THE VOICE THAT WON A MILLION LISTENERS

Ameen Sayani’s song ratings set a new trend in the days of the radio aside and say what you exactly feel. For instance, every poet sees the sunset differently. Fascinated by the colour of twilight, I would imagine if I could take that colour and rub it on the cheeks of my beloved.”

Gulzar also possesses a deep, soulful voice. He is aware of it and says he could have been a classical musician, but did not venture in that direction, because his family took time to understand his aesthetic makeup.

In Bombay, he came in touch with progressive authors such as Krishan Chander, Ali Sardar Jafri and

Rajinder Singh Bedi, whose writings he admired as a student. However, he stayed away from any political umbrella. A humanist does not need one, he would say.

Gulzar feels Indians do not stop with practising religious secularism; harmony among languages is also a part of their collective consciousness.

Gulzar also believes in speaking his mind. He urges decisionmakers to not be afraid of Firaq, Faiz and Dushyant. “Why are we not talking about Partition even 75 years after Independence? If we don’t, its ghost will continue to haunt us. Padhaiye! So that they live through it, understand better and let prejudices go out of the window.”

Government awards and recognitions are often seen as a barter to buy the silence of the poet, but Gulzar says even if the entire world turns silent, poets will continue to speak their heart. “Yes, they might temper their choice of expression in the face of physical threat. That’s why I once said about the seemingly doublefaced aspect of the poet: Bada bogla hai shakhs ye, koi aitbaar bhi kare to kya, naa to jhooth bole kavi khabi, na kabhi kahe wo khara khara. (Neither does the poet lie, not does he talk straight. When he cannot speak the bitter truth, he indulges in similes and metaphors).”

On the relevance of poetry in this posttruth age, Gulzar says civilisation is replete with this constant tension between the right and wrong, between the truth and falsehood. “So, don’t give up hope. Like the blade of grass that needs just a crevice in the rock to sprout, poetry will find its way.”