Hassan Dars

Hassan Dars (حسن درس) was a poet of the Sindhi language’s modern generation. He was born on 5 September 1966^[1] in Village Hoothee Mashaekh (هوٿي مشائخ), Tando Allahyar District, Sindh. He died in road accident on 16 June 2011.^[2]

Background

His birth name was Mohammad Hassan. His father’s name was Meenhoon Ghullam Rasool Dars (ميون غلام رسول درس), who had given him complete freedom of life and responsibilities in his life.^[3]

Education

Hassan got his primary education in his native village Hoothee Mashaekh, and for higher education he moved to Hyderabad where he got admission in Muslim College Hyderabad and after intermediate course he obtained master degree from University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh.^[4]

Professional career

Hassan had versatile talents, he was one of the founder team member of Sindh TV, where he produced, directed and written various programs. He worked in different jobs and lastly he was associated with United Nations Development Programme - GEF Small Grants Project on old local thoroughbred of Sindhi-Lukhi horse. Under this project he produced a documentary and a book about this thoroughbred of horse. He also made regular appearances on Sindhi television channels and did radio programmes also. In 1985, he joined as an editor of the Sindhi daily newspaper, ‘Sawal’, for five years.^[5]

Literary career

Hassan Dars was used to write blank verses and Ghazals in the Sindhi language for years, but his peak of creativity turned him as modern Sindh’s famous poet in late 90. As Shaikh Ayaz, a great poet of Sindh had once expressed about Hassan that: “Hassan is a leading poet of future generations of Sindh.” ^[6][7] Hassan composed thousands of poems but they were never published in book form. His poems appeared, however, in newspapers and magazines or were heard by fans over the television and radio. He was an expert with metaphors and his genre was mostly romantic poetry, so much so that he was regarded as ‘the poet of young hearts’ by the late Shaikh Ayaz, a 20th-century Sindhi poet. His fans called him “the best poet after Shaikh Ayaz”.^[8] In short time Hassan made his own space in Sindhi people with his poetry on nature, romance and revolutionary human behaviors. Most of the readers were calling him as 'Poet of Nature'.^[9][10]

Publications

Hassan wrote several articles, poetry in local Sindhi newspapers, [magazines and tabloid, but his first book named: "Hassan Dars jo Risalo" ( حسن درس جو رسالو) a collection of his poetry was launched, more than a year after his death. It is the first publication of his works in the fourth Karachi Literature Festival.

Hassan Dars corner

Paying rich tribute to the Hassan Dars, Institute of Sindhology at its museum had launched “The Hassan Dars Corner” setup in the prominent personalities’ gallery. His wife Irum Hassan inaugurated the Hassan Dars Corner.^[11][12]

Famous lines

Everybody Has A Bit Of The Sea.

A poet's homeland Is in his eyes.

On that narrow bank where the fishermen are busy repairing their nets Walks a fisher-woman, gently but happily.
Yesterday she gave birth to a son.
But she has not given birth to a son,
She has given birth to a net.

Life is but one of the small pieces of Rilli
If you won’t sit on it,
I better fold it.

In the heart of every man, there is a horse leaping
In the heart of every man, there is a piece of sea
And every sea has a shore On every shore is the eternal wait.
Rest in peace, Hasan. Horses and humans, we all will miss you.

Death

Hassan Dars died on 11 June 2011, after suffering serious wounds in a road accident in the wee hours. He was later on buried in his native village Hoothee Mashaekh.^[13][14]

References