Sunday, December 18, 2016

Hasan Koozagar

(My hats off to this beautifully done Tele version of N.M Rashid's classic "Hasan-Koozagar*)




Youtube link: https://youtu.be/OsCnvuMK-0o

Hasan Koozagar is said to be the true tell of NMR. It is said that while on deputation in Iran somewhere in the 1950s, he fell in love with an Iranian girl, which took a lot of toll on his life, job, poetry, and painting. He wrote Part 2 of Hasan Koozagar when he returned to Iran later, but part 2 never found that audience as Part 1.

Hasan Koozagar continues to mesmerize readers at one end due to its language's profound effect. On the other hand, this was a unique experiment of developing a wholly human character/psych in poetic form. 

Hasan Koozagar har insaan ke andar basne wali us khoi hui mohbbat ki kahani hai, jo aahista aahista use andar se ghun ki tarah kha jaati hai.

9 comments:

mehnaz said...

It is intriguing, has he romanticized his depression?. Have you seen mah-e-meer, I want to, not sure if I'll find online-heard that the protag n his mentor have shades of Jung and Freud...

mystic said...

Mehnaz:: Absolutely yes. Actually, Meeraji and NM Rasheed (at least in his case I know he acknowledged) were very impressed with Freud - and they deliberately enhanced the sexuality and sensuality in their poetry. NM Rasheed was influenced by Saadat Hasan Minto while working at All India Radio - but Minto's sexuality was at the different axis. I guess, and biasedly believed that, at that period of time, to be counted as a progressive writer, you have to add sexuality to your writing.

No, I have not seen Mahe Meer. I don't think, it is available on online. Also, I don't think it did well on box office.

bsc said...

I thought he called himself noon meem rashid
May be your NMR is different?
I saw Minto every now and again in his last days in Lahore, One of my friends was in the group of Mintos 'drinking friends'I enjoyed his sexuality writings and I dont have any other comment. My problem you already know I cannot hear so Kooza gar for me is hidden in that kooza

mehnaz said...

I intend to read Manto....he has been compared to DH lawrence also. Geniuses as they were, why were some of them so self-destructive, idealism apart......

mystic said...

Uncle: NMR is same as Noon Meem Rashid - I just took short form (sorry about that)

Saadat Hasan Manto was unable to digest poverty and ugly face of humanity and as events continue to unfold around and after 1947, he eventually gave up, and try to find his solace in alcohol.

But beyond that one thing should be understood: After all, we are humans and we all carry chips on our shoulders. History is full of it. Einstein is also rumored to be a womanizer. Same with Abraham Lincoln....and the list goes on!

This is just to read as it's important to understand great personalities as humans. It does not decrease the stature of their work!

mystic said...

As far as sexuality in Minto's writing is concerned, he always used it as to show the dark side of humanity. His masterpiece "Khol Do" or "Thanda Gosht" never turns you on, rather make you puke.

mehnaz said...

Read, agree completely. He was showing mirror to the hypocrisy of society.
Its difficult to maintain sanity if one has witnessed such events and he did witness difficult times. So many would have, am glad he dared to speak and how foolish to accuse him of truth....sadly they dont accuse rapists& child abusers of being perverts.....

mystic-soul said...

I hear you Mehnaz

bsc said...

You both have made comments exactly what I would and yes those two stories you mentioned are still as clear in my mind as I rad them so many years ago Yes he was blunt and brave to bring such side of humanity out in the open and in such effective way