Adil Najam
Anwar Masood is a perennial favorite. His aaj ki pakaiaye, banyain, lassi tay chai, and Jehlum da Pul are all classics of humorous poetry. But if he is to be remembered for anything, it has to be his (very) serious poem Ambri (Mother).
An ode to motherhood like no other. A glimpse into domestic violence that leaves one numb. The poem never fails to move the heart. It has a realistic tone that is the hallmark of all of Anwar Sahib’s poetry. But, despite the fact that I have heard this poem umpteen times – including in sittings with him – I had never realized just how realistic this tale is.
I had never realized that this is not just jagbeeti, this is aapbeeti. Not just social commentary, but autobiography. Here is another visualization (which also includes Urdu subtitled). It is shot at the actual school where this incident happened.
P.S. I dare not do it myself, but I do hope that someone will either translate, or at least explain the premise of this poem in English for those of our readers who do not understand Punjabi.
There is an obvious lesson in this poem: mothers are always noble and they can do no wrong. This part is touching.
I have an objection to this poem. Mothers job is not just to make lunch. Her job is also to teach values to her kid. What values is she teaching by accepting domestic violence and disrespect? Does she have no role in turning him into this monster?
Our culture does the right thing by teaching love and respect for the parents. What is missing is an adult discussion of good parenting vs bad parenting. In the mythical world all parents are perfect and there is no need for them to become good or better parents.
BTW, I believe the poet that this is a true story. I have heard versions that are clearly fables. I heard a similar fable as a kid where a scoundrel loses his mother’s heart in a card game. The dying mother shows concern for his safety as he stumbles while running away with the freshly ripped out heart. In another story the kid hates his mother who has only one eye, and when she dies he finds out that she donated her eye to him (a medical impossibility, but touching still).
For readers who do not understand Punjabi, a very basic attempt to render this poignant Ode to a Mothers Love into English….
( The scene: A school teacher(Munshi Ji) questions his student (Bashir..pet name ‘Bashiria’ why he is late for school. Bashir’s reply is that it is on account of his class fellow Akram.)
Munshi Ji: O Bashiria, today you have come to school very late.
Your village is not that far from the school
Today you will go back after a good beating from me
You have already missed the first two periods of study!
Bashir: Munshi Ji, please hear me out first.
Today Akram has exceeded all limits.
He beats his mother, and how he beats her!
Today this miserable one really crossed all limits.
He beat her so much with the ‘madani'(wooden ladle) that it broke
And when folks gathered, he bolted
Picking up his books, he ran to school.
Munshi Ji, his mother came to our home this morning.
Her face was covered in bruises and her hand was swollen
There were tears in her eyes and blood on her cut lips
She said to me: O my Pet, O Bashiria!
Do me a small favor, O my Love.
Take this food for my Akram with you to school
He left for school after being angry with me.
I have made some special Parathas for him
and some delicious Egg Halva to go with them.
This, she tied in a packet and handed me.
And kept repeating :Make haste my Pet. Don’t delay
He must be really hungry by now
He left for school without eating breakfast.
She gave me his food and I ran to school
Today Akram has really exceeded all limits
I have heard this one before and it always touches my heart, but this version was specially powerful. Thanks for posting.
Very powerful stuff. thx for this post.
Adil Saab. Watching this made me cry.