A Poet We Don’t Know!

The book under review titled ‘Tehzeeb-i-Sukhan: Iftikhar Arif Ki Shaeri Ki Roohani Jihaat’ by Ahmed Javed, who is a well-known scholar, Islamic theologian, philosopher, and poet, is a compilation of a series of his recorded lectures delivered online and are available on his YouTube channel. Ahmed Javed is also the former director of the Iqbal Academy. His rich literary background and a firm grip on intellectual and metaphysical knowledge, including religion, laced with an eloquent, expressive style, distinguishes him from the rest of the contemporary literary scholars and critics.

The eponymous book ‘Tehzeeb-i-Sukhan: Iftikhar Arif Ki Shaeri Ki Roohani Jihaat,’ as revealed by the title itself, analyses the spiritual aspects of the poetry penned by Iftikhar Arif. A renowned Urdu poet and literary scholar currently based in Islamabad, Iftikhar Arif can frankly be referred to as the man of letters because of his unique place in literary circles. He has also headed the National Language Authority and Pakistan Academy of Letters.

Initially, Arif rose to nationwide fame in the 1970s thanks to Kasauti, one of the most popular TV quiz shows telecast by Pakistan Television. Not only did his in-depth knowledge of a variety of knowledge disciplines mesmerize the TV audience, but Arif’s impressive and enlightening side was a breath of fresh air for the people who had nothing at their disposal to watch other than the highly controlled state television.

Iftikhar Arif, as an Urdu poet, does not need any introduction. However, credit goes to Ahmed Javed, who has, better to say, launched the spiritual side of Iftikhar Arif rarely known to readers before. Making a saintly figure out of Arif, who has been just known as another romantic Urdu poet out of many, is no means feat for Ahmed Javed, who, through his refined taste and knack of poetic appreciation, coupled with his deep knowledge of poetic subtlety, has been able to apply a unique lens to Arif’s selected poetry, unwrapping its spiritual layers and interpreting it as a distinct mark of spiritual insight. His rise from a highly paid office-bearer deputed to top-ranking positions in public institutions to a kind of angelic servant living a life of reclusive with loads of attributes bordering on Sufism and asceticism is pleasantly surprising, as well as a shocking revelation only a towering critic like Ahmed Javed can afford.