The Difference Between Possession and Love: Imroz’s poem, Aurat
This week in Daak:
1. The Difference Between Possession and Love: Imroz’s poem, Aurat
2. A Little Reminder
3. Daak Recommends
1. The Difference Between Possession and Love: Imroz’s poem, Aurat
When Amrita Pritam died, her faithful companion and lover, Imroz, famously said “usne jism chhoda hai saath nahi” (she has left her body, not my side). Imroz’s wholly unselfish and unconditional love for Pritam is the stuff of legends; despite their ten-year age difference, Pritam’s broken marriage and her abiding love for another man, Imroz remained steadfast in his love for her for 45 years. During Pritam’s illness and even after her death, Imroz (a painter by profession) began writing poetry, perhaps inspired by Pritam’s craft.
In his poem “Aurat” (Woman), he contrasts the possession of a woman’s body (by sleeping with her) with a real belonging resulting from a wholesome, nurturing love that is a function of time and attention.
Aurat France ke ek mashoor novel me ek paatr apne aap se kehta hai mera ji chahta hai ki main duniya ki sab auraton ke saath so sakoon… par kisi ke kisi novel ki kahani me kisi paatr ka kabhi ji nahi chaha ki main uss ek aurat ke saath jaag sakoon… sone walon ko sirf jism hi milta hai aurat toh milegi ...kisi jaagne walo ko hi Woman In a famous French novel, A character says to himself My heart desires To sleep with every woman in this world... But in no author’s novel or its story Does a character desire To wake up next to that one special woman... The ones who desire to sleep only possess the body The woman belongs …Only to the one who is awake.
2. A Little Reminder
A little Daak stamp for those of you who love writing and receiving letters!
3. Daak Recommends
Read another Daak on Amrita Pritam’s last poem dedicated to Imroz
Get this book of love letters between Amrita and Imroz.
And in case you’ve missed it, head over to Daak’s instagram to see a compilation of unique South Asian words and phrases denoting love in its myriad forms.