The Rebellious Poet

Habib Jalib: A Voice of Defiance

The Landscape of the 1960s:

The country is under martial law, the constitution has been altered, and dissent is silenced with imprisonment. In such a time, speaking the truth demands a heart of steel.

Amid this atmosphere, a satirical poetry recital is organized in Murree, and Habib Jalib is invited to participate. Jalib steps up to the microphone and announces that he is about to recite an unusual poem titled "Dastoor" (The Constitution).

As the name suggests, Jalib is about to deliver something provocative. The stage secretary senses the impending danger and quickly steps forward, trying to take the microphone from Jalib. "No sir, you cannot recite this poem," he insists.

But Jalib, determined to confront the dictator, roars back with thunderous resolve, "Step aside and let me speak. What I hold in my hand is not a microphone but a sword, and with this sword, I will strike down tyranny." Seeing Jalib’s unyielding stance, the secretary retreats.

Then, in his characteristic style, Jalib begins to recite his poem:

"The lamp that only burns in palaces,
That carries the joys of only a few,
Those who thrive in the shadows of compromise—
Such a constitution, such a dawn of darkness,
I refuse to accept, I do not recognize.

I am not afraid of the noose,
Tell the world, I am another Mansur.
Why do you try to scare me with the prison walls?
This oppression, this night of ignorance—
I refuse to accept, I do not recognize."*

(Mansur al-Hallaj: A Sufi martyr known for his defiance and execution)

"You say flowers are blooming on the branches,
You say the cup is passing among the revelers,
You say the wounds of the heart are healing—
This blatant lie, this plunder of the mind—
I refuse to accept, I do not recognize.

For centuries, you have stolen our peace,
Your enchantments will no longer work on us,
Why do you pretend to be the healer of our pain?
You are not the healer, though some may believe it—
I refuse to accept, I do not recognize."

Jalib’s searing words, delivered with a deeply stirring voice, captivated the audience. What started as a satirical recital quickly transcended into a rebellion that echoed from the streets of the nation to the halls of power. Habib Jalib became a symbol of resistance.

The Life of Habib Jalib

Habib Jalib was born on March 24, 1928, in the village of Miani Afghanan, Hoshiarpur district, in united India. His father, Sufi Inayat, was also a poet, and thus, poetry was in Jalib’s blood. Growing up in a poor family, Jalib experienced firsthand the harsh realities of class disparities, which fueled the sense of rebellion that simmered within him.

During the chaos of partition, Jalib migrated to the newly formed Pakistan, carrying dreams of a land of hope and freedom. But the reality he found was far from the dream. The newborn nation had fallen into the grip of a tyrant, and freedom of expression had been stifled.

Jalib was not one to bow before authority. Rebellion had become an intrinsic part of his nature. As a result, he was arrested on charges of attempted murder, a tactic used to silence dissenters.

When intimidation failed, the dictator tried to buy Jalib’s silence with money. But selling out was against Jalib’s principles.

He contested elections on the National Awami Party ticket but lost. The dictatorship ended, the country was torn apart, and democracy returned—at least in name. But it wasn’t the democracy that Jalib had envisioned. Even under Bhutto and later under General Zia’s regime, Jalib endured imprisonment and hardships for his unyielding stance against tyranny.

Finally, in 1993, the voice of rebellion was silenced forever. But Habib Jalib left behind a legacy of defiance that continues to inspire those who fight against oppression. His poetry and his spirit live on as a reminder that the fight for justice, equality, and true democracy never ends.