Parvez Maanous: The Eternal Voice Transforming Pain into Poetry
By: Wani Arfat
Kashmir, known across the world as Paradise on Earth, is celebrated not only for its breathtaking valleys, azure lakes, and snow-clad mountains but also for its profound literary and poetic legacy that has captivated hearts for centuries.
This soil, nourished by the fragrance of love, has given birth to poets and writers who illuminated the literary landscape of the subcontinent and beyond. Among such luminaries stand Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor, who adorned his verses with freedom’s fragrance; Abdul Ahad Azad, who opened the windows of modern thought; Dr. Syed Shabeeb Raza Rizvi, who draped pain in the attire of words; Shuja Sultan, who scattered colors of affection; Rafiq Raaz, who weaved intellectual enchantment; Hamdam Kashmiri, who sang the songs of humanity; and Ashraf Adil, who introduced youth to the freshness of emotions. Rising from this constellation is the resplendent star Parvez Maanous, a poet whose pen breathed new life into Urdu literature with verses, stories, and novels that resonate with the soul.
Parvez Maanous is not one of those who use words as instruments; for him, words are living things throbbing with the rhythm of love, resonating the human soul, and bringing emotions directly into the heart of the reader. His poetry reflects love, pain, sacrifice, and hope, through which each reader sees his own image.
His lines bind up wounds, impart valour to the broken ones, and throw beams of light on shattered dreams: “Inhi hawaon se rishte naye banane the, ke sanglaakh chattanon mein gul khilane the, yehi tha shauq ke gaon ki narm mitti mein, surkh gulab mohabbat ke kuch ugane the.”
His literary career began in 1985 with the fragrance of poetry, which gradually moved to enormous lands of fiction. His debut collection, Beete Lamho Ki Saugaten (1993), depicted lyrical finesse, and then Shikare Ki Maut (1995), making him a skilled narrative teller.
His works graced prominent magazines like Sirkata Anchal, Mashriqi Anchal, Khatun Mashriq, Gulabi Kiran, Akhbar Naujawan, Jaraim, Sobia, Karwan, Beeswin Sadi, Shama, Kashmir Uzma, Nida-e-Kashmir, Roznama Zamindar, and Tameel Irshad. Muthi Bhar Chhaon in 2014 touched readers’ hearts, followed by Goongee Raat Ka Karb, depicting silent pain.
His magnum opuses Saare Jahan Ka Dard and Bargashtagi were turning points of Urdu fiction. More than thirty of his books, out of which five collections of poems have been brought out. His latest novel Ishq Jis Ne Bhi Kiya (2024) is acclaimed as the beginning of a new era in Kashmiri Urdu novels. For these unprecedented contributions, he has won many awards: Best Book Award (2008), Best Translation Award (2012), Best Play Script Awards (2016, 2017), with honors by different literary organizations.
Parvez Maanous’ poetry is an ocean of feeling in which every wave splashes with significance. Few poets have appeared in history who, through the pen, have touched hearts and sparked revolutions of thought—he is one such rare individual. His poetry shines with the light of love, the warmth of pain, the message of sacrifice, and hope’s radiance. His couplets on the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA) are a testament to their belief: “Koi kahan thi alamat Hussain se pehle, dikha sake jo shujaat Hussain se pehle, namaz-e-ishq mein sar ko katane wali ye, dikhai kis ne ibadat Hussain se pehle.”
In his lines, life’s harsh realities seem like mirrors displaying truths one cannot escape. He intertwines strands of sorrow into words that cut through hearts and remain as haunting tunes: “Sab par hai nazar uski likhta hai kitaabon mein, khamosh sa rehta hai kirdaar mere dil mein, lafzon ko prota hai ik dard ke dhaage mein, Maanous koi to hai fankaar mere dil mein.
These lines encapsulate wounds with the potential to destroy the castles of joy. Similarly, his couplets unveil society’s insensitivity: “Is shehr-e-namuraad ka haamil kahin kise, hai muntashir har aadmi paagal kahin kise, raste bhi cheekh cheekh ke kehte hain kuch na kuch, sunna ho gar sukoot ka jaahil kahin kise.”
He depicts the breakup of man’s inner self: “Bikhre huye aise hain jazbaat mere dil mein, ik khauf sa rehta hai har raat mere dil mein, uthta hai dhuwaan sa yun har soo hai lahoo behta, is shehr ke jaise hain haalaat mere dil mein.”
His philosophy through his verses opens people’s eyes to concealed realities. He reveals the deceit of love, the bitterness of hatred, and the importance of practical love: “Daana kabootron ko dikha kar fareb ka, unko qafas mila hai yahan daar ke ewaz, dushman hua kuch is tarah mausam bahaar ka, aangan mein aag bhar gaya gulzaar ke ewaz.”
Maanous’s poetry goes beyond romance, bearing social awareness. His words reveal insensitivity: “Kuch log mere zakhm pe hanste hain be sabab, chupte hain mere dil mein yahi khaar kya karoon.”
But in the midst of darkness, he sows light and coats hope: “Paon jakre huye zanjeer ka dukh baant sake, kaun hai jo yahan raahgeer ka dukh baant sake, log tasveer uthate hain chale jaate hain, kaash koi mere Kashmir ka dukh baant sake.”
His work makes readers cry in one gulp and breathe hope in the next. Not just a poet, he is a healer who uses words to dress wounds, instilling broken hearts with the courage to carry on. His purpose is to turn pain into beauty, darkness into light. His poems continue to touch hearts, open minds, and shed light on souls.
Yes, this is the miracle of Parvez Maanous, whose words glitter through the ages like stars in perpetuity: “Mashakkat se hi ooncha is jahaan mein naam hota hai, masaib ka agarche saamna har gaam hota hai, kahan keh paate hain ash’aar hum khud apni marzi se, takhayyul ka hamaare zehan par ilhaam hota hai, mohabbat ka safar jab la-makaan tak sarbasar pahunche, to har awaaz mein aakhir usi ka naam hota hai.”
Through poetry and prose, Maanous proved that literature is not merely a craft but a responsibility-to spread love, ignite hope, and connect humanity. His creations echo the suppressed voices and unspoken emotions. They hold truths time cannot erase, impacts that light the reader’s soul, and strength that inspires courage. When the history of Kashmiri literature is penned, Parvez Maanous’s name will shine as one who turned pain into verse, enshrouded love in words, and kindled hope’s lamps in infinite hearts. His words shall live for centuries to touch hearts and inspire souls, as his name shall be a testament to love, hope, and immortal artistic splendor.
(The author is a passionate writer, social activist, and medical student)
