences    "Voice of Punjab"

Aj aakhan Waris Shah noon kitoon kabran wichun bool, (Oh Waris Shah! speak from your grave)- wrote Amrita Pritum at the time of partition in 1947 when thousands of daughters of Punjab mourned the loss of their honor and the death of their brothers and fathers. The Punjabi poem epitomized the massive tragedy when the people of India simply forgot the people of that they were human beings and not communal groups.

Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust is the logical end of every human being, but some Ashes are very fertile and they stay alive in fragrance. The same is with Amrita Pritum who passed away at 86, by her legacy of Unconditional Humanism 'will live in the hearts of the people of Punjab.

Born in 1919, Amrita never stayed still as soon as she started to think. Avery strong advocate of women, Amrita's poetry and fiction revolved around woman, her pains, her problems, her sufferings and her inner feelings. She was a very progressive woman, but could not be branded as a communist. She was left oriented and had a strong friendship with the legendary poet Sahir Ludhauyanvi too.

Amarta Preetum : prose, poetry marvel of Punjabi literature

By Fakhar Zaman

When I was in college, Amarta Free-turn's poetry work, 'Naveen Rut' (New Season), inspired me to write in my mother tongue, Punjabi. 1 had already read some Sufi poets of Punjabi lan­guage. However, the poetry of Amarta Ji impressed me a lot and besides Urdu and English, I started writing in Punjabi language too. My first book 'Kanso Vele Dee' hit the bookshelves in 1972 and I sent a copy to Amarta Ji

When telecasts of Indian TV started to be watched in Pakistan and the channel started airing Indian films, there was much eagerness and people installed huge antennas to clearly watch the telecasts. I used to watch the Punjabi literary programme 'Darpan' that was presented by Amarta Ji with lot of interest One day she commented on my book and said, 'This is very good poetry and these poems speak of a new sensibility and have given a new trend and shape to the Punjabi poetry and it has modernism and symbolism."

She also congratulated me through the television. I wrote her a letter of thanks stating, "It has encouraged me a lot that such a big poetess and writer liked my poetry so much and has made mention of it on the television."

In reply, she wrote, "I got your book, I read and liked it and 1 express my views explicitly- on everything I like." Later, second book of my poetry 'Vangaar' got published and then my novel 'Satt Gawache Log' reached India. Amarta Ji liked my novel so much that she often mentioned it on television. Then I sent my next novels including 'Ik Mare Bande Dee Kahani' My novel 'Bandiwaan' was banned,  however, correspondence continued but that too was censored strictly. So whenever I went abroad, I used to write her letters and call her on tele­phone, which pleased her a lot I came to know about Amarta Pree­tum after reading all her writings par­ticularly her biography 'Raseedi Ticket' (Receipt Stamp) that was pub­lished in 1976 and its second part ti­tled 'Mein Jama Toon.' 'Raseedi Ticket' stirred the literary circles and several people objected that she might have refrained from mentioning some points but I think there was nothing of this sort. In fact, she had no double standards and used to mention every­thing in a straight way. She did not conceal anything, on the pretext of any diplomacy about her friends, her life and her views with regard to literature. I think every true author should do the same. Amarta Ji's poem 'Aj Aakhan Wans Shah Noon Kiton Qabran Vichon Bol' written on bloodshed at the parti­tion of India in 1947 immortalised her in the Punjabi poetry.

She was the first woman recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award on col­lection of her Punjabi Poetry 'Sanehre' and the title of Padma Shree in 1969. She received three DLit degrees from Delhi, Jabalpur and Vishva Bharti uni­versities in 1973 and 1983 respectively.

Amarta Preetum visited Moscow on the occasion of World Peace Congress in 1973. Earlier she visited Tashkent, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on the invi­tation of Moscow Writers Union in 1961 and Bulgaria in 1966. She was sent to Yugoslavia, Hungary and Romania by the Indian government under a cultural exchange programme in 1967. She men­tioned details of these visits in 'Raseedi Ticket' but the award she received from Bulgaria in 1980 was very important

When Bulgaria instituted an award in memory of its revolutionary poet Nikola Vaptsarov in 1979 and selected five writers from Russia, the United States, Italy, Poland and India for this award, Amarta Ji was selected from India. She received this award at a cer­emony on October 16, 1980. In his speech on the occasion, the president of the award committee said, "We, Bul­garian writers and people are happy that a prominent Indian writer and po­etess is our friend. We published her writings in Bulgaria and love it be­cause her poetry accepts struggle for social values and human welfare."

Amarta Ji was given the symbol of liberty, an injured bird made of brass with wings spread skyward, and half of the award money ($ 1300) in cash. She was honoured for attending the In­ternational Sofia Meeting of Writers at­tended by writers from 22 countries.

Amarta Ji was nominated for mem­bership of Rajiya Sabha in 1986. In 1987,1 was in Holland when renowned Punjabi fiction writer Ajeet Kor, invited me to attend a two-day Punjabi Kahani Conference in New Delhi. I reached Delhi and informed Amarta Ji on tele­phone about my presence in the city. She asked me to reach her residence. I reached her Hauz Khas home and stayed there for three days, which were the golden moments of my life. I dis­cussed literature, politics and Sufism as well as Punjabi literature, literary figures with her and also exchanged views on Pakistan-India relations. She knew about ban on my Punjabi books during the rule of  Gen Zia-ul-Haq. When I asked her to watch a  drama based on my Punjabi novel, 'Bandiwaan' recorded on video, she asked me astonishingly how did you produced a drama on this novel despite ban on your books. I informed her that when Zia-ul-Haq allowed literary, cul­tural and political activities within walled enclosures, we screened this drama on the occasion of first World Punjab Conference in 1986 at a house in Lahore. She said she had read the novel, so she knew how difficult pro­duction of a drama based on it would be as every character of the novel dropped from eyes as itching of a pain.

Next day, the Urdu writers hosted a reception for me from the platform of 'Qalam Zad' organisation. The recep­tion was chaired by Urdu writer, Qamar Raees. Amarta Ji was requested to be the chief guest She agreed and while speaking about my poetry and novels, particularly 'Bandiwaan,' she said, "When Fakhar Zaman presents charac-  ter of 'Z' in his novel 'Bandiwaan," T says he was murdered yesterday, being murdered today and will be murdered tomorrow. At the moment, 1 thought that Fakhar Zaman and I both are 'Z'. I remember RraqGorakhpuri used to narrate that the issue of paradise . and hell cropped up in literature when people, noted poets and writers filled their hearts with agonies of the masses and then groan for whole of their lives. The people who have noth-ing to do with masses give two names to the life: paradise that was for them and hell that was for the poets and writers. Firaq Gorakhpuri stated, "Once, icy winds started blowing in the paradise and they started shivering and thought about getting a little fire from the hell When they requested the dwellers of the hell to lend them some fire, they replied that there was no extra fire because everyone who came • to the hell brought it with them." Re also said the same fire is burn­ing in the hearts of poets and writers and no one else can share it and to get it, being a poet or writer is a must He viewed that the fire of insight that is burning in the shape of FakharZaman in today's darkness and we all have come with the same fire in our hearts to welcome him.

Already prideful by sitting on the 'stage with a personality like Amarta Ji, it was a great honour for me. I also went around Delhi along with Imroz and Amarta Ji and we used to sit in the evening exchanging views about some books and she would recite any new poem on my insistence and would express her experiences and observa­tions about Sufis, Rishis and dervishes. She showed two superb documentaries made on her. I spent three days there just like my own home, just like one stays with his parents. Amarta Ji used to prepare lunch and Imroz served it and would also prepare tea while some times I lent them a helping hand.

When I mentioned that she was not writing Punjabi poetry and had started writing in Hindi, she said she had not written a lot of poetry and did so when felt to do so otherwise she did not make any conscious effort to pen down a poem. She said there is a large readership of Hindi, therefore, it is. necessary to write in Hindi

Amarta Preetum received honorary" DLit degree from the Punjab University in 1987 and the French government also awarded her an honorary degree the same year while she received an honorary doctorate from the SNDT University of Bombay, now Mumbai, in 1989 and Punjab Academy Delhi con­ferred Wans Shah Award on her in  1990.She gifted me her book about writers including myself. She wrote about the writers and their works. She also gave me a Hindi book in which a whole chapter was written on me. She also wrote a few articles in English language one me too. All this was an honour for me. Indeed, she was an ex­tremely good person, great human be­ings, large hearted promoter of peace, messenger of love and a very enlight­ened woman having progressive views.

Throughout her life. Amarta Ji vio­lated disciplines and revolted against traditions and this was the reason that she achieved great successes in her life. She got a good friend and life partner as Imroz. She first met him in 1955 and befriended each other in 1960 before becoming Naag Mani and establishing a publication house. This journal was launched in 1966 and was closed in 2004. Amarta Ji used to se­lect material for the journal while Imroz was responsible for proofread­ing and sketch drawing. This maga­zine of high quality has been very pop­ular and created a group that has been producing fine literature.

Amarta Ji encouraged good writers and used to praise their writings. She never wrote foreword or preface of every book for her publicity. When I invited her to visit Pakistan, she said her health was not good enough and would definitely visit Pakistan whenever she got an opportunity. It has always been my passionate de­sire to see her in Pakistan. Whenever I  telephoned her, she attended it and talked to me affectionately. Whether I have been' in Pakistan or abroad, I used to make a telephone call to her once a week to enquire about her well   being. When Amarta Preetum slipped in bathroom in February 2000 and got a bone fracture, she was 81. Fractures bones at this age are very troublesome. A two-hour surgery on the injury took five hours and when she returned home hoping to walk again but her foot started aching after a few days and so. she spent the rest of her life on the bed as sitting or walking had become im­possible for her because her body and bones were not strong enough for fur­ther surgery.

Although she did not needed any award, we announced to confer on her a Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Punjabi Congress in 2003 as a gesture. We got prepared a shield and Mahmood Butt, a great painter, drew her picture. At the awards ceremony, the Punjabi writers, poets and intellec­tuals paid rich tributes to Amarta Ji. A documentary on Amarta Ji produced by Basu Bhatacharya was also screened on the occasion. When I informed her on telephone about the award, Amarta Ji said it was a real pleasure for her be­cause it was to be given to her in Pakistan but alas she could not visit the place where she was born, grew up, got married and gave birth to her two chil­dren, daughter Kundlan and son Noraj. They were born in Lahore where she spent 28 years of her life.

I will always be mournful that Amarta Ji could not visit Pakistan where I wanted to arrange a welcome for her in accordance with her status and prominence. She never promised to visit despite my repeated insistence and always used to say, "Well, I will see and will come if I felt to be in a good health." But she did not visit Lahore and I will never be able to forget it. .