Khushwant Singh and Poetry: A Story of Eternal Romance
Poetry was not just a pastime for Khushwant Singh—it was a source of solace, wisdom, and joy throughout his life. His passion for poetry was profound; he could once recite English verses for hours, all by memory. However, as time passed, Urdu poetry took over his heart, and he immersed himself in the works of Ghalib, Iqbal, Hafeez, Faiz, and Ahmad Faraz, committing large sections of their poetry to memory.
Yet, his love for English poetry never truly faded. He kept his favorite anthologies close, alongside the King James Bible, the Guru Granth Sahib, and various translations of Urdu poetry, including his own. These texts were his companions in solitude, offering wisdom, music, and rhythm that he cherished deeply.
In his book The Lessons of My Life, he shares some of his most beloved verses, reflecting the moods and emotions that shaped his journey. His selections include masterpieces from Urdu, Sikh scriptures, the Bible, and renowned English poets.
The Urdu Poetry That Shaped Him
Singh’s deep admiration for Urdu poetry is evident in his selection of verses, particularly from Mirza Ghalib and Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
Mirza Ghalib (1796–1869)
Ghalib, known for his sharp intellect and layered meanings, profoundly influenced Singh’s literary sensibilities. He shares some of his favorite couplets:
1.
“Nagsh faryadi hai kis ki shaukhi-e-taḥreer ka?”
“Kaaghazi hai pairahan har paikar-e-tasveer ka.”
“A picture speaks for itself, what learned exposition does it need?
The paper on which it is painted is only its outer garment: it tells its own tale indeed.”
This couplet captures Ghalib’s genius—his ability to express profound truths in the simplest of words.
2.
“Go haath mein jumbish nahin, aankhon mein to dum hai”
“Rehne do abhi saaghar-o-meena mere aage.”
“Though I can no longer stretch my hands,
I still have life’s sparkle in my eyes.
Let the jug of wine and cup remain before me where they lie.”
A beautiful reflection on aging, resilience, and the desire to enjoy life despite physical limitations.
3.
“Ishq se tabiyat ne rahat ka mazaa paaya”
“Dard ki dawa payi, darde la-dawa paaya.”
“Love gave me the lust for living—to ease my pain it gave me something for sure;
It gave me such pain that nothing can cure.”
A powerful meditation on the paradox of love—how it heals and wounds at the same time.
4.
“Meharbaan hoke bula lo mujhe chaaho jis waqt”
“Main gaya waqt nahin hoon ki phir aa bhi na sakoon.”
“Have mercy and send for me any time you so desire;
Time gone is forever gone it’s true—I am not time, I can always return to you.”
A poignant line about lost opportunities and the hope of reconciliation.
Faiz Ahmed Faiz (1911–1984)
Faiz, the revolutionary poet of love and resistance, was another favorite. Singh quotes these hauntingly beautiful lines:
“Raat yoon dil mein teri khoi hui yaad aayi”
“Jaise veerane mein chupke se bahaar aa jaaye”
“Jaise sahraon mein haule se chale baad-e-naseem”
“Jaise beemar ko bewajah qaraar aa jaaye.”
“Last night the lost memory of you stole into my mind
Stealthily as spring steals into a wilderness,
As on desert wastes a gentle breeze begins to blow,
As in one sick beyond hope, hope begins to grow.”
This verse captures the way memories of a loved one can resurface unexpectedly, bringing both joy and melancholy.
Poetry Beyond Urdu: English, Sikh Scriptures, and the Bible
English Poetry That Moved Him
Though he drifted away from English poetry in later years, Singh remained attached to a few select verses:
- ‘The Revelation’ – Coventry Patmore
“An idle poet, here and there,
Looks round him; but, for all the rest,
The world, unfathomably fair,
Is duller than a witling’s jest.”
This speaks to how only a poet can truly appreciate the beauty of the world, while others remain indifferent.
- From ‘Desiderata’ – Max Ehrmann
“You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.”
A reminder of one’s place in the universe, offering comfort in times of doubt.
- From ‘Ode to a Nightingale’ – John Keats
“Darkling I listen; and, for many a time
I have been half in love with easeful Death,
Call’d him soft names in many a mused rhyme,”
Keats’ reflection on the allure of death and the beauty of poetry resonated deeply with Singh.
- From ‘The World Is Too Much With Us’ – William Wordsworth
“The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!”
Wordsworth’s lament on materialism and the loss of connection with nature is still relevant today.
Wisdom from Sikh Scriptures and the Bible
Singh, though not religious in a traditional sense, deeply respected the wisdom in the Guru Granth Sahib and the Bible.
- From ‘Japji’ (Morning Prayer), Guru Granth Sahib
“There is one God.
He is the supreme truth.
He, the creator, is without fear and without hate.
He, the omnipresent, pervades the universe.”
This fundamental Sikh belief in one divine presence appealed to his philosophical mind.
- From the Book of Job (1:21), Bible
“Naked came I from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither;
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
A verse that captures the inevitability of life’s cycle—a reminder of mortality and acceptance.
- Psalms 23 (A Psalm of David)
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
A passage that has comforted countless souls, offering hope in times of distress.
Conclusion: The Eternal Companion
For Khushwant Singh, poetry was more than words—it was music, wisdom, and a lifelong friend. Whether in Urdu, English, Sikh scriptures, or the Bible, the lines he cherished reflected his moods, beliefs, and inner struggles. Poetry soothed his pain, heightened his joys, and enriched his life until the very end.
He believed in the power of verse to heal, inspire, and capture life’s essence. Through his selection of poems, we glimpse into the mind of a man who loved deeply, questioned fearlessly, and lived fully, with poetry always by his side.
