VASDEV MOHI Author: Dr

VASDEV MOHI Author: Dr. Jagdish Lachhani Journey Continues … God has made the poet, loved by all Poetry is God’s Gift, only a few get that gift Vasdev Mohi belongs to the group of a selected few who are blessed with Prophetic gift. He has used the gift more relevant ly with deep study and tireless practice. It is said, “Creative writer is always thirsty for study . He remains thirsty till he is alive”. Vasdev Mohi is an artist who can be called multitalented. Vasdev Mohi is a respected name amongst writers of prose and poetry, in India as well as in Sindh. Vasdev Mohi started his writing career with Ghazal. His early Ghazals are included in an anthology of ghazals “Boondoon Thiyoon Malhar” (Drops became Rain). Later he turned his sight toward s Modern Poetry and made his mark. In Ghazal writing he is known as a unique and respected writer. He has experimented with Ghazal many a time , which reveals the modern thinking and unfolding of the art . Vasdev Mohi says, “I respect the traditions. I feel that we cannot discard the traditional literature. But, being a traditionalist will hamper progress of literature. Hence I have used the traditional form but I have not adopted the traditional subject matter. I put flesh over the skeleton, gave it life wit h my blood, and composed it in a different form; I created my own rhymes and provided uniqueness in Ghazal.” 1 Vasdev Vensimal Si dhnani, who is famous person and known as Vasdev Mohi in world of literature, was born on 2 nd March 1944 in Mirpur Khas, Sindh ( Now in Pakistan). He was only three years old when India was partitioned . Sindhis became strangers in their own land, and slowly started migrating from Sindh to India. Because of c arelessness of then leaders, there was no thought out plan to rehabilitate Sindhis in India. They were made to stay in various camps in pathetic conditions. About twelve lakh Sindhis migrated to India. They stayed in barracks which were originally made for army. Many i mmigra nts reached Bombay. S ome of them went to Gujarat and Saurashtra. Those who came by railway mostly stayed in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. For a long time they stayed in pitiable conditions. Sindhis who fought for independence, sacrifi ced all their possessions , gave up their motherland were made to live in deplorable state. Inheritors of five thousand years ancie nt civilization, educated, skil ful people w e re kept in dilapidated military barracks and were made to stay in inhuman conditio ns, where there was no provision for living a decent and civilized life. For daily chores the men folk had to relieve themselves in jungle, and ladies had to go to filthy army latrines and stand in long queues. Vasdev Mohi’s family had to suffer the sim illar situation. After partition, they arrived in Jodhpur. The family consisted of Va s dev’s father Vensimal and his brothers and their la dies and children. They stayed at Sardarpura area. That area was infested with scorpions. Sindhis there had to face the wrath of scorpions and bedbugs. Vasdev also suffered stings of scorpions several times. To get rid of scorpions, they shifted to 3 rd Road of Sardarpura. Father Vensimal, with Vasdev , shifted from Jodhpur to Ahmedabad to earn livelihood. They s tayed in a shop in Revdi Bazaar. Within a year their entire family shifted to Harjivan Chawl in Bu ng alow Area of Kubernagar . After a few years, they constructed their own house in Thak k ar Ba p a Nagar, and settled down comfortably. Vasdev was six or seven years old. He had a sharp mind. He wished to continue studies, but was not able to continue formal studies. He had wasted a few years studying in Hindi and Gujarati schools, as he could not understand both languages . Later he started 1 Vasdev Mohi – “Poetry Breaths” – Published in “SIPOON”, May - June 2014, Mumbai – Page 33 Page 1 of 7 studying Sindhi. After facing several hardships Vasdev cleared Matric examination in the year 1963 . He wanted to be an engineer. With this aim in mind he sought admission in St. Xavier’s College. But, being an engineer was not his destiny. Due to financial hardships he could no t continue further education. While in school, Vasdev fell in love with Janki, niece of Arjan Hasid. During that period of courtship he indulged in poetry writing which was not full - grown. Later Janki became his life partner. His initial poetry is includ ed in his book “Drops became Rain”. Today clouds have gathered Today rain will drip from eyes This is the height of pain, O God! When will you listen? My tears are flowing, as if in race Who knows what will happen May there be one who can stop rain of tears Eyes keep dripping always Is there a cure for my aching heart? Is my heart going to suffer forever? 2 Hence it is said : You call me a poet But I only know this My heart is hurt My tears turned into songs Because of Jan ki, Vasdev frequen tly visited Arjan Hasid 3 , who made him aware of finer aspects of poetry, taught him rhyme and metr e . He started attending literary meetings. Sahit Sangat meetings were held outside Jeevat Tarang on a platform. Hiro Shewkani, Nandl al , Bhagwan Nirdosh , Kishinchand Ranjayal, Ki rat Mahirchandani, Hansraj Punjabi and Prem Parkash used to attend those meetings. Later, Vasdev Mohi and Prem Parkash became well known in world of literature . Today also, this pair of litterateurs happens to be in forefront. F inancial condition of Vasdev remained unchanged. Destiny kept playing truant with him. But he did not give up. He kept fighting back. He grew up as a poor man ; but, he made his name as a thinker and writer. Probably, his circumstances made him an intellect ual. My pain only put me on path to beloved Without pain, it is not proper to be with beloved (Shah Abdul Latif) Vasdev Mohi got married to Janki in the year 1964. His desire to progress in life also continued. Mohi could not continue with formal studies. However, he went to Indore and appeared for Intermediate Examination as external student. In the year 1965 he started his career as a teacher. Soon, he got a job i n LIC. Prem Prakash also joined LIC. Prem and Mohi came closer to each other. 2 Vasdev Mohi – Boondoon Thiyoon Malhar – Editor M Miskeen – Publisher Tekchand Mast (About 1963) 3 Arjan Hasid – Famous Sindhi Poet specializing in writing Ghazals Page 2 of 7 Being in Sahitya Akademi Mohi served Sindhi literature in an exemplary way. When he became Convener of Sindhi Advisory Board of Sahitya Akademi in 2008, there was visible increase in literary activities. When he became part of Sahitya Akademi, he felt that Sindhi language had not received due recognition, as it should have received. This is because Sahitya Akade mi is not an organization which confers awards only. Sahitya Akademi is an institution meant for several other literary activities. Mohi strived a lot for advancement of Sindhi literature . I personally feel that Mohi was successful in achieving his goal. A t this juncture, I recall what Mohan Gehani said in his last send off meeting. “Hereafter, the new Convener is going to face lot many hardships. Mohi has taken large strides which may not be possible for others. It may be difficult for anyone to move so f ast to gather support and cooperation from officials of Sahitya Akademi” Dholan Rahi 4 , a noted poet and member Sindhi Advisory Board of Sahitya Akademi has written following words for Vasdev Mohi. “Looking at the report card of last five years of the achievements of Vasdev Mohi; one feels astonished and also feels happy and proud. His innovative and modern approach and administrative abilities not only impressed members of Sindhi Adviso ry Board but the members of boards of other languages were also overwhelmed. Members of Western Region listened with rapt attention to Vasdev Mohi and gave lot of importance to suggestions given by him.” Vasdev Mohi was also also appointed as convener of j oint board of western region comprising of Sindhi, Gujarati, Marathi and Konkani languages. He put in lot of efforts for development of all four languages. Looking at the work of earlier people, one feels envy at the speed with which he worked. One feels h appy and astonished. One more point which needs to be noted he made people of every age to take part in activities of Sahitya Akademi. He brought writers who were forgotten for a long time into prominence and brought them to the main stream of literature. A fter expiry of his term as convener, Vasdev Mohi handed over the baton to his old friend Prem Prakash; and he himself went behind wings . In life of Vadev Mohi, struggle continued. Literary activities also continued, and his job with LIC also continued. He never gave up his studies. In the year 1973 Vasdev Mohi obtained M.A degree in English Literature from Gujarat University, Ahmedabad. His circumstances changed. Bhagwan , Mohi’s younger brother, started a poultry farm in Nak o l Village. Bhagwan was connec ted to Mohi and his entire family in one or the other form. Bhagwan fell in love and gave up work of poultry farm. The responsibility fell upon Mohi. Pou l try farm and poetry were poles apart. But, there was no way out.

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