EID

Alamgir Hashmi
English Poetry in Pakistan is marked with very prolific
poets like Maki Kureshi, Alamgir Hashmi, Daud Kamal and
others but Taufiq Rafat holds an important place among
all of them due to his unique style and uncanny skill in
depicting the culture of Pakistan. Rafat’s concern with
Pakistani idiom is an expression of the conflict between
tradition and modernity. We will be focusing on the
extent to which Rafat’s poetry is a similitude of modern
tradition of poetry.
Modernism has basically evolved with its roots in the
past while, at the same time, comprising of new
elements from cultural dynamism and time and space
variables of the modern society. It has been developed
out of tradition, culture, emotions and memories of past.
Modern poets have rather shifted from the traditional
style of personality-based / individualism poetry to the
trends of intellectuality, universal themes and new
styles. Such glimpses of modern traditions can be well
observed in Hashmi’s poetry.
Modern poets have broken the traditional rules of
poetry and made experiments with the verse-line,
rhyme and stanza; introducing the use of “free
verse”. One of the influential poets of Modern
poetry is T. S. Eliot who, under the influence
of Ezra Pound, has used free verse in his poetry.
For example in his poem “The Waste land”, he has
written the line:
Eid’ is a short but thought-provoking poem. Apparently it seems to be a poem
of joy, as the title suggests, but actually in it Alamgir Hashmi has pointed out
some of the darker aspects of our society. The poem is based on the
observations of an innocent but sensitive child who is around there on the Eid
day and watching the various people doing various jobs.

Eid is a festival that comes on the day after the days of Ramazan have been
devoted to fasting. It is celebrated all over the Muslim world. This is the day
when exchange of sweet dishes is made between the near and dear ones. At the
very outset of the story it is made clear that Eid is more than the vermicelli
thing. It must not be taken merely as a festival of joy and celebration. There is
something more to do for the Muslims on this particular day.
Perhaps eid is more than vermicelli thing
I was spooned to believe.
In the mosque this morning
I promised God to bend my knees
Another four times.
My fellow kneebenders
Raised offertory,
To cushion prayerkeepers,
To expiate the neglect he suffered
On the wooden bench.
Firstly the child observes the devotees in the mosque who
raises offertory for the prayer keeper. The situation of the
prayer-keepers in our society is very pathetic. Though
they are the Imams of our prayers yet they live in a very
pitiable condition. We often ignore them and they are
provided just a paltry sum of rupees to meet the very
needs of their lives.
 Outside, the beggars buttonholded us,
Eid could not anchor their corduroy
cheeks.
How can these spindling shapes
Be bolted out from the face of morning?
I had left behind my blotting paper
The last day at school.
The master said in holiday there was no
danger
Of staining. I convinced.
When the child comes out of the mosque, he finds the beggars twitching and
tugging the clothes of the people. They ask for something. When the child
observes this situation, he is actually made aware of the miseries and sorrows of
the poor people. The poverty rate in our country is rapidly increasing. It is no
doubt an alarming situation. The beggars are shabby and dirty. Their clothes are
full of muddy smudges and they have nothing to fill their bellies while the other
people are enjoying the costly clothes and shoes and various dishes in their
houses.
There is an innocent desire to “anchor their corduroy cheeks”. He wishes the
joys and celebrations must be for all and sundry and no person should be
unsupplied with these pleasures. The well-off and prosperous Muslims should
not ignore these down-trodden people. They must give them their share of
happiness.
 But question hovered like flies
Over my palate as we began to
eat. My
Father said, watch that!
I held the shinning spoon to my
mouth,
Looking for my face in it.
 On the dining table, the child goes into the depth. There are a
number of questions regarding the miseries and sorrows, hovering
around his plate. He is being overcome by the feelings of sympathy
for the poor people. When the child holds the shining spoon in front
of his face, he is actually finding a big contrast with those begrimed
faces distorted by poverty. This indicates the huge gap between the
rich and the poor in our country. How can this injustice be
eliminated? We all are to perform something. The festivals like Eid
are actually the reminders for this national and moral responsibility.