TRIBUTE
Gopal Das Saxena (4 January 1925- 19 July 2018) died at the age of 93 in New Delhi after a meaningful career as a poet and lyricist. His use of the Hindi language in poetic form made him a cherished lyricist and a poet whose contributions will inspire generations to come.
Editorial Staff
Ab to Mazhab koi aisa bhi chalaaya jaaye, jismein insan ko insan banaya jaaye.
(Now, let a religion take form that will allow humans to become truly human).
Gopal Das Saxen’s poetic and deeply insightful lines reflect upon the contemporary times in such a deep manner that it becomes exceedingly impossible to recognize his poetic genius.
He had a brief stint in Bollywood after which he went back to the life of a teacher in Aligarh. His death at the age of 93 from a prolonged illness has led to a huge void in the domain of lyrics and poetry.
Gopal Das Saxena had a very difficult childhood and did all sorts of jobs to help his family including jumping into the Yamuna River to collect coins.
His father died when he was just ten years old, leaving behind on him the responsibility of looking after the family. The author led a legendary life and contributed to the domain of poetry and also worked as a lyricist giving many hit songs to Bollywood.
The Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan Awardee lived and taught Hindi literature at Aligarh. His pen name ‘Neeraj’ won him much love when he worked with SD Burman and gave many well-known Hindi songs like Phulon ke Rang Se (Prem Pujari,1970), Ae Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo(Mera Naam Joker,1970) among many more .The void left behind by Gopal Das’s death can never be filled.
Here is one of Gopal Das Saxena’s most revered poems.
मेरा नाम लिया जाएगा
आँसू जब सम्मानित होंगे, मुझको याद किया जाएगा
जहाँ प्रेम का चर्चा होगा, मेरा नाम लिया जाएगा
मान-पत्र मैं नहीं लिख सका, राजभवन के सम्मानों का
मैं तो आशिक़ रहा जन्म से, सुंदरता के दीवानों का
लेकिन था मालूम नहीं ये, केवल इस ग़लती के कारण
सारी उम्र भटकने वाला, मुझको शाप दिया जाएगा
खिलने को तैयार नहीं थी, तुलसी भी जिनके आँगन में
मैंने भर-भर दिए सितारे, उनके मटमैले दामन में
पीड़ा के संग रास रचाया, आँख भरी तो झूम के गाया
जैसे मैं जी लिया किसी से, क्या इस तरह जिया जाएगा
काजल और कटाक्षों पर तो, रीझ रही थी दुनिया सारी
मैंने किंतु बरसने वाली, आँखों की आरती उतारी
रंग उड़ गए सब सतरंगी, तार-तार हर साँस हो गई
फटा हुआ यह कुर्ता अब तो, ज़्यादा नहीं सिया जाएगा
जब भी कोई सपना टूटा, मेरी आँख वहाँ बरसी है
तड़पा हूँ मैं जब भी कोई, मछली पानी को तरसी है
गीत दर्द का पहला बेटा, दुख है उसका खेल-खिलौना
कविता तब मीरा होगी जब, हँसकर ज़हर पिया जाएगा
– गोपालदास “नीरज“
