Forewords...

A few words by poet Elizabeth Kurien ‘Mona’

 

Maryam ‘Gazala’ was one of those rare breed of poets whose life’s mission itself was poetry. Waking and sleeping, poetry was part and parcel of her life, in fact sustained her in life. From the time I came in contact with her, I was amazed by the way poetry came to her so easily like breathing is to other mortals. She wrote prodigiously, day and night, at home and while travelling in trains and buses. She used to sleep with a pen and diary near her pillow and whatever came to her mind in a semi conscious condition, she used to jot down and surprisingly it would be nearly perfect. It was indeed a divine gift which very few are ordained with. Poetry was her life and it kept her alive during the cancer filled period a few years back. I remember her taking her diary with her when she was admitted in the Tata Cancer Hospital.

Poetry was her language too and being a multi-linguist, wrote poems in her mother tongue Gujarati, Hindi and Urdu, both free verse and ghazals. Maryam ‘Gazala’’s poetry covers a wide range of subjects and emotions. She writes from her heart. Her language is of a high order and she wielded her pen with a finesse few contemporary poets possess. She published 13 books of poetry and continued writing till she left this world in September 2011.

The free verse poems in this book, which I selected from her Hindi/Urdu books Shabnami lamhe and Kshitij ke dehleez par give an insight into the poetic canvas of Maryam ‘Gazala’. The themes are universal in nature and as such go well in English too. It has been my pleasure to translate these thought provoking poems. I hope that you too, will derive equal pleasure in reading them.

My friendship with Maryamben is more than a decade old. We met at the literary circles of Mumbai when I was posted there at Reserve Bank of India. Her simplicity, cheerfulness and friendly nature attracted me, apart from her inborn talent in poetry. A passion for ghazals also was a common factor. She has been like an elder sister to me and she treated me like her family member. Hers is a close knit family, with a daughter Masooma and son Ali, who take care of each other with love and understanding.

Maryamben’s life has been full of struggle, which reflects in her poetry too. A native of Radhanpur, Rajasthan, after marriage, she lived in Hyderabad for a few years. Widowed at an early age, she went back and took up a job as a teacher. She single handedly brought up her two kids, giving them the best education she could and also high moral values. By stint of her diligence and hard work, she did post graduation in three disciplines. She retired as a lecturer and after retirement, shifted to Mumbai.

Maryam ‘Gazala’ became active in the literary circles of Mumbai, whether it was of Gujarati, Hindi or Urdu. She has made a very good name due to her high class of poetry, her appreciation /encouragement of others in the field and a desire to learn more. Her good nature and generosity of heart earned her many friends in different circles. She never bothered about rewards or awards. For her, poetry was its own reward.   I feel she deserved much more recognition than what she has got. But she lives in the hearts of her friends and readers, which is what finally matters.

The translation in this book was almost completed during her lifetime, but due to her failing health, it could not be published earlier. In fact, this was one of her last wishes noted in her diary to Masooma, when she was unable to speak, that this book be published. This is a tribute to a great poet, a loving mother and a wonderful friend. She has left this world, but her words remain. I do not think that I have done full justice to her original work, but this is a way of sharing her poetic thoughts with those who are not familiar with Hindi/Urdu. Maryam ‘Gazala’’s poetry belongs to the whole world.

Elizabeth Kurian ‘Mona’