Ustad Daman

Ustad Daman (poet)
Born Chiragh Deen[1]
4 September 1911[1]
Lahore, British India, now in Pakistan
Died 3 Dec 1984[2]
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Nationality Pakistani
Occupation Punjabi language poet, Mystic
Years active 1926–late 1970s
Known for 'Daman Dey Moti' poetry book

Ustad Daman Urdu: اُستاد دامن‬‎, (real name Chiragh Deen), Urdu: چِراغ دِین‬‎ , (4 September 1911 – December 3, 1984) was a Punjabi poet, writer and a mystic.[2] He was the most celebrated Punjabi language poet at the time of the Partition of British India in 1947.

"Eh Duniya Mandi Paise Di, Har Cheej Vikendi Bhaa Sajjna, Ethe Ronde Chehre Vikde Nahi, Hasne Di Aadat Paa Sajjna"... A severe critic of military dictators who ruled over Pakistan for many decades, his most quoted lines censure the state of affairs in his country:

Pakistan diyaan maujaan hee maujaan, chaarey passay faujaan hee faujan.

— (Pakistan is great fun and more joy, wherever you look there is military people and more military people.)

He goes on:

Jidhar vekho sigrat paan
zindabad mera Pakistan
Jidhar vekho kulchey naan
zindabad mera Pakistan!

Wherever you look, it's shops selling cigarettes and paan
Long live Pakistan!
Wherever you look, it's shops selling bread and 'naan'
Long live my Pakistan![3]

He was introduced into politics by Mian Iftikharuddin, a known left-leaning politician, a member of Pakistan Movement and owner of Pakistan Times - a major newspaper in Lahore, Pakistan. Ustad Daman was introduced originally as part of the struggle for independence from the British rule. A tailor by profession, in 1930, he stitched a suit for Iftikharuddin, who got impressed by his inspiring poetry verse, when the two met each other at his shop. He invited Ustad Daman to recite his poem at a public meeting organised by the Indian National Congress, where Ustad Daman became an instant hit. Pandit Nehru, who was present at that public meeting, dubbed him the ‘Poet of Freedom’ after listening to his revolutionary anti-imperialist poetry.[1] At the time of 1947 Partition of British India, his shop and house were burned down by rioting mobs and his wife and young daughter were killed. However, Ustad Daman decided to stay in Lahore and the newly created country of Pakistan. He remained, throughout his life, a fierce opponent of dictatorship, civilian or military, and all corruption and hypocrisy. His work and poetry were published as 'Daman dey Moti' after his death by his devoted followers and admirers. The poems he wrote are still widely quoted in the Punjab as well as in other regions of Pakistan.[4] He first wrote under the pen name 'Humdam', which was later changed to 'Daman'. The title ‘Ustad’ (meaning teacher or expert) was bestowed on him by the local people. After that he became a regular participant in these political public meetings. He believed that the unity of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs was essential, if the struggle for freedom from the British, was to be carried on successfully. An example of his poetry:

In China, the Chinese are grand,
In Russia they do as they have planned
In Japan, its people rule over its strand
The British rule the land of England,
The French hold the land of France,
In Tehran, the Persians make their stand
The Afghans hold on to their highland,
Turkmenistan’s freedom bears the Turkmen’s brand,
How very strange is indeed this fact,
That freedom in India is a contraband.[5]

Super-hit film songs

The following poems of Ustad Daman were used in Pakistani films:

  • "Bach jaa mundia maurr taun, mein sadqey teri tore taun" Sung by Noor Jehan, lyrics by Ustad Daman and music by Feroz Nizami, film Chan Wey (1951)[6]
  • "Changa banaya aee sahnun khidona" Sung by Noor Jehan, lyrics by Ustad Daman, music by Feroz Nizami, film Chan Wey (1951)[7]
  • "Na mein sonay jai na Chandi jai mein pittal bhari paraat, meinun dharti qali kara de, mein nachhaan sari raat" Sung by Humaira Channa, lyrics by Ustad Daman, music by Kaalay Khan, a PTV, Lahore production. Another later version of this song sung by Saira Nasim is also popular.

Death and legacy

Ustad Daman was last seen on the funeral of Faiz Ahmad Faiz on November 20, 1984. He appeared terribly ill but he had managed to make it to Model Town, Lahore to attend the funeral in a rickshaw. Although the mourners were visibly shocked by Faiz's death but whoever saw Daman was also shaken by his condition. Those who had seen his wrestler-like figure in 'good old days', could not believe their eyes to see the skeleton-like Daman arriving at the gathering with the help of two people. Ustad Daman died two weeks later on 3 December 1984.[2] Veteran Pakistani film actor Allauddin used to visit him frequently in his one-room-residence in Lahore near Anarkali Bazaar. He had a lot of respect for Ustad Daman and treated him like a father-figure. Ustad Daman used to call him 'my adopted son'.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ustad Daman interviewed by writers Munnu Bhai and Karam Nawaz in 1974 Uploaded 11 Dec 2011, Retrieved 2 July 2018
  2. 1 2 3 'USTAD DAMAN--THE PEOPLE'S POET By Dr. Afzal Mirza published May 10, 2006, Retrieved 2 July 2018
  3. ↑ Ustad Daman by KHUSHWANT SINGH, The Tribune (Chandigarh newspaper), Published 3 September 2011, Retrieved 2 July 2018
  4. ↑ Profile and books of Ustad Daman on books.google.com website Retrieved 2 July 2018
  5. ↑ Ustad Daman The Poet Laureate of the Twentieth Century Punjab by fowpe sharma
  6. ↑ Ustad Daman's film song on mpaop.org website Retrieved 2 July 2018
  7. ↑ film Chan Wey (1951) on IMDb website Retrieved 2 July 2018
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