Written by: Waseem Abbas
Posted on: July 28, 2022 | 
| 中文
Anwar Masood reciting his poetry at a Mushaira in Dubai in 2018
Anwar Masood believes that a single good couplet has more effect than a whole lecture. This stands true especially when a poet of Anwar's stature is on the stage, reciting his humorous poetry in his signature style. Known for using every day and common phrases, Masood knows the art of communicating burning issues under the garb of humor. He poignantly said in a conference: "Real laughter is one that sheds tears when squeezed".
Anwar Masood giving autographs to students at NUST
Born in 1935 in Gujrat, Muhammad Anwar Masood studied and taught at MAO College, Lahore. Although Anwar writes poetry in Persian too, he is most famous for his Urdu and Punjabi poetry. Anwar's famous books include Mela Akheyan Da, Hun Ke Keray, Shakh-e-Tabasam, Ek Derecha Ek Charag, Guncha Pher Laga Khilnay, Meli Meli Dhoup, Payan Safar Neest (Persian poetry) and Bariyaab (a collection of naats in Urdu, Punjabi and Persian). His famous poems include Banyan, Lasee te cha, Ambri, Aj Kee Pakaeay amongst other.
Most of Anwar Masood's humorous and satirical poetry is in the form of Qaatta (four lines poetry). He uses common and everyday metaphors that one wouldn't expect a learned scholar to use, but he weaves them into his poetry in a very seamless manner. He is one of the rare Punjabi poets who is equally popular as an Urdu poet, and who also has state patronage and support. The audience gets ecstatic when Anwar Masood graces the stage and begins to recite his poetry.
Anwar Masood reciting his poetry
Anwar Masood's services to mainstream Punjabi poetry have been especially praiseworthy, and that too at a time when the Punjabi language is gradually becoming less popular amongst the youth of Punjab. Famous poet, the late Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, rightfully claimed about Anwar that, "Punjabi zuban nou aik aisa mohsin miliya aa jehda is zuban nou apni nazma da aab hayat pila rahiya aay" (the Punjabi language has found a new benefactor who is preserving this language through his poems). Anwar has written poems about almost every topic and he continues to widen the issues he adresses. The themes he has touched on include, but is not limited to, human nature and psyche, social and political incidents, environment, festivals and culture.
Anwar's poetry in his own hand-writing
Although Anwar was a professor of Persian by profession and a classical humorist by disposition, Anwar's grip on national and international politics is commendable and his satirical comments on it are poignant. In one of his couplets, he humorously criticizes the World Order where a few countries have veto powers over the affairs of the world, and the rest of the countries are at the mercy of them.
Tumhari bhains kaisay hai jab laathi hamari hai
Ab is lathi ki zadd par jo bi ayay wo hamara hai
Muzammat kariyon se tum hamara kya bigado gey
Tumharay vote kya hotay hain jab veto hamara hai
(How the buffalo is yours when the stick is ours
Now, everything that comes in the way of this stick (power) is ours
What wrong you can do to us with your condemnations
What value do your votes have when the veto is ours?)
Comparing countries with no say in international affairs with buffaloes, and describing the unfortunate fact of the current world order that 'might is always right' in such a light manner, is a feat only a writer of Masood's caliber can achieve.
Anwar Masood receiving an award in Mushaira Zinda Dilan in Dubai in 2018
A true humorist is someone who understands the human psyche and points out the flaws in human beings, without being too harsh or personal. Anwar writes in one of his poems:
Bhoolay se hogayi hai agarchi us se yeh bat
Aisi nahi yeh bat jissay bhool jayay
Hai kis bala ka photographer sitam zareef
Meyat se keh raha hai zara muskarayiyay
(Although this has been a slip of tongue on his part
But this is not the kind of mistake one should forget
What an excellent photographer is this
Who is asking the dead body to smile)
Anwar Masood with Amjad Islam Amjad
Anwar Masood is an advocate of giving education in Urdu, saying that no nation can progress that imparts knowledge in a foreign language. He wants to see Urdu flourish and become an international language. Anwar often describes an instance that once a man asked if he has any long-standing unfulfilled wish that he eagerly wants to see become a reality. His reply to the question is thought-provoking: 'I have a longstanding wish that an Englishman should come to me with a form in Urdu, requesting me to help him fill the form.' He is cognizant of the fact that imparting knowledge in English puts barriers in the learning process of non-native English speakers, which acts as an impediment to self-expression.
Dosto English Zrori hai hamary Wastay
Fail honay ko b aik mazmon hona chahiyay
(Friends, English is a very important (subject) for us
After all, we need a subject to fail)
Anwar Masood with his late wife, Sidiqqa Anwar
Anwar Masood currently lives in Islamabad. He has three sons, including famous columnist Ammar Masood, and two daughters, while his wife, Siddiqa Anwar, passed away three years ago. Masood received the Pride of Performance in 1999, and also won multiple Writers' Guild awards. He is often invited to universities and colleges as the chief guest at literary events.
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