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The fourth poetry book by Dr Safi Hasan has been published by Jahangir Books, Lahore recently in a beautiful blue colour flap cover. It is titled ?Mera Sitara Bujha Nahin Hei?. Safi has dedicated his book to his children and their off-shoots.

Safi's motto of life is the resolve to live and face the difficulties of life that is reflected in his couplet ?Mujkhey Fikr-e-Rakht-e-Safar Nahin Mujhey Doobeney Ka Khatar Nahin/ Meri Kashtian Hein Yaqeen Ki Merey Baadban Dua Key Hein?. This couplet appears at the start of the book. He is confident that the ship of life that he sails cannot be wrecked as his ship is constructed on belief and its sails that are made of prayers.

Dr Safi Hasan is a poet who follows straight path, observes Dr Khwaja Muhammad Zakariya in his article titled ?Safi Hasan, Sirat-e-Mustaqeem Ka Sha?ir?. The article is included in this book. He is of the view that a large number of poets are appearing nowadays from nowhere. In such a situation where there are poetry books everywhere right and left, the voice of genuine poets gets submerged into the flood of books. The genuine ones are not heard as much as they deserve to be. Dr Safi Hasan is one among such sufferers. Khwaja Saheb says that Safi is a born poet for whom creativity is a natural phenomenon and also for the fact that Safi is not an unknown poet as he has three poetry books and many international and national Mushairas to his credit. He deserves to be given attention and heard disjointedly from the clatter created by the mediocre ones.

Dr Safi Hasan expresses his inner wounds in the Ghazal format and external ones in the Nazm format. On Page 216 he writes ?Jo Duniya Key Ho Jaatey Hein Aisey Logon Sey/ Janey Kyun Mil Kar Mujh Ko Hairani Hoti Hei?. A poet has to be sensitive towards what is going on around him. Through this couplet the poet expresses his astonishment when he comes across people who have become totally materialistic in this race of the world. In his poem titled ?Nai Saher? (Page 362) Safi discusses the new intrigues on the chessboard of time. Still hope does not leave him when he says ?Bharak Rahi Hei Jo Har Samt Aatish-e-Namrood/ Dua-e-Dast-e-Brahim Sey Nigoon Ho Gi/ Asa Badast Chala Aaey Ga Kalim Koi/ Faraz-e-Toor Sey Ik Ehd-e-Jaan Nibhaney Ko?.

Hoping an end to the fire started by the American War on terror in our part of the world, he concludes that the masses shall rule in the backdrop of new light and fresh hope. Dr Wazir Agha observes that Safi has excelled in his wordiness both in the Ghazal and Nazm formats. The only difference is in their contents. In his poems his eyes are laid upon the rapid changes appearing in the globe and his eyes catch attention of the international scenario rather than remaining confined to the national issues. He has proved that all the pains of the world are hidden in his heart. This approach is also reflected in his Ghazal wherein he has managed successfully not to let his poetry get split between the two approaches. His poems titled ?Gawah Rehna?, ?Iqwam-e-Mutahida?, ?Mera Sitara Bujha Nahin Hei?, ?Wal-Asr?, ?Mom Ki Ankhain Peetal Key Rukhsar?, ?Aik Kanara?, ?Betarteeb Tehzeebon Ka Jungle?, ?Fasalu-Ehlil-Zikr?, ?Udhoorey Khwab? and ?Merey Watan? deserve special attention. These poems need attention for one reason that so far Safi has given more attention to his Ghazals, observes Dr Khurshid Rizvi in the Forward to the book (Page 28). In his Ghazals too Safi has shown great diversity. This reviewer shall only quote one couplet of Safi?s Ghazal to prove this contention. It says ?Ab Jo Bhi Ho Yeh Baat Safi Hosiley Ki Hei/ Deewar Keh Rahi Hei Keh Aa Mujh Mein Dar Nikaal?. The situation has arisen to such an extent that even a dead wall invites the poet to make an entrance through it. It is again the element of hope that has been expressed metaphorically.

Many titles of Safi?s poems are based on ?Quranic verses?. His deep commitment to religion has appeared in the shape of metaphors in his Ghazals that he has reflected upon openly in his poems. In his poems Safi has brought forward Quranic contents in a simple and touching manner. His sincerity is abundant through building of strong character and resolving of matters. At the conclusion of his poem ?Fasalu-Ehlil-Zikr? he appeals to the people to keep the relation with the God straight as life in this world could wind up any day.

Safi also abhors the clash between what Iqbal had once referred to as ?Chehra Roshan Androon Changez Sey Tareek Tar?. It is not acceptable to Safi when the truth is compromised. Dr. Khurshid Rizvi refers to his poem titled ?Iqwam-e-Mutahida? (Page 54) in this regard. Few lines are worth a mention here ?Mein Heraan Hun/ Keh Is Roshan Idaarey Key Asaasi Zehan Hi Khud Is Ki Buniyaadon Keh Dushman Hein/ Woh Duniya Ko To Rooh-e-Aman Ki Talqeen Kartey Hein/ Magar Khud Ko Salaakh-e-Aatesheen Sey Lais Kar Key/ Khak-o-Khoon Taqseem Kartey Hein?.

On one side UN sermons for peace and at the same time send troops to divide the soil and the blood. Western wars in the Islamic world displace people and then UN comes to provide shelter. What a contradiction in the so called UNO. Dr Khurshid Rizvi observes that apparently Safi may look like a revolutionary poet but he too in his own words abhors those who just say what they do not believe in. He quotes without naming any poets of revolutionary minds especially belonging to the Progressive Movement whose personal lives were poles apart from their writings.

As a philosopher he ponders on the question of existence. In his poem titled ?Gehra Sawaal? he invites everyone to think as to who breathes inside them? In his Ghazal too Safi brings out solutions to many dilemmas. He says ?Aik Na Aik Faraib Sabhi Ney Khaya Hota Hei/ Isi Liye Sooraj Bhi Gehnaaya Hota Hei?. The essence of this couplet is that even the powerful sun can be betrayed as it also gets eclipsed sometimes. Finally love-poetry is not strange to Safi. In his Ghazal on page 390 he says ?Dil Doobeta Hei Us Sey Bicher Kar Kutch Is Tarah/ Sooraj Sey Jaisey Us Ki Kiran Tooteney Lagi?. The essence of this couplet is that when he gets separated from his beloved it is like the sun getting separated from its rays. Since Dr. Safi Hasan?s heart and soul are deeply ingrained in the soil, they remain fresh due to the fragrance thereby emitted.