Myon Qalam: A poem by Satish Vimal
Tousif Raza
Introduction
Satish Vimal is a writer of sprits spreading a concept and ideology all above the books, beyond the words and different from the common voices. I took his intellectually written poem ‘myon Qalam’ as today’s poem of discussion for some special reasons.
First reason is that it is not a poem only but an aesthetic inspiration for creating a new way to survive through spiritual sword called pen. Second is to produce a sense of changes in ideology which is in the hands of writers (The men of pen), so they all can bring the variations and the third reason is to emerge as constructors of society rather a contributor through knowledge then to recreate the world and re-discover the existing world which is possible only through pen.
(Myon Qalam Translated as My Pen)
“When someone else told me…My pass off is to emerge by you
Countless pains….Came up of my heart and vision
I’m now sharing all those pains.
Through the music of my verses…….Come and partake
Fill up your pots with milk cream”
It is a well known saying that “The pen is mightier than the sword if the sword is very short, and the pen is very sharp. No pen can give an adequate description of the all-pervading corruption produced by slavery. The pen is mightier than the sword, if you know where to poke it.”
Ideology is framed when the generations pass. I believe that it not only circulates the idea among people from time to time but brings the voice to all those who are voice less. Satish in this first poem of ‘Siyah var’ says that pen is not only a writing instrument that scribbles ink on the surface such as paper, cloths or canvas to shape letters and figures.
It is an important tool of the world to propagate our thoughts throughout the world and make them eternal. Poem from one side makes a writer feel proud for having pen in his hands and from the other side says him to be very conscious because it is only a pen that can create ideologies and turn them into strength.
The people who posses pen as an important tool are lucky because it is a device to create not only notes but a discipline that drive generations. It is everything that a student needs in order to write what he knows in exam. And this takes them far ahead in life when used properly. The mentioned poem can illustrate us the importance of pen also by multiple means.
Pen as an important device of writing work, speak, run, punish, advice and even kill depends upon the hands which carry it. It is only the pen that creates literature to be a serious weapon in the hands of a writer. Pen in the hands of a historian recall the time and reminds the events to take lessons to approve our ideology for next generations.
Pen in the hands of a doctor cures and cares the people. Pen in the hands of a spiritual mentor cures the ill minds, ill souls and ill ideology of people to make them to drive them as a power. Thus the poem reminds us the physical as well as spiritual aspects of pen. When a pen is in the hands of a poet, writer or a thinker it talks of emotions and express them as words. Dreams are created through the pen of a writer which then become a divine support to approach the highness.
Different approach to the poem
Satish Vimal as a multidimensional or if considered as a mechanical modern writer calls pen as important as every device of today’s world. Saying in the poem that one cannot do everything verbally. Some purposes needs records and it is convenient to express on paper. Before electronic devices such as printer or anything else, it was only pen which used to be employed for writing.
So many scriptures, manuscripts, etc were not printed. But they were written centuries ago only by those limited resources available then. And how important they are now..! Satish Vimal’s vision in the poem call pen as a best friend, as a complete partner.
So the poems says when the pen is used properly it provides an eternal life to all. Well now there are lots of pens available. It fits every pocket. Modern pen generally have a replaceable refill with a metal nib. Ink pens are also developed now. The costs might be as low as 2 rupees to luxury pens costing crores.
The purpose is however same. So it can be well understood how powerful it is. It is rightly said. A pen is mightier than sword. At the end I can only say that Satish Vimal is of the view that if you want to be a writer it is not upto you because it is your pen that decides your direction because you don’t know how or when you write.?
But your pen has the ability and power to create your thought and it decides what you write. Find a quiet place where you can shape the feel through words it is nowhere if you don’t have the pen and the capacity to use the pen in a powerful way but still use a humble pen which is the divine king of deciding your fate. The above mentioned poem is one among my favorite poems.
Conclusion
This poem is one of my favorite poems because it is full of similes and metaphors expressing pen in many dimensions saying that “pen drives a man to its goal, pen is a tool to propel a silent person to express his different feeling. The poem in its verses is saying that pen is a mirror through the reflection of which we can make the difference between vice and virtue.
We can heal up the wounds through the love of pen. We can empower the weak, we can sweeten the sour, we can protect the harm of any kind through our pen. My pen is my friend so every time my feelings are expressed through it even without being voiced.
Pen is a living laboratory of new experiments. Pen is a kind of soul providing life to every dead through the valuable time of writing. Pen is a mightier sword than any other because it is a device that can customize the rule, can teach a lesson and can make man eternal.
Thus Satish Vimal as contemporary poet is trying to say that it is only the writer who can discover the nation, can write the destiny of the generations. Man is powerful if he has a pen to deviate, divert and customize human minds. In Quran one full chapter is named as pen teaching us that, it is pen which guides your life. Oh writer the destiny of the people is in your hands so direct it towards truth and say that,
My pen is my pride.
(The author hails from Tangmarg and can be reached at tousifeqbal555@gmail.com)
