Melancholy Singer Silent Music (Poetry Book اداس راڳي، خاموش ساز)) by Shakeel Ahmed

Book Review 5:

Melancholy Singer Silent Music (Poetry Book اداس راڳي، خاموش ساز)) by

Shakeel Ahmed

Reviewed by: Ali Raza 

Introduction

This beautiful piece of writing is penned by the well-known Sindhi poet artist, Shakeel Ahmed, who with his remarkable artistic approach amalgamated the two plausible genres of literature, poetry and prose. This Literary piece of work can be named as prosaic poetry or prosaic poem. Shakeel Ahmed, being expert of genres, poetry and prose witnesses the outstanding techniques of using them together in this singular work. This work is an example of hybrid genre of writing.

Prose Poem Defined

Prose poem is one the most rarely used form of literature mostly occurs when writer writes prose while using poetry techniques. This is noteworthy in this wonderful book of Shakeel Ahmed.

About the Book

Shakeel Ahmed mixes the roles of poetry with prose to form little novel in the shape of this amazing book that speaks of  the altruist love for the lost lover , beauty of lover, freedom of artist, Misperception about religion, Scientific inventions, such as mobile internet and computer as a foe to literary books, rights of woman or issues related to feminism, Patriotism and banishment as bitter poison, Harmony and unity among the people, how the world will look like without artist, persecutions of tyrant states, Mischievous attitude of individual for others and last but not least , shakeel Ahmed defines true love; by utilizing the figures of speech such as metaphor, simile, hyperbole, allusions and personification in order to make this prosaic poetry page-turner and more interesting.

1.  Extreme love for lost lover

While going through this book, I realized that book is totally about the love. Shakeel Ahmed talks about the separation of the woman from his lover and after his isolation how lover feels, that feeling is depicted in his book:

Oh my dear love!

Isolation from you is like banishment from homeland,

You know, slavery and disjunction are not acceptable for me,

Truly asking, reunion with you will be like revolution.  

                                                                          (Page-84, line- 2)

2. Freedom of Artist

We live in the state where apparently, there is freedom of expression for everyone, hiddenly, no one is supposed to raise the slogan against the state, and even the journalists, anchors, and artists are also used as tool for ulterior motives. They are not free to write anything they desire for as if they dwell in era of slavery, one cannot blink the fact that world without artists will look like dull, this is explicated by Shakeel Ahmed in his following words:

Artists are hanged and books are burnt in days of slavery,

And literary artists are prisoned in cage like beautiful birds,

Brought up like a pat animals.

                                                                           (Page-42)

3. Misperception of Religion

This seems to be the prime point of discussion for Shakeel Ahmed as he condemns the misconception and division of sects in the name of religion, and consider the Molvis and Moulanas as the bone of contention for all chaotic situation of division among Muslims. Being the Muslim, he calls Islam as the religion of love, equality and peace.

4. Science as murderer of literary books

It is no doubt true that scientific inventions have made our lives soothing and easy, on the other hand, these technologies such as mobiles, computer and internet have created the space and gap between literary books and human being. Hence, Shakeel Ahmed considers technologies as foe to literary books.

5. Feminism

Shakeel Ahmed, being the man of feministic approach, talks about the vulnerable situation of woman and rights of woman in our Society as they are deprived of their basic rights. Shakeel Ahmed says:

While sent off from parents’ home to husband,

Women fall in the graves,

Husband shows more interest in dowry than to woman,

Woman burry all her desires for husband,

And make her desire only their children.

                                                                          (Page-83-line-01 to 10)

6. Importance of Artist and Art

One cannot deny from the significant importance of artist, because artist vanishes all miseries of life and make our life colorful with his malicious art. World without artist will look like dull, As Shakeel Ahmed shows importance by following lines:

Entire world can never be free from art,

Nothing exist without art neither in nor out,

Even this book is also creation of artist With God gifted art.

Conclusion

Conclusively, Shakeel Ahmed with his captivating art of creating this book proved himself one of the greatest novelist and poet of Sindh because he has exhibited main issues of our society with the combo creation i.e. prosaic poetry. Linguistically, language used by shakeel Ahmed was charming and attractive moreover, technically he has used figures of speech in a way that a book looks pleasing and appealing to the senses. I, being the student of literature, really enjoyed this piece of work.

Book Name: Melancholy Singer Silent Tune اداس راڳي خاموش ساز

Genre: Prose-poems

Author: Shakeel Ahmed

Publisher: Karoonjhar Academy Sindh University/Mehrabpur

Pages: 160

Price: Rs 280