The poet who wore self-respect on his sleeves! 

My love for the poetry of Gopaldas Saxena “Neeraj” is as old as my love for Hindi language itself.

In the year 1964, I was a student of class eight at Allahabad, the home to many stalwarts of Hindi and Urdu literature and also known as the literary capital of the country. Those were the days when love for Hindi language was considered love for the country itself. As students, we were enthused with nationalism. At school, as well in the playgrounds, we would converse with each other in chaste Hindi alone. So much was my love for Hindi that I, along with a classmate, Nand Kishore Singh, planned to publish a monthly Hindi magazine titled Jyoti. We wrote postcards to a number of literary giants seeking their blessings and contributions. The first response we received was from none other than our favourite poet Neeraj! Not only he penned words of good wishes and blessings, he even gifted us a poem for publishing in the magazine.

Neeraj was born into poverty, in Puravali village of Etawah district, on 4 January 1925 and struggled hard through his early years. Life taught Neeraj many important lessons early in life, which he never forgot. First lesson was about the dignity of labour. Having lost his father at six, he had to toil hard as a child to sustain himself and the family. He sold paan and beedi and drove even a tonga and walked about six kilometre to the school.

He failed in his eighth class by one mark, which meant payment of fees for another academic year that he could not afford. He approached his teacher who was fond of his poetry and thought he sang like the legendary KL Saigal ! He requested him for award of one grace mark so that he could pass the examination. Neeraj never forgot what the teacher told him: “You are from a poor family and nobody will help you in life. So, whatever you do, do it ‘first class’. Whether you become a thief, or a pick-pocket; a robber or a poet or may be a singer, always be first class ! There is no second class for you.” The teacher did not give him the coveted grace mark, but paid the fees for an entire academic year.

That was lesson number two and a game-changer in his life. Neeraj passed his High School examination in first division at 17, and became a typist in a government department at Delhi for a princely monthly salary of 67 rupees. After remitting 40 rupees to his mother, he had to go without food many a time. Renowned film lyricist Shakeel Badayuni was a fellow typist with him.

Poverty, hardships and deprivations bred a deep sense of social awareness and sensitivity in the personality of young Neeraj that easily translated into poetic expressions, which he would sing out in the melodious voice he was blessed with.

Neeraj started participating in kavi sammelans, the poetic soirees, at the tender age of 16, in the year 1941, earning enormous love from the listeners and great appreciation from renowned poets like Sohanlal Dwivedi, Jigar Moradabadi and Hafeez Jalandhari.

In 1953, legendary Prithviraj Kapoor came to perform at Kanpur with his theatre troupe. He was aware of the great fame Neeraj had earned by that time and listened to his poetry for three hours! He invited Neeraj to Bombay to write for the films, but Neeraj simply laughed it off ! He was happy and satisfied with his fame and popularity as a singing poet of the masses.

From Delhi he travelled to Kanpur and finally settled as a teacher of Hindi literature at Dharm Samaj College at Aligarh, in 1956. His appointment at Aligarh College was a result of his magnum opus poem Karwaan Guzar Gaya… that he wrote whilst still a student of MA in Kanpur. This poem, written and set to music by Neeraj, sometime in 1954, was a rage with the masses and earned Neeraj immense popularity at national level.

Actor Chandrashekhar was so enamoured with the poem that he weaved an entire film around the poem ! He produced Hindi film titled Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal, which was released on First January 1966. Chandrashekhar requested Neeraj to pen more songs for the film, which Neeraj refused. So, Chandrashekhar selected some of the published poems of Neeraj that were composed by Roshan, grandfather of film actor Hrithik Roshan, for the film. Each song was a rage with the film-goers. Songs of Neeraj contributed hugely to whatever success the film achieved at the box office.

Poetry of Neeraj is the most simple presentation of Hindi and Urdu words, which is easily understood by the masses since it also echoes their innermost concerns. Simplicity of expressions laced with romanticism is the hallmark of his poems. Incidentally, this quality is required by Hindi film songs too.

Credit for bringing Neeraj to the world of films goes to actor-producer-director-writer Dev Anand whom Neeraj found irresistible to refuse. Neeraj penned songs for Dev’s film Prem Pujari that was released in 1970. Each song written by Neeraj was a suprhit. Neeraj wrote songs for films like Tere Mere Sapne, Sharmeelee, and Kanyadaan, amongst a few others.

The film world could not hold Neeraj, the self-made poet who wore his self respect on his sleeves. After writing suprhit song Ae Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo for Mera Naam Joker, he told Raj Kapoor that Bombay can hold only those who can’t earn their name, fame and bread elsewhere ! Film world had no fascination for Neeraj despite all the money and popularity it provides to a successful lyricist like him. But, he had great love and respect for Dev Anand who, according to him knew how to spot talent and promote and support it too with dignity.

(Squadron Leader Anil Sehgal is a Mumbai based cultural activist and author of Ali Sardar Jafri : The Youthful Boatman of Joy)