Tributes to Gulshan Madhur by Madhu Maheshwari

Dear Madhu ji,

Thanks very much for sending me the link.

His verses are thought-provoking and reflective of the societal issues he observed. It’s evident that his poetic talent was multifaceted, allowing him to express himself effectively in Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi.

Your anecdotes about his interactions with fans and his linguistic versatility add depth to his persona. It’s an honor for the family that a talented and learned person has paid tribute to such a remarkable individual through her writing.

I am witness to crazy fans both boys and girls from Delhi University who were indeed his ardent fans in early days in Delhi. It also reminds me of stories how kids and young alike will surround him on family weddings and other functions.

He would usually talk to me in typical Peshawri Punjabi. I felt aghast how good he was in Punjabi while his professional  work was in Hindi.

Often he shared his poems with me and I reproduce  ‘Dohe’ below:

कुछ दोहे

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समझो   उसके  ह्रदय  में  अंदर  तक है  खोट

जाति,  धर्म  के  नाम  पर   जो  भी   मांगे वोट

लोकतंत्र   के   नाम  पर   मूरखता   का   राज

अपढ़,  अनाड़ी   बन  गए,   देशों  के  सरताज

उस   नेता   का   दूर  से   ही   करना   सत्कार

जो   कहता  हो   एक   मै   सब  का  तारनहार

लोकतंत्र   को   लगाने    ओछेपन    का    रोग

सत्ता   में    ये   आ    गए    कैसे    कैसे   लोग

नेता  उसको  जानिए,    जिसकी   बेढब   चाल

बातें    जिसकी    बेसुरी   और   सोच    बेताल

देस देस  में  चहकना,   घर  के  दुख  पर   मौन

नेता    यायावर    बने,   घर    की    पूछे    कौन

आंखों का  इक  भरम  था,  वह सपनों का गांव

कड़ी धूप के  सफ़र में   बस  छिन भर  की छांव

लाख   मनाओ    मन्नतें,    रचो   हज़ारों    गीत

तुम  उसके  मन  में  नहीं,   तो  फिर  कैसी प्रीत

हर  रिश्ता  है  अहम,  पर  उनकी अलग  सुगंध

रस्ता   चलते   बन   गए  जो   अनाम   सम्बन्ध

कहने को  था  बहुत कुछ, अकथ रहा पर प्यार

अर्थ    पहुंच   से   दूर  था,  शब्द   बड़े  लाचार

शब्दों    की    ईंटें   रखीं,  और   उठा  दी  भीत

पर जब तक मन अनछुआ, तब तक कैसा गीत

पल   भर   पंछी   पाहुना    आ   बैठा   था  संग

यह  जा   वह  जा   उड़  गया   डाल  हुई   बेरंग

                                         ------------ गुलशन  मधुर

Thanks once again for your valuable time and efforts to write golden words on Gulshanji. Yours efforts will give solace to my cousin Shanna Madhur who gets a chance for a rebreather after such a huge loss by your memorable kind words.

With warm regards

- Preet Kapoor

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Reply from Madhu Maheshwari:

Dear Preet,

I was a literary friend  of Gulshan  Ji and we have co-edited  a First Hindi Anthology in the USA which has been used in many prestigious universities’s courses. When I was a chair person of the International Hindi Association then I have formed a committee to organize Kavi Sammelans and he was in that committee! 

I hope family members will sort out his translated work from English to Hindi and  will publish it! He did not believe in publicity but have  worked  hard to enrich Hindi’s multiple  dimensions! 

Nice knowing you through this email! I have asked Shanna to send this article to his family in India! 

Thanks for sending the Dohas, he used to post it on his Facebook page! 

Thanks!

Madhu