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.
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