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“Afsoos Duniya,” Rajab Hamid- The Shakespeare and Minstrel of Tral

March 31

Nawaz Ibn Ahad

فسوس دنیا کانسئ نا لوءگ سمسار سیتی۔
پتو لاکن وچھتہ کم کم مزار واتیء۔۔

(Alas! This world is never there to last,
Behold! How all the Great Men finally landed at the Graveyard)

‘All year round the lover is mad, unkempt, lovesick and in disgrace. Without love there is nothing but grief. In love.. what else matters?

The Sufi poets combined a rare combination of lyrical eloquence with a profound mystical revelation. There words are timeless, appealing to the hearts of those aspiring for truth and beauty.
Sufism is the mystical branch of Islam.

It has its roots in the Qu’ran and the Islamic tradition, but at the same times encompasses the universal mysticism that we see in other spiritual traditions. The essence of Sufism is the simple path of loving God. The Sufi Masters sing of the all pervading love which inundates their being when they become one with their ‘beloved’. If there is just one goal of Sufism; it is to overcome the attachment to the binding ego and attain liberation through realising one’s identity with God. And thus the Sufi poets speak of dying to be born again, a concept similar to other mystical traditions.

An overriding theme of Sufi poetry is the expression of the relationship between lover and beloved.

Kashmir has been the birth place of famous Sufi saints and poets who have laid endless mark behind. One such mystic sufi versifier was  Rajab Hamid . He was born in Danger Mohalla, Of satura Village Of Tral on 23rd of May 1910. Satura is a village located somewhat 16 km from sub-district headquarters of Tral and 3 km from tehsil Aripal ,  Situated in the lap of green mountains of  majestic vasturvan , Satura village is  surrounded by Famous tourist resorts Nagberan, Tarsar  & Marsar on the northern side .

Rajab Hamid , at the age of thirty (30) married with Jaan Begum, She was a pious lady who helped Rajab  in every step of life. Besides taking care of a child, she was a good house wife, dealt everything with ease and calm. She became a helping hand for her husband wherever it needed. But the span was short and divorced his wife Jaan. Then Rajab survived with his only daughter Hajira. Hajira then died in 1984 after prolonged illness, Her Death amplified the sadness and miseries of Rajad Hamid.

Rajab Hamid was drawn towards divine contemplation during his early formative years. Having been born in a poor family, it is said that he never received any formal education.

Since his childhood Rajab Haamid was closely linked to Sufism . At the age of 13, Rajab
Swished himself as a disciple of famous Sufi cleric, Abdul Gaffar Tantray for 18 years, in his Service Rajab Haamid was drawn towards Sufi poetry and he  started writing verses of poetry.

The first poetry of Rajab Haamid came into existence in the magical voice late Ghulam Hassan sofi under the title of Afsoos Duniya in  early 1940.

After 18 years in his service Gaffar passed away . Rajab Haamid then went to the Lasa Khan, another famous sufi poet, from Islamabad township.

He was fond of writing and singing from early age, wherever he finds Mehfil-i-Samma, he used to attend at any cost. Rajab Hamid dedicated his life in writing poetry and singing in presence of great Sufi saints of the time.

He had remained in touch with many Sufi saints of the time, he was fond of singing and used to attend almost all the singing functions, he spend most of his time in the company of Faqeers. He was disciple of Gaffar Sahab and Lassa Khan Fida, a great Sufi saint of his time.

The work of Rajab Hamid was put forth by his disciples in collaboration with cultural academy under the name “Deewan e Rajab and Afsoos Duniya.”

His literature stressed on oneness of God, brotherhood and evils of society.

Rajab Hamid left this world in a state of abandonment and abject poverty. His family continues to reel under this poverty. No institution in Kashmir, though we have many who speak about culture and art, came forward to help him when he was alive, or his family, after his death.

Rajab has a lot of unpublished work, a family member told The Kashmiriyat.

Rajab loved his Hubble Bubble (Hukka) and lived a simple life of a Dervish. He left this world on 2nd April 2008 at the age of 103, On 2nd of April every year, The anniversary of Rajab Hamid is celebrated with religious Fervor at his shrine .People from crook and corner mostly his disciples pay attendance there.