Poetic Talent in the Indian Foreign Service

I have seen and read a book of poetry "इंतजार है अब तक " written in Hindustani ( mix of Hindi & Urdu) by one of my colleagues in the Indian Foreign Service Jitendra Tripathi who is, currently, the Consul General of India in Sao Paulo in Brazil . It is a well written and nicely presented book. I did not know that Jitender is a poet that too of a good calibre. I like Urdu or Hindustani poetry and read and recite it whenever possible as my pastime. Here are some quotes from Jitender's book which would give you the flavour his poetry:
i) कदम कदम पे गरेबान चाक हुआ; तुम ही बताओ इसे कब तलक रफ्फु करते !
ii) एक अजब सा खौफ सारे कारबान में बस गया; रहजनो का डर दिखा कर रहबर छलते रहे !
iii) मैं अकेला ही नहीं मेरी खुदी भी साथ है; चलूँगा तो साथ मेरे कारबान हो जायेगा !

There are many more poets in the IFS, some known and some yet to come out. I know some of them personally. I read some years before a book of poetry " सौगात " written by Amarjeet whose pen name is 'अंजान' . It is a fine collection of his poetry. I posses a copy of the book which Amarjeet kindly presentaed to me. We worked together in Kampala andand he would try to get it published soon. I have listened him reciting his own poetry man Prague. Amarjeet's poetic spells in the parties were famous and liked by all. He not only writes good but also has a good command on its delivery. Here in Belarus, my present station of work, we have Suraender Baboo. His literary name is 'सुरेंदर सोनू' . His book of poetry ' सहर होने तक ' was well received. He has also presented to me a copy of the today with a touching citation "आपकी आशानियाँ और आप का उच्च वेवहार मेरे दिल में बहुसुंदर जगह लिए रहता है ! आप के साथ आप की करम शैली और आप से पहचान मेरा सौभाग्य है !" It is as good and sweet as his poetry. Suraender told me that the manuscript of his second book of poetry is ready y a times. Suraendra is a talented poet. I think his whole family has artistic aptitude. I am told that his daughter is a classical and modern dance teacher with an established theater group in Delhi. Let us read some of his poetic thoughts:

i) तुम को शूया तो मैली हो जाओगी; तुम को शू कर लेकिन पाक होने की तम्मना है मेरी !
ii) कोई जखम अंशूं से धुल भी जाता; मगर जिन्दगी अंशूं से लिखी हो तो कोई धोए कैसे !
iii) कौन कहता है मजहव के नाम पर बहा दो लहू; क्या किसी मर कर तुम को खुदा मिल जायेगा !
Again in Minsk, we had B।C. Tiwari who has now gone to Ankara. Tiwari is a budding poet. I enjoyed his poetic outbursts many a times. Our Embassy in Minsk can boast of yet more. R.P Singh is also a poet by his own right. I quote one of his compositions 'माशुका-ए-बेपरवाह का ईश्क्' and you may see the talent yourself.


क्या खूब हमारी किस्मत का सितारा है ?
हासिल हुई हर चीज़ जिसे दिल ने पुकारा है !
क्या ख़ुशनसीबी है कि तेरा प्यार भी पाया,
वरना ना जाने कौन कौन आशिक़ तुम्हारा है ?

चाहने वाले तेरी नज़रों को तरसते हैं,
प्यार के ये बादल क्या हर किसी पर बरसते हैं ?
जबसे हुई है नज़रें इनायत हम पर,
तेरे ही ख्यालों मे डूबते-उतरते हैं !

डर है हमे तो अब सिर्फ़ एक बात का,
करना पड़े ना हमको जुदाई का सामना !
हम सह नहीं पाएँगे तुझ से जुदाई का गम्,
इल्ज़ाम तेरे सर लगेगा मेरे आत्मघात का !

The poetry of the IFS personnel speaks for itself. I join them with a couplet of Dr. Iqbal:

हुबेदा आज अपने ज़ख्मे पिन्हा कर के शोठुन्गा;
लहू रो रो के महफ़िल को गुलिश्तां कर के शोठुन्गा !