By Shafique Ahmed Shafique
Name of book:Chaukhumbian
Author:Yusuf Rahi Chattgami
Publisher:Rang-e-Adab Publications, Office No 5,Ketab Market, Bazar, Karachi.
Pages:192
Price:Rs 400/-
The pages of history of literature are witness that novelists, poets, dramatists remain eager to create anything new for this purposes they use their ability for experiment. That is the reason we see some inventive efforts in the field of prose and poetry. Prose writers have shown their efforts to create and invent literary genres. As for example Mini-short story from Short story, Novelette from Novel have been created by them.
In the poetic field Azaad Ghazal from Ghazal, Mahiya, Salasi and Tervini have been created from poetry. We can see a lot of experiments in the field of prosody too. Likewise Yusuf Rahi has shown his inventive effort by creating a new poetic genre ”CHAUKHAMBIAN”, it means a poetic genre which has four pillars i.e. four lines or verses.
Though Robayee and qata have also four lines or pillars so it may be questioned that what is new in Yusuf Rahi’s ”CHAUKHAMBIAN” as well as what is difference between ”CHAUKHAMBIAN” and Robayee or Qata? ”CHAUKHAMBIAN” has not only four lines but must be in the same miter with four “Ham-Radeef” and “Ham-Qafia” verses. These are the identifications of ”CHAUKHAMBIAN.” The ”CHAUKHAMBIAN” has a particular meter and prosody that is:
فعولن فعولن فعولن فعولن
The name of meter is Bahr-e-Mutaqarib (بحر متقارب). But there is no limitation of subject matters in writing Chaukhumbian. Yousuf Rahi has not only introduced a new poetic genre but an anthology of ”CHAUKHAMBI” has also published which has more than three hundred ”CHAUKHAMBIS” in its skirt. There are varieties of subject matters. That is the reason there are chaukhumbi on his notable friends, writers, poets, scholars,researchers, editors and important political personalities and educationists long with Hamds and Na’ats
Yousuf Raahi Chaatgami is a seasoned journalist and celebrated literary personality having years of experience in journalism as well as in the field of printing and publishing. He migrated from former East Pakistan after its fall in 1971. He had to leave Bangladesh like other Pakistanis and Urdu speaking population.
He reached in Lahore in 1983 and then came to Karachi and settled down in this city permanently. Yousuf Raahi worked in Chittagong for several daily newspapers, weeklies as well as monthlies. He was also the editor of an Urdu monthly magazine “Maahol.” At present he is connected with the monthly “Zaviah-e-Nigah” as its Editor. It is an Urdu journal. He is also the managing editor of an English magazine ”Interaction.” He is also a good poet writes several kinds of poetic genres such as Ghazal, poems and qata’at.
He also tried his hand to write Hamd and Na’at. He has a book of poetic anthology to his credit. The book under discussion is his third publication. He has also co-operated in publishing of 12 books of Nusrat Mirza a veteran leader, political analyst, publisher and owner of the monthly “Interaction” and “Zaviah-e-Nigah.”
Yousuh Raahi also took active part to publish two more books “Bahr-e-Khoon” and “Sang-o-Saman” of prominent poet Kawish Umar and a collection of dramas “Shishoon Ka Masiha”of famous dramatist and actor Kamal Ahmed Rizvi. He has also published the econd edition of “Kalid-e-Sukhan” of senior and expert of prosody Rashid-uz-Zaman Khalish recently.
There are also three write-ups in the anthology, the first one is written by the author himself second one is written by Mohsin Azam Mohsin Malihabadi and the third one one is written by this reviewer. The author’s every Na’at is depicting his strong desire and love, he has in his inner world for Hazarat Muhammed (PBUH).
In view of literary aspects, these are marvelous as it is created spontaneously and artistically. I am sure that this book of Chaukhambis will be heralded and highly appreciated by the critics, litterateurs and readers.