KARACHI: Revolutionary leftist poet Habib Jalib (celebrated as the Poet of the Masses) died this day 24 years ago. 

Jalib, who migrated to Pakistan in 1947, commenced his career with Urdu daily Imroz published from this Metropolis.

During his fiery career he wrote against all the dictators.  

But one fails to understand – unlike the impact made by the poets and writers in educated and enlightened Europe – what revolution could possibly sheer poetry bring in an illiterate country of quasi-immaterial entities.

As a student of Russian language, this scribe had listened to Habib Jalib at Friendship House (Russian Cultural Center), at an event held to commemorate Geneva Convention signing.

On the occasion, obliging the ladies and gentlemen in the audience, he recited poems they requested.

But he neglected the one that was written to ridicule the politicians who were sitting on the stage at that moment. 

Ludicrously today the usurpers, who have built empires all over the world looting the people of Pakistan, unabashedly recite Jalib’s ‘revolutionary’ poem.

And the same public who have been pillaged, foolishly praise them.

Jalib’s son slaughters chicken at a shop, while those who used to hang his clothes (after washing) on his roof,  are cozily sitting in the parliament.  

Newspakistan.tv