Main akela hi chala tha jaanib-e-manzil magar
log saath aate gaye aur kaarwaan banta gaya
By: Rameez Rasool Mir
Iqbal Hussain, a young man born in Jaipur in 1922, fell in love with a Hindu girl named Radha. He expressed his feelings through poetic love letters, but his pursuit was unsuccessful. Seeking a new path, he moved to Mumbai in search of work. Initially, he found jobs in toy and textile shops, and later secured a position as a bus conductor with BEST. This job brought him joy, and he spent nearly eight years in the role, recalling later how much he enjoyed those years.
Despite his job, Iqbal’s true passion was poetry, and he began participating in Mushairas, or poetry gatherings. At one of these events, the legendary actor and founding figure of Hindi cinema, Prithviraj Kapoor, was a guest. Kapoor was greatly impressed by Iqbal’s poetry and recommended him to Raj Kapoor for the film (Barsaat) as a lyricist. Iqbal Hussain then wrote the famous and beautiful song “Jiya Bekaraar Hai Aaye Bahaar Hai,” marking the beginning of his new identity as Hasrat Jaipuri.
Career As a Poet:
As a poet and lyricist, Hasrat Jaipuri enjoyed equal popularity. He composed a number of poems that were eventually included in his Hindi and Urdu poetry volumes. In his writings, he primarily used these two languages. According to Hasrat Jaipuri, the Hindi and Urdu languages are complementary to one another and cannot exist separately. Hasrat Jaipuri saw himself as a messenger whose primary goal in life was to share love with others via his art. This emotion expressed by Hasrat Jaipuri was reflected in all of his writings. He claimed to be a “shayar,” someone who came into the world to bring love into every void. Knowing full well that he would not be here much longer, he felt it was his responsibility to bring joy and love to everyone he met.
Career as lyricist:
Renowned Hindi film lyricist Hasrat Jaipuri was renowned for penning exquisite and enduring melodies. He collaborated closely with well-known music directors like Shankar-Jaikishan and played a significant role in Raj Kapoor’s productions, including the hits “Awaara” and “Shree 420.” Many people could relate to and admire his songs since they were straightforward but incredibly moving. His compositions, which ranged from ecstatic to romantic, had a long-lasting influence on Bollywood music. His songs continue to be loved today, making him a significant character in the heyday of Hindi film.
Awards and Recognition:
Hasrat Jaipuri was undoubtedly successful in capturing the hearts and minds of Bollywood viewers as a lyricist for Raj Kapoor films. Regarding his contribution to Bollywood film, Hasrat Jaipuri also won a great deal of praise from critics. The amazing lyrics in the song “Phool Barsao” from “Suraj” brought him his first Filmfare award in 1966. With “Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana” from “Andaz” in 1972, the Filmfare victory was repeated. Hasrat Jaipuri also won the Dr. Ambedkar Award for his lyrics in the Brajbhasha song “Jhanak Jhanak Tori Baaje Payalia” and the Josh Malihabadi Award from an Urdu conference.
Personal Life and Death:
Hasrat Jaipuri never lost sight of his origins and continued to be the straightforward man he had been since his first day in Bombay, despite his incredible ascent in the Bollywood industry. Several people attribute his manner of life to his incredibly encouraging wife Radha, who supported him and kept him grounded despite receiving wealth and recognition. Even although Hasrat Jaipuri was unemployed and therefore had no money on him, his wife had given him sufficient property savings to enable him to live a luxurious lifestyle. As to the accounts, Hasrat Jaipuri always took the train instead of flying, even though he could have afforded it because he saw himself as an extremely ordinary man. September 17, 1999 was Hasrat Jaipuri’s death date.
The writer is a professional social worker, poet, and nature enthusiast. He can be contacted via email at rameezmasw@gmail.com.
