Shehryar: The Poet of Dreams and Dusk

Shehryar, a name that glimmers like a lone star in the vast sky of Urdu poetry, is not just a poet but a storyteller of the soul. His poems are calm streams that run through rivers and valleys of our souls, spreading the aroma of love, loss, and yearning. Born as Akhlaq Mohammad Khan in 1936 in Aonla, Uttar Pradesh, Shehryar’s journey from a small town to the grand stages of literature is nothing short of a poetic saga.

His pen name, ‘Shehryar’, means ‘friend of the city’, but he became a friend to every heart that yearned for love or battled with pain. His poetry is not a mere collection of words, but a living, breathing being that speaks to the soul in the stillness of the night.

When Poetry Changed Its Direction

Shehryar’s childhood was woven with the threads of simplicity and struggle. His father was a police officer, and the family moved often, painting Shehryar’s childhood with many colours and shades. But even as a young boy, Shehryar was drawn to the world of words. His courtyard was under a neem tree, and he would be sitting there with his scribbling lines on pieces of paper, and in the realms of fantasy. The family was not affluent, but there was much, not money, but culture and values in this family.

Shehryar’s mother often sings him lullabies in Urdu, and his father recites Ghalib and Mir couplets. These childhood inspirations formed the poet in him and cultivated his passion towards words and rhythm. The flight, however, did not take place without difficulties. There were days when the family struggled to make ends meet, and Shehryar often went to bed hungry. However, in those bad nights, he sought consolation in poetry and dreamt of a world where words could heal and connect.

The Unheard Tale: Shehryar and the Lost Manuscript

One of the most fascinating and untold stories of Shehryar’s life is about his lost manuscript. In his college days at Aligarh Muslim University, Shehryar wrote a collection of poems he considered his finest work. He would put the manuscript in a wooden box under his bed. Fate, however, decreed otherwise. One night, a robber broke into his hostel. The thief, looking around for valuables, took the box, which might contain money or jewellery.

However, in place of that, he only got pages of poetry. The next morning, Shehryar was heartbroken. Instead of despair, he was inspired. He composed a poem concerning the thief, assuming that the thief might be reading the poems under a street lamp, even getting relief in the verses. This incident became a turning point in Shehryar’s life, teaching him that poetry, like love, cannot be locked away—it must be shared, even with strangers.

Love, Loss, and Longing: The Heartbeat of Shehryar’s Poetry

Shehryar’s poetry is a mirror to his soul—tender, vulnerable, and deeply emotional. His most popular ghazal, which was forever immortalised by his film, Gaman, is not a song but a heartfelt cry. It is Seene Mein Jalan, Aankhon Mein Toofan Sa Kyun Hai. It sings of the hurt of loss, the twinge of dreamless dreams, and the continuity of the quest for identity. Shehryar’s words can make the reader pause, reflect, and sometimes, weep. 

He wrote about not only love but also the loneliness that follows and the silence that remains when the loved one is away. But in his poems, he always finds some hope. There is always a promise that no matter how bad the night, a dawn is going to come. His poetry is equivalent to a lamp in the window, leading lost persons home.

Untold Anecdotes: The poem and the Pigeon

There is a delightful story from Shehryar’s later years that few people know. Shehryar often sat by his window in his Aligarh home, watching pigeons flutter about. One day, one injured pigeon perched upon his sill. Shehryar, with his gentle heart, nursed the bird back to health. And he would speak to the pigeon, saying his new verses to it, as though he expected it to praise them. In its turn, the pigeon would coo very softly, as though it were acknowledging the poet’s words.

This innocent friendship became one of his lesser-known poems in which he penned down his girlfriend, seeking companionship in unusual quarters. As a motive in his poems, Pigeon acted as a symbol of hope and healing and reminded him that it is possible to go between worlds and close the gap between a man and a bird, or perhaps even a poet and a reader.

The Legacy of Shehryar: Living Through Poetry

Shehryar’s life was a tapestry of stories—some heard, some unheard, some whispered in the quiet corners of his poetry. Instead of fame or fortune, he only wanted to affect the hearts and heal the wounds with his words. Even after winning the Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour in India, Shehryar remained humble, always attributing his success to the love of his readers.

He thought poetry was an art and a duty- to make the unhearing listen, heal those in pain, and guide those at this crossroad. His memory breathes in all the lines, all the stanzas, and all the hearts, which are made stronger by his words. Shehryar may have left this world in 2012, but his poetry continues to sing—an eternal song of love, hope, and humanity.

Also Read: Sword, Soul, and Shayari: The Immortal Flame of Khwaja Haider Ali Atish

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