Poetry of defiance, and nuttiness over Faiz’s ‘Hum Dekhenge’ | ep 358 

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I’m a Pakistani lefty who loves history & this poem but have never heard about the fascinating life story of Fiaz. Thanks for informing. Also to all my Indian & Hindu friends... never have I or anyone I know who loves Hum Dekheinge have read this poem or heard Iqbal Bano’s song & thought it had anything to do with Hindus or even India; let alone being against you guys. This was pure 100% anti-Zia, anti-facist revolutionary poem & song. Please don’t fall for your own facisty leaders’ trap. Please enjoy the poem... it’s universal.

We expect Cut the Clutter on KOTA Child deaths.

In Pakistan, Hum dekhengy is recited by leftists and revolutionists.

I think the IIT Kanpur students who sang it had a mature/deeper understanding than their administrators/professors who complained or started an inquiry! What a sad state of affairs? But, thanks to this, I learnt a new poem, it's potency and it's historical context.

Hum Dekhenge, Hum Dekhenge Lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhenge Hum Dekhenge, Hum Dekhenge Wo din ke jis ka wada hai Jo Gita ke Saar mein likha hai, Hum Dekhenge Hum bhi dekhenge, Hum bhi dekhenge Bas naam rahega Shri Ram ka Jo ghayib bhi hai Prakat bhi Jo Ghatit bhi hai Drishyam bhi Uttheg Aham Brahmo Asmi ka nara Jo main bhi hoon, aur tum bhi ho Aur raaj karegi Ishwar ki aam bhakt Jo main bhi hoon aur tum bhi ho Hum Dekhenge, Hum Dekhenge Hum Dekhenge, Hum Dekhenge Jab Ishwar ki dharti KASHI se. Sab MaZar, Masjid uthwayi jayengi, Hum aam log, Dharm/Din se ayogya RaajGaddi pe bithaye jayenge. Sab taaj uchale jaenge. Sab takht giraye jayenge. Bas naam rahega Shri Ram ka. Hum dekhenge." I just replaced green terms to saffron terms. Lets see if it is still secular!! I personally dont want a Saffron rule or a Green rule. I am fine with the Tricolor.

This is not about Faiz poem against ideal worshiper or not. It is about time.

This is intellectualism at its peak

Agreed, the poem is progressive in Pakistan . In fact , the reference to Anal-i-haq shows that the idea behind the poem was not rigid monotheism . But to raise the poem in country with a traumatic history of idol breaking ('sab but utare jayenge' ) and forced conversions ( 'bas naam rahega allah ka') is insensitive , regressive and in your own words , nutty . It is fine to celebrate Churchil in Britain , but doing that in India is a serious taboo.The protestors should have used more neutral poems which were more in tune with India's values .

If you ever feel weak remember, that this English presenting journalist studied in Hindi medium. So anything is possible if you have the will.

Hum dekhenge ki 2020 kaise waste karna hai 😂😂😂

Leftist ✔️ Hard-core liberal ✔️ Talking about coup (takht girayenge)✔️ Dhad dhad dharti kapengi ✔️ Attacking polytheism✔️ Bas nam rahega allah ka ✔️ You are right Shekhar jee Why should the govt panic? It's just a poem 🤔

Once a legend said and I qoute "Faiz was a leftist so where would he go! He went to Soviet Union." 😅😂😂

I salute this gentleman, though he is an educated person from Hindi background but still he explained the whole episode so perfectly in English.

Thank you sir, you cleared my doubt. Now please tell me what raliv galiv ya chaliv means ?

Moreover, in today’s communally highlighted scenario, it appears perfectly suggestive for particularly one side. I wonder if you would have equally condoned IIT Kanpur, the users & the poet himself, if the latter had RSS links & the lines appeared suggestive against the other side.

That's exactly what Faiz meant. And Kaaba is not in Pakistan, its in Saudia.

So basically the poem was invoked to call out against another idolatory leader developing in India. The person who thinks he is the saviour and building his legacy along those lines. The poem makes sense in this context.

The story puts the Nazm in perspective. Beautiful lyrics. It is a craving of the masses for democracy and is against tyranny of rulers. How can it be anti of any religion!!

Thank you for taking a stand. We badly need a lighthouse like you in these turbulent times.

Sir, it is always how a knife is used. If it used for cutting vegetables it is useful to everyone. But when it cuts human then it is a murder weapon. Hope you understand this metaphor. So please don't teach us poetry. We have nothing against the poet but how the poetry was used.

being Pakistani for the first time I have gulp your whole arguments with love. You did a good job here.

Amazingly explained, thank you for taking the time to do so. This poem needs to be understood by context, and as you said, it is modular. Wow! Thanks again!

Title of this episode “Clutter the Cult”

Faiz might not have written "Hum Dekhengey" with any anti-hindu intentions but the poem is ripe with words that can be used by people here in India to invoke anti-hindu sentiments. The complaint lodged by students against the rallies in IIT Kanpur which used this poem was exactly that. Nobody cares about what Faiz wrote it for. That's like saying religious terrorists are not terrorists because any specific major religion in its core doesn't teach killing. Yes the religion might not teach killing but the retard who is killing in the name of religion is KILLING. The opposition of people against the poem is exactly that.

I am a supporter of CAA and NRC but I am also a supporter of free speech.This is One of the best poetry I listened this year and I do not expect anything like this from an institution like IIT.Anything can be judged on two factor:Time and space. So I expect IIT kanpur to apply these parameter on this issue.aur "hum bhi dekhenge" IIT kanpur ke professor ka IQ kitna hai

After listening to this poem, Jia-ul-haq begged forgiveness from Faiz and just as it was predicted in scriptures Pakistan became a peaceful and just nation. Brilliant students of IIT Kanpur got the essence of this poetry, I sing in their praise बस नाम रहेगा ब्रह्मा का जो अदि भी है अनंत भी जो हित भी है निहित भी उट्ठेगा अह्म ब्रह्मास्मी का नारा जो मैं भी हूँ और तुम भी हो

@PRINT @SG Thank you very much for this fascinating insight. One would have done considerable research and still not got this level of sensitization on the topic. This one is personally relevant (ref: alma mater). While it is abundantly clear that Faiz's poem or Faiz have nothing to do with Islamic anti-Hinduism, there IS *another layer* to this - Indian Nationalism & Faiz's Kashmir position (also posits an unstated much larger question) _Warning: Vaild but disproportional comparison ahead with sole purpose of making a point_ - Isn't ignoring Faiz's K position & admiring his poetic prowess same as ignoring Wagner's Nazi predilections & admiring his composing prowess...? I mean "Ride of the Valkyries" is pretty awesome till one recalls a few old Nazi propaganda films' soundtrack ...

How things come to such a sorry pass in India? Very sad.

Thanks for giving a beautiful explanation of poet life history& poem hum dakhenge

Excellent Mr.Shekar. You are one of the sane voices left in the country in the atmosphere of war mongering.

Thank you for your clarification and the history, changes the perspective completely!

There is difference between one god and no god but Allah.

Teach us how Vande Mataram is offensive to Peacefuls

Very well explained. Fascinating stuff, Gupta sahab

Tamasha is performed by Shekhar Gupta gone nuts on " Hum Dekhangay..." by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Regardless of opinion, people hell bent on calling opposed to using Faiz in anti-CAA protest fools, is fooling oneself. I'm born a Bengali but my birthplace is Vizag. I studied besides Vizag, Cochin, Pune, Bombay and then university in Calcutta. Worked in Bhopal and Bombay. Travelled to build a country " machino-ka-nagar" so well elucidated by Shakeel Badayuni. And read urdu and hindi poetry/nazm/ghazala a-la inspired hearing Talat Mahmood and later Jagjit Singh. So let's get back to Faiz who I heard in a BBC documentary reciting Hum Dekhangay. Overpowering words, I composed a tune - many Pakistani colleagues will vouch for it. Nothing wrong but fools have misused it and scholars in Urdu - communists to the world and Muslim League sympathisers at heart. Why do I think so? "Sab bhut giraye jaayengay..." - and bhut is an institution rather than idol. So what institution are you referring to: a constitutional process run by an elected government? For lesser crimes public lynching in the West such people would have been ccrying foul. And calling the elected government "zaalim" we are told that is an act of civility...blocking roads funded by "volunteers" who get paid handsomely to create chaos...passing resolutions in an elected assembly...Shekhar Gupta would have us belief I'd democratic right. Agar yeh sab kuch sacchha hota...toh uss 5-8 saal kay baachaay jo Shaheen Baag nasamjhi killed bhasha (sorry let me use zabaan) istimal kartay hain unka kya? Mulk ok baatnay walay jo jhoot ka Sahara letay hain...kayartaa se bharpur soch kaisaa aman-pasand naagrik hain? Think over!!!

Excellent review. Faiz poetry is marvel is his own. Hum dekhenge is his resentment against Pakistani army.

Liked the last statement...these lines r Modular...can fit into any place👍👍

Good analysis by someone who is not" Urdu medium". The poetry is very powerful. No wonder that it has been used to fight oppression. Someone should translate it for Modi and his supporters.

Very very true. I don't know why we're not looking at future and moving ahead and instead going backward day by day. When I read about past leaders and reformers it feels how visionary they were and that is what we need to be.

Very enlightening commentary on Faiz Ahmed Faiz and his poetry (Ham dekhenge). Thanks a zillion times.

Fantastic and fascinating story telling..keep it up, Shekhar Ji...

Fascinating narration! Enjoyed it throughly.

Faiz wrote it in some context. But there is a different context in which it is being used in India now. This is not about Lt Col Faiz Ahmed Faiz or his intentions. He is irrelevant in India. But his poetry is being misused by some giving it a different connotation. "Vande Mataram" is objectionable to some Muslims. They take it literally not in the correct context. Indians, especially involved in the anti-CAA protest should have avoided this specific nazam.

It is the converse to what you said... Ocean never meets a sea.

Thank you Sir..!!! For explaining the glory of this beautiful poem..!!! It is heartbreaking to see such a beautiful poem.being maligned by the government agents..!!!

Fantastic SG ..a master stroke here 👍🏻👏🏻 ..it’s the interpretations which is the root of all problems.

Thank you for bringing this episode.

Sir, I just loved your explanation. The Hindi poets that you quoted, the lines that you said are what my Nani, and my Mother (both Hindi medium graduates) used in our house. This is the beauty of India. We have divided ourselves. It is a very sad state sir.

Thank you for giving us peek in to the life of Fiaz, which shows that he was certainly an anti_indian. Though he was a part of the british Indian army he migrated to pakistan and fought against the Indian army. And by extension he was communal, if not he would have stayed back in India. So the print need not canvas for his exoneration.

A fair interpretation of Faiz's poetry . Revolutionary poets and a thinkers always transcend borders and break religious and cultural shackles Faiz was a revolutionary by heart .

Suhravardy was one of the brains behind direct action day.

Hopefully, he can send a similar message regarding Vande Mataram for Indian Muslims opposing Vande Mataram if he can forgo political correctness

And waiting for the episode on the current economic slowdown and recent press conference by FM... Hope u will declutter it soon too.. Thank u in advance.. 😃 #CTC #CutTheClutter #ThePrint #ShekharGupta

I can't help but say that I have become a fan of you Sir Shekhar Gupta from Pakistan because of your candid, moderate and unbiased views! I haven't seen many civilized voices like yours in India media.. Keep up the good work even if it's against Pakistan, I accept your right to disagree with great respect! God bless you Sir!

Very well explained...

Thanks Sekhar. Very well explained. Fantastic.

Aap chronology ko samajhiye 1- pehle chhotiyon ko bhakt banayenge 2- fir unhi bhakton ko aur chootiya banayenge...!!

Thank you Mr. Shekhar Gupta for the wonderful video and the effort that you have put behind making this video. I always thought Faiz was a bit anti India due to being Pakistani nationalist. I have read few of his work. Didn't have problem with this poem and IIT should be the last place to discuss religious stuff. Cheers and happy New year

Excellent review ❣️❣️

😂 he came to pakistan? He went to pakistan. I can relate to Shekhar Gupta that he's in my anti partition gang.

Wah Gupta Ji. ‘‘न दैन्यं न पलायनम्।’’

Thanks Sekhar for taking time and justifying Faiz shab's poem. Can you please do the same for the people who are having problem understanding and reciting vandemataram ? can you ?

Though faiz has written for Zia at that time but today people are using it in India so whole interpretations should be according to Indian context.and here we know all Islamist want and believe that a day will come when"jb nam rhega bs Allah ka ".(gzwa e hind) 70 percent has been done.

Timing is important in understanding context. This poem was written against Zia.

Upto 11:25, Why I like Shekhar for his unmatched politics historian ! Then after, he became Congressi !! Did anyone see IIT-K notification on #हम_देखेंगे ?

wonderful, thank you~☆

Simply superb, thanks

Habib Jalib Faiz Ahmed Faiz Jaun Elia Pash Daya Pawar Lal Singh Dil Majaz Ali Sardar Jafri

It's "Soharwardi" not "Sohrawardi"

Thanks for information

Beautifully explained. I really liked his statement that people are not single layered. Faiz was liberal and nationalist. He said that without any spite or vengeance understanding it as a human nature. A virtue unfortunately depleting rapidly on both sides of the border these days.

The poet might have meant whatever he meant It is inappropriate and insensitive to use language like that, especially when things already have a communal charge from one side or another It is upto the people who send out communication to look at what they might be signalling. And who can say for sure the people who were singing it were not singing it as contempt towards indian religious sentiment?

Coooool😎

Sekhar Gupta loved this talk of the background information of Faiz Ahmed Faiz the renowned Pakistani composer because it is close to his heart. I always thought of Sekhar as a Lutenist coconut brown outside but white inside its nice to know that he was educated in a Hindi medium school in Haryana and worked at grass root levels in East India and then the metros of India to reach where he is today in the field of journalism. Which means Merit & hardcore background work has sustained him. Today he is backed by a Teckno team & he the presenter Kudos Sekhar you deserve it. a successful human in your trade. This piece was enjoyable & informative. When Generals as in Pakistan overreach Thier positions the result is mediocrity & misgovernance . A lot of left leaning Pakistani of various shades like Mhd Iqbal known for his tarana Sare Jehan se Acha Hindustan Hamara turned into an Islamist from his days at Heidelberg. Taree Fateh who was intellectually crushed by the Pakistani Establishment till he was hounded. Barister Hamid Bashani, Tahir Aslan Gora, Ex Ambassador Hussain Haqqani , Sami, & the latest Najam Sethi after he was imprisoned in Pakistan. Merit is not allowed to survive by the mediocrity. Thank you Sekhar Nathan Sekhar Sydney Australia.

Thank you for doing the stuff you are doing.Truly awesome. Hope these messages get to all and for this, I humbly suggest, please bring out your episodes in hindustanti too.

Cut some clutter on Vndemataram as well Guptaji? Why some get offended even at the pretext of having to sing it?

Enlightening. Thank you for the updates. .....the poem/song's really strong, inspiring.

When you say pakistani nationalist it means he was Islamist because whole nation of pakistan was made in name of islam

Love your historical anecdotes.

Ok.. We need to understand the context of " la illah illallah"

Gupta ji, Even if he was a harmless poet, quoting him or his poetry with suggestive lines will only aggravate spite in the minds of nationalists, given that he had generally fought against india, though on behalf of his country. There were so many Indian poets to choose from, if defiance & revolutionary talks were to be espoused. To that extent, you haven’t uncluttered it, but only ended up condoning the users. It’s as unconvincing as the more recent & sillier “Gandhians with guns” line of the over the top Arundhati Roy.

I love the argument.. but few quick points 1. Why Vandematram has become communal or chaterjee is not a poet. 2. Communists using religious expressions in their poems.. is this happens only with communists with muslim origin. 3. There is no single nationalistic indian poet with communist background. So that students can recite them. We have in telugu great modern poet Srisri... But he never wrote anything communal.. 4. So now communists can not survive without Allah.

Amazing Analysis. You need to understand the context of the poem before you can understand the meaning of the poem. Poets use a hundred different words to say 'I Liove You'. Even simple poetry is not easy to understand. Even the religious poems are seldomly about religion, but the attatude of people. Loved your Analysis. Amazing. Thanks.

I am happy IIT Kanpur did something like that Now, after having known the background and the meaning of each para , I will be able to appreciate the poem even more than I did

How does it matter in what context he says idol(s) should be removed? It's still the sentiment of 'idolatry is bad' which is the problem. It's like saying 'eliminate all Hindus' would have been bad but saying 'You are a Hindu, and you should be eliminated' is perfectly ok.. what nonsense! And Mr.Gupta very conveniently forgot to touch upon why the protesters were using this poem. Clearly according to his explanation, the use of this poem would not fit right for this protest. So obviously they also interpreted this poem in their own self interests. But no, it's always only the Hindu nationalists who are bigoted and prejudiced...

Thanks for explaining Faiz and his poetry in a broader and historical context, especially Hum Dekhange, which has nothing to do with Islam. All against dictators and about rule of masses.

Wow Wow! It's Brilliant Sir Thanks for Nice Explanations

Faiz may or may not have meant what people are saying about 'Hum Dekhenge' but people singing it here are definitely meaning it.

We all were waiting for your take on this and i must say that nobody would have explained it better than you.so once again thank you sir for enlighting us with your profound wisdom.

Mr Gupta, Will it not be in order to similarly cut the clutter surrounding ‘Vande Mataram’? I am a fan of Faiz’s poems. I appreciate your efforts in putting in context the present controversy.

Sir very well explained. keep opening eyes

@16:55 "you can call God by any name". I am pretty sure that the people who sang that poem in IIT Kanpur will disagree.

The amount of intellectual gymnastics fone to justify this poem is fascinating. Though I think people should have freedom of expression to recite this poem if they want, just don't pretend it is secular. Not will Hindusim be insulted by the likes of these Islamist, Hinduism is much greater and larger.

Thanks, this was gold. ❤

I think Shekar ji got his mistake and confessed by posting this counter.

This is one of the best cut the clutter ..

Poem is not wrong But the timing and way and the situation in which it is used is definitely wrong. 1. Allah is not an synonymous of God (it is mentioned in azzaan that there is no god except one and that is allah So it can't be replaceable) 2.bhut is also not just any idol( india is hindu majority so most of the idols present are of hindu god and goddess) And this poem is also directed toward a hindu nationalist government so its literal meaning is more contextual than metaphorical meaning.

Thank you for explaining to those who don’t understand Urdu poetry...otherwise Hindi speaking population would keep on thinking the wrong way.

I would like to add something. When iqbal bano sang this song in Lahore, the audience cheered and forced her to sing it again. You could clearly hear the chants of, "inqlab zindabad" which means long live the revolution. Iqbal bano specifically chose to wear a beautiful black sahri, just to defy zia's rule which banned sahri's in public. The current recording we have is the recording recorded by a technician there(who recorded the song the second time she sang it) Its silly that hindus in india think that the song is anti-hindu.