Simply Vamsi: A Tribute to Meena Kumari

A tribute to Meena Kumari
--- Undisputed Tragedy Queen ---

Who would not know this beauty of 1960’s? Yes, she was not blessed with a long age. She departed this cruel world in 1972(at an age of 40). The death was not natural. It was her will to move on. She couldn't bear the burden of the pain in her life. The great artist, the beauty queen succumbed to circumstances and found solace in alcohol.

How actually did I fall in love with her?
Well, one of my friend was humming “Ajeeb Dastan hai ye” and just searched for the song on Youtube. And there she was! Singing a sad-song, pretending to be happy, I just fell in love with her expressions. I strongly believe that the current film industry forgot the power of expressions. One must see how she has expressed the deepest sorrow with a smiling face. I call this the real art, real acting!

I kept researching about her past and learnt that her life had been a real horror.
The horror of loneliness brought the darkest of the feelings, the anguish and unbearable pain which she dowsed with alcohol. The way she has poured her emotions into great psychedelic ghazals is enough for one to assess the depth of unending darkness of her life. I am attracted to psychedelic compositions like those of Pink Floyd, Dream Theater etc. But I was stumped when I heard her Album “I write, I Recite”. She wrote and sung all of the ghazals. All of the songs pointing to the same horror:”Loneliness”.
I loved the one titled “Mera Maazi”. The sadness in her voice can melt a frozen soul.

Here’s the Ghazal:

Mera maazii
(My Past)

Merii tanhaai kaa ye andhaa shigaaf
(The blind chasm of my loneliness)

Ye ke saanson kii tarah mere saath chaltaa rahaa
(Stayed with me as my breaths did)

Jo Merii Nabz Kii Maanind Mere Saath Jiyaa
(Lived like my pulse)

Jisko Aate Hue Jaate Hue Be-Shumaar Lamhe
(To which, the myriad traveling moments)

Apnii Sanglaakh Ungliyon Se Gehraa Karte Rahe, Karte Gaye
(With its Corroding rocky fingers, made it deeper and deeper)

Kisii Kii Oak Paa Lene Ko Lahuu Bahtaa Rahaa
(Bleeding and Kept Craving for someone’s refuge)

Kisii Ko Ham-Nafas Kahne Kii Justujuu Mein Rahaa
(In desire of calling someone a soulmate)

Koi To Ho Jo Be-Saakhtaa Isko Pehchaane
(May there be someone who identifies this spontaneously)

Tadap Ke Palte, Achaanak Ise Pukaar Utthe
(Flipped in vain, suddenly calling him)

‘Mere Ham-Shaakh
(My soul mate (real meaning’s is one who’s sitting on the same side or branch))

Mere Ham-Shaakh Merii Udaasiyon Ke Hissedaar
(My soul mate, shareholder of my Sadness!)

Mere Adhureypan Ke Dost
(Friend of my incompleteness)

Mere Akelepan
(My loneliness)

Tamaam zakhm jo tere hain
Mere dard tamaam
(All of your wounds are mine)

Teri karaah kaa rishtaa hai merii aahon se
(Your lament is related to my sighs)

Tu ek masjid-e-viiraan hai, mai terii azaan
(You are one abandoned mosque. I am your call for prayer)

Azaan jo apnii hii viiraangii se takraa kar,
Dhakii chhupii hui bevaa zamiin ke daaman par,
Padhe namaaz khudaa jaane kisko sajdaa kare

(A call for prayer (a voice), deflected with its own barrenness,
On a hidden covered and widowed surface of ground
Prays, god only knows worshiping whom)