I don’t know how I knew him. I don’t even know when I met him but I always believed he was one of the men I knew best and our friendship was mutual. He was not a poet. He was not a poet. He was a man who knew how to express the feelings of another man , woman , child , society , country , armed forces , spy , moon and stars , every flower and blade of grass. It is very difficult for me to write a few words about a man who wrote millions , billions of words , every world a thought and a feeling with which I remember every meeting with him. I remember feeling very happy every time he saw me. I remember at his daughter ‘s wedding reception , the whole industry came and when I went over to wish the couple in my jean and rubber chappal , He made a statement , which I still remember , when he said , ” Ali has come and what do I want ? ” The day before he died I met him how he held my hand and said , ” Ali , I don’t want to die” but no god could save him and he was dead the next morning.

A few days before finally leaving , he wrote this unpublished and unused poem , which he presented to Subhash Ghai , who could not imagine without working. He knew he was dying , but read the poem below and you’ll know that the man and his unwavering spirit were above all else. I present this poem to one and all on his death anniversary.

main koii barph nahiin huun jo pighal jaauungaa
main koii harf nahiin huun jo badal jaauungaa..

main sahaaron pe nahiin khud pe yakiin rakhataa huun
gir paduungaa to huaa kyaa main sambhal jaauungaa..

chaand suuraj kii tarah vakat pe nikalaa huun main
chaand suuraj kii tarah vakat pe ḍhal jaauungaa..

kaaphile vaale mujhe chhod gae hain piichhe
kaaphile vaalon se aage main nikal jaauungaa…

main amdheron ko miṭaa duungaa charaagon kii tarah
aag siine men lagaa luungaa main jal jaauungaa..

husnavaalon se guzaarish hai ke paradaa kar len
main diivaanaa main aashik huun machal jaauungaa

rok sakatii hai mujhe rok le duniyaa ‘bakhshii’
main to jaaduu huun main jaaduu main chalaa jaauungaa..

How should I praise you Mr. Bakshi? You didn’t even understand the meaning of praise. You used to do only that for which God had made you something like himself and like God you are immortal and forever and will remain so.

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