Saghar Siddiqui, born real name Muhammad Akhtar on August 14, 1928, in Ambala, Punjab, British India, remains one of the most enigmatic figures in Urdu poetry. Known for his coronary heart-rending ghazals and melancholic verses, his lifestyles is a poignant tale of exceptional talent marred by using depression.
Early Life and Literary Beginnings
Saghar Siddiqui commenced writing poetry in his youngsters, to begin with adopting the pen name Nasir Hijazi earlier than selecting “Saghar Siddiqui,” which became synonymous with his soulful literary creations. Displaying a natural aptitude for verse, his early compositions were marked by using intensity and emotion, incomes him reputation in literary circles.
Migration to Pakistan
In 1947, following the partition of India, Siddiqui migrated to Pakistan and settled in Lahore. The city quickly became his muse and his battlefield. Lahore’s vibrant literary scene embraced his skills, and he quickly received approval for his ghazals and nazms, frequently done in poetic gatherings (mushairas).
Struggles and Challenges
Siddiqui’s artistic adventure, however, turned into fraught with hardships. He launched a literary magazine, which, notwithstanding being nicely-acquired severely, didn’t gain financial success. The failure deeply affected him, leading to disillusionment with the literary status quo and society. Corruption, nepotism, and personal betrayals compounded his struggles, using him into depression.
Life of Poverty
As his emotional and monetary troubles set up, Siddiqui grew to become to pills and alcohol, seeking solace in substance abuse. His as soon as-promising profession faded, and he spent his later years dwelling at the streets of Lahore. Homeless and often unkempt, Siddiqui’s lifestyles became a testomony to the tragic disconnect between genius and societal help.
Despite his instances, he endured to compose poetry, selling his verses for paltry sums. His paintings from this era displays issues of depression, longing, and resilience, resonating deeply with readers even today.
Saghar Siddiqui Death
Saghar Siddiqui passed away on July 19, 1974, on the age of 46, his body found on a avenue nook in Lahore. His unswerving canine, a silent associate throughout his years of suffering, reportedly died on the equal spot a year later.
Posthumously, his contributions to Urdu literature had been identified, and in 2023, the President of Pakistan provided him the Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence), a prestigious civilian honor.
Literary Contributions
Siddiqui’s poetry captures the essence of human vulnerability and the harsh realities of existence. His music “Laal Mori Pat Rakhio Bhala Jhoole Laalan De, Dama Dam Mast Qalandar,” written for the 1956 film Jabroo, remains a cultural traditional, specially associated with the Sufi shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.
Influence and Inspiration
Saghar Siddiqui’s existence story continues to encourage writers, poets, and readers, serving as a reminder of the challenges artists often face in a materialistic global. His verses, imbued with sorrow and splendor, stay a beacon for people who seek solace in art and poetry.
Saghar Siddiqui: Ek Shaayar ka Safar in urdu
Saghar Siddiqui, jin ka asal naam Muhammad Akhtar tha, 14 August 1928 ko Ambala, Punjab (British India) mein paida huay. Urdu shayari ke ufaq par woh ek munfarid haisiyat rakhte hain, unki shayari dard, gham aur zindagi ke talakh haqaiq ka aks pesh karti hai. Unki zindagi dukhon aur mushkilat se bhari ek almanak daastan hai.
Ibtidai Zindagi Aur Shayri Safar
Saghar Siddiqui ne kam umri mein shayari ka aghaz kiya. Ibtida mein unhone “Nasir Hijazi” ke qalmi naam se likha, lekin baad mein “Saghar Siddiqui” ke naam se mashhoor huay. Unki ibtidaai takhleeqat mein gehraai aur jazbatiyat numayan thi, jis ne unhein adabi halqon mein jald hi maqam dilaya.
Pakistan Hijrat
1947 mein qayam-e-Pakistan ke baad, Saghar Siddiqui Lahore muntakil ho gaye. Lahore ke adabi mahol ne unke fun ko pehchana, aur woh apni ghazlon aur nazmon ki badolat mushairo ki jaan ban gaye. Unka munfarid andaaz aur dil ko choo lene wali shayari unhein shohrat ki bulandiyon par le gayi.
Mohabbat Aur Khandani Mukhalfat
Kaha jata hai ke Saghar Siddiqui ek larki se mohabbat karte the, lekin unke walid ne yeh keh kar unki pasand ko mustarad kar diya ke woh “khandani log hain” aur kisi tandoor wale ki beti ko apni bahu nahi bana sakte. Gusse mein aa kar larki ke ghar walon ne uski shadi Punjab ke ek zila Hafizabad mein kar di, lekin woh shadi kamyab na ho saki. Saghar, apne ghar ki tamam aasayishain chor kar Lahore aa gaye.
Jab us larki ko maloom hua ke Saghar Data Darbar ke qareeb hain, to woh unse milne aa gayi. Kaafi talaash ke baad, woh unhein taash khelte huay nasheiyon ke ek jhurmat mein mil gayi. Usne Saghar ko apne sath chalne ko kaha aur bataya ke uske shohar ne usse talaq de di hai. Is par Saghar ne kaha:
“Banda Parwar koi khairat nahi
Hum wafaaon ka sila mangte hain”
Jiddojehad Aur Mushkilat
Saghar Siddiqui ki kamyabi ke safar mein mushkilat ne jald hi sar uthaya. Unhone ek adabi risala shaya kiya, jo tanqeedi lehaaz se to kamyab tha, lekin maali tor par nakaam ho gaya. Is nakaami ne unke dil mein gehra asar dala aur unhein mayoosi ki taraf dhakel diya. Muasharti be-insafi, badunwani, aur zaati dhokhon ne unke halaat ko mazeed kharab kar diya.
Ghurbat Ki Zindagi
Ghurbat, depression, aur nashe ki aadaton ne Saghar ke aakhri salon ko mazeed kathin bana diya. Woh footpath par soya karte the aur bheek maang kar guzara karte. Lekin in halaat mein bhi unhone shayari nahi chhodi. Unke ashaar aaj bhi unki jiddojehad aur jazbaat ki gawahi dete hain:
“Meri ghurbat ne mere fun ka uda rakha hai mazaaq
Teri daulat ne tere aib chhupa rakhe hain”
“Zindagi jabr-e-musalsal ki tarah kaati hai
Jaane kis jurm ki payi hai saza yaad nahi”
“Aao ek sajda karein alam-e-madhoshi mein
Log kehte hain ke Saghar ko Khuda yaad nahi”
General Ayub Khan Se Mulaqat
Kaha jata hai ke jab General Ayub Khan Bharat mein ek mushaira mein mehmaan-e-khaas ke tor par sharik huay, to wahan ek shayar ne ek dard bhari ghazal padhi. General sahab ne is ghazal ki tareef karte huay kaha ke yeh kisi azeem shayar ki takhleeq hogi. Is par shayar ne bataya ke yeh ghazal Saghar Siddiqui ki hai, jo Pakistan ke shayar hain.
Pakistan wapas aakar, General Ayub Khan ne Saghar Siddiqui se mulaqat ki khwahish zahir ki aur Lahore mein apne wafd ko unke paas bheja. Taham, Saghar ne inkar karte huay kaha:
“Saghar ki kisi ke sath nahi banti, isi liye Saghar kisi se nahi milta.”
Jab General Ayub Khan khud Saghar Siddiqui se milne aaye aur unki haalat-e-zaar dekhi, to unki aankhon mein aansoo aa gaye. Lekin jab unhone Saghar se musafaha karna chaha, to Saghar ne haath peeche kheench liya aur kaha:
“Jis ehed mein lut jaye faqiron ki kamai
Us ehed ke Sultan se kuch bhool hui hai.”
Wafaat Aur Miras
Saghar Siddiqui 19 July 1974 ko 46 saal ki umr mein Lahore ki ek gali ke kone mein murda haalat mein paye gaye. Unki wafaat ke kai dehaiyon baad, 2023 mein hukoomat-e-Pakistan ne unki khidmat ke aitraf mein unhein “Sitara-e-Imtiaz” se nawaza.
Adabi Khidmaat
Saghar Siddiqui ki shayari insani jazbaat, dard aur zindagi ki talkhiyon ka aaina hai. Unka likha hua mashhoor gana “Laal Meri Pat Rakhiyo Bhala Jhule Laalan De”, jo 1956 ki film Jabro ke liye takhleeq kiya gaya, aaj bhi Pakistan ke sufi mazaron par dhamal ke tor par gaya jata hai.
Asraat Aur Targheeb
Saghar Siddiqui ki zindagi aaj bhi shayaron aur adeebon ke liye ek sabaq amoz kahani hai. Unki shayari, jo gham aur khoobsurti ka haseen imtizaj hai, har daur ke qari ke dilon ko choohti hai.
Ek Yaadgar Zindagi
Saghar Siddiqui ki zindagi tazad ka majmua thi—kamal ki bulandiyon par ek aisa shakhs jo duniyaavi mushkilat ke bais tanazuli ka shikar hua. Lekin unki shayari aaj bhi Urdu adab ka ek roshan baab hai, jo unke dukhon aur unki ghair mamooli salahiyaton ki gawahi deti hai.
