Dr Nisar Turabi is a literary legend whose sheen has brightened the horizon of creativity proclivity and critical sublimity. He is a bilingual poet. His Punjabi lyres remind us the magnificent poetry of the Punjabi masters such as Bulleh Shah, Mian Mohammad Bakhsh, Sultan Bahoo, Baba Farid and Waris Shah. It seems he has drunk from the spiritual springs of these great Sufi poets. His Urdu poetry seems gleaned from the great Urdu poets like Mir Taqi Mir, Mirza Ghalib, Dr. Iqbal and Faiz Ahmed Faiz. In his literary speech and writings, he mostly cites from the poetry of theses literary giants.
I would like to write a few lines with personal reference as he is very close to my heart and I consider him a genuine literary scholar. He had written an excellent article on my poetry book (Urdu) titled “Window in the Wall of Prison.” Besides, being a poet, he is an established literary critic. A few years ago, his book of Urdu articles titled “Research and Creative Perspectives” was published. This book contains articles on the work of eminent Urdu poets and critics. My book of English columns and articles titled “Independent Ideas” was published in 2023, by National Book Foundation, Islamabad. In this book, my comprehensive article on Dr Turabi’s personality and on his book mentioned above is included. I would like to quote some lines from that article written on him.
“Dr. Nisar Turabi is a literary legend and scholar renowned in literary circles worldwide. As a poet, orator, author, and literary critic, he has penned valuable books of poetry and criticism, showcasing a deep and extensive study of literature. Like a florist offering fresh roses of literature, he is a solid critic whose unique and laudatory ingenuity has earned him numerous accolades. As a poet, he is a legatee of classical genres, crafting melodious and enthusiastic poetry rich with modern imagery and thought. His poetic aspirations are ennobling and enlivening, reflecting romantic reveries and a quest for social revolution. His work promotes exquisite messages of love, sincerity, sagacity, liberty, and humanity, awakening the dormant spirit of a slumbering populace. A modernist, he writes about the realities of life, with his romantic poetry symbolizing love and his revolutionary verses revealing the true visage of existence.”
His second Urdu poetry book, titled “Every Echo is a Traveller,” is in print, with each Ghazal emerging as a fountain of wisdom and love. Sadly, most contemporary Urdu poets lack compassion and understanding of ground realities, remaining unaware of the importance of human rights and dignity. They are introverted, focused solely on their personal grief and indifferent to the suffering of others, living in a shell of egotism. The majority of poets seem ignorant of the problems in our despondent era. In contrast, Dr. Nisar Turabi is well-versed in superb and sublime diction, deeply aware of human suffering and eager to see the world as a haven of peace and love. I am sure his upcoming poetry book will be the source of inspiration and enlightenment to the lovers of poetry.
—The writer is a contributing columnist, based in New York.
