Robert Grant and Hasrat Mohani were both poets. The former was a Briton, while the latter an Indian, the ancestors of both these poets had no relation with India. However, once both of them were in India, they made it their home; and never left.
Robert was a representative of the British Raj. He was Governor of Bombay back in the days of the Raj when Sindh, too, was part of the Bombay Residency. Hasrat, on the other hand, was a representative of the Indian people and was a staunch believer of India’s complete freedom.
Robert would spend his life in the Governor House with all the pomp that came with the position. In contrast, Hasrat spent most of his life passionately participating in the independence movement and, by extension, in jail.
Robert was a lawyer by profession, while Hasrat’s occupation was journalism.
Also read: Review: The Taste of Words: An Introduction to Urdu Poetry
Both the men, as already shared, were poets. However, Robert was a gospel poet who would produce hymns and other religious poetry, sung and appreciated in churches and Christian communities.
Hasrat, on the other hand, had a penchant for romantic poetry and was also known asRaees-al-Mutaghazzalien (a title that translates to 'the lord of poets of the Urdu form of poetry, Ghazal'). His poetry carries a scented burden of love, drowning readers in the fragrant nostalgia; reminiscing of times with beloveds and almost every pain and pleasure that comes with love. His ghazals are considered classical works of poetry in Urdu literature.
Chupkay chupkay raat din aansu bahaana yaad hai,
Hum ko ab tak aashiqui ka woh zamaana yaad hai,
Kheench lainaa woh mera parday ka kona daf’atan,
Aur dupatte se tera woh mun chupaana yaad hai.
(I remember all those nights and days, the discreet shedding of tears,
I remember those times of love,
How I would tug at the veil,
And how you would cover your face with the stole, I remember.)
The ever swelling river that was Hasrat’s poetry became even stronger, even more poignant when he was in prison. His are among the best possible, most beautiful descriptions of the plight of unjustly imprisoned, while simultaneously liberated souls.
Hai mashq-i-sukhan jaari, chakkee ki mushaqqat bhee,
Ik-tarfaa tamaashaa hai ‘Hasrat’ kee tabeeat bhee.
(The exercise of poesy continues, so does the labour of grounding grains,
How one-sided is Hasrat’s nature.)
Along with being a political worker and a journalist, Hasrat was not only also a poet but a humanist one at that too. In his verse, he has included the autobiographical elements so subtly and powerfully that the reader will find themselves absolutely absorbed; it becomes the reader's story.
Take a look: The Hasrat Mohani angle
We feel sorrow and pain, and we feel the rebel’s pen penetrating tyranny’s heart like a sword. Along with that, he also represents the culture, specifically the religion he follows and believes in.
Darwayshee-o-inquilaab maslak hai meraa,
Sufi momin hun ishtaraki Muslim.
(Friary and revolution are my sect,
I am a Sufi Momin*, a communal Muslim.)
Hasrat also had a periodical to his credit. It was called Mu’allee. With the political essays that he published in his periodical, Hasrat had laid the foundations of political discourse. The British administration could not digest the spice Hasrat was adding to the then still young struggle for independence.
Thus, on June 23, 1908, Hasrat was arrested. The reason for his arrest was an article that he had published titled Misir mein Angrezon ki ta'alimee policy ('The education policy of the British in Egypt').
The government was adamant that Hasrat spill the beans on who had authored the 'inciting' piece. He did not flinch. Instead, he owned it. For this, he was tried and, of course, found guilty, resulting in a two-year penal imprisonment and a 500 rupee fine.
Interestingly, a magistrate, in those days, could not rule a sentence longer or stricter than that.
Those were times when even an imprisonment so political it stank of tyranny was considered dishonour. This became the reason for the displeasure of his contemporaries, in fact, most of Aligarh; so much so that some of them testified against Hasrat.
One evening, I called upon my friend Ayub Qureshi. When I met him, I had a book in my hand; Hasrat Mohani’s complete works. Noticing the book, Qureshi proposed to visit Hasrat’s grave and pay tribute. I retorted: “If only we had so much money and ease in visa regulations!” And Ayub replied: “Why would we need a visa to visit Tariq Road (in Karachi)?”
I told Ayub that Hasrat’s grave was not on Tariq Road, but in India. The man would just not agree. Meanwhile, another fellow joined the debate. He, too, insisted that Hasrat’s grave was not on Tariq Road.
“See, Qureshi sahib, even he agrees!” I said. But before I could say more, a third man added:
“It’s not on Tariq Road because it’s in the graveyard in Paposh Nagar (another area in Karachi)."
I was stunned at the confidence of these people. I asked him if he was sure about it and he said yes, absolutely. I asked if the tombstone had Hasrat’s full name written on it. “Yes, yes, the full name,” he replied.
My reaction was what can be best described in today’s internet language as a ‘facepalm’. The next thing I did was ask permission to leave.
Also read: From Nehru to Jigar Muradabadi: A road renamed
At another occasion, I was visiting the Arts Council to attend an event in tribute to Hasrat Mohani. While there, I bumped into a news reporter; a jumpy little fellow (as reporters usually are), with a mic clutched in his fist.
He introduced himself and asked politely:
“Which one of the the people seated onstage is Hasrat Mohani?”
I told him to ask the person sitting in the far right corner of the stage, the moderator of the event.
I don't know what happened next, because I had rushed out of the event for fear of ending up punching someone out of rage.
Anyway, let me inform you that there is a road in Karachi named after Hasrat Mohani. It is adjacent to the current I.I. Chundrigar Road (previously 'Macleod Road'). Hasrat Mohani was a communist by political leanings. That the Pakistani administration rechristened a road after him is quite a praiseworthy act.
As for Robert Grant, there is a road and a medical college named after him, but that's in India.
One thing that left me perplexed was how most offices on the Hasrat Mohani Road carry plaques and signboards saying 'Hasrat Mohani Road', however, some offices have signboards calling the same road 'Altaf Hussain Road' and 'I.I. Chundrigar Road' as well.
