Nineteenth century Ustad Daman lived in an area of Lahore which was frequented by 16th century Shah Husain aka Madho Lal Husain. Both were poets. Both appeared larger than life while they were alive. Both became legends after their death. What was common between the two? Poetry? Yes. But more than that it was the freedom from fear cherished and shared by both that made them absolutely formidable.

Shah Husain could confront the greatly feared clerics and cut to size the mighty ‘Shaikhul Islam’ Abdullah Sultanpuri in a public place. Daman could expose the power wielders at political rallies and embarrass the most dreaded dictator in Pakistan’s history by talking back to him in a social gathering.

Shah Husain’s father was the manager at a royal textile manufactory. Daman’s father was a tailor by profession. Someday, one hopes, someone will enlighten us on the common thread that runs through their lives far apart in time.

Daman [1911-1984] in an interview done by Pakistan Television says: “I did my matriculation from Dev Samaj School, Lahore. Got admission in Dayal Singh College but left the college after six months as my father fell sick and was no longer able to run his tailoring shop. I got a diploma in tailoring. I learnt the holy Quran by rote.”

Ustad [maestro] used to say: “I am a born poet. I started composing verses when I was barely 10. I made my debut at a poetry recital held at Baghbanpura [Lahore] with Mian Iftekharud Din in the chair. Sardar Gayani Gurmukh Singh Musafir sat next to him. Musafir asked Mian Iftekhar to give me Rs100 as a token of appreciation of my verses. My very first recitation fetched my Rs100, a hefty some in those days. I remember when I was a kid one of my feet would be without shoe. I was once sent to bazaar to buy naan bread... Carrying bread I was on the way back home when from nowhere a kite swooped down and tore the bread from my hand. Up in the air the kite was savouring the bread and down in the street I was crying. When I got back home I was given a beating”. In the run-up to Independence the Congress Party was at the forefront. Daman actively resisting colonial oppression would rouse the public with his fiery verses at political gatherings organised by the Congress. Communal riots erupted at the time of the Partition. Rioting Muslims set Daman’s shop on fire in Baghbanpura for reciting poetry at the Congress rallies. Independence made him indigent. After the emergence of Pakistan he defied all the dictators as a politically conscious popular poet who steadfastly stood for people’s economic, political and cultural rights usurped by non-democratic forces.

Sadly Ustad Daman was persecuted even by regimes which were apparently democratic. During Z.A. Bhutto’s rule, he was falsely implicated in what came to be known as ‘Ustad Daman Bomb Case’. The totally fabricated case greatly damaged Bhutto’s democratic credentials. He was arrested and locked up for allegedly possessing explosive and arms. Next day when the police presented him before a magistrate, the democratic-minded lawyers thronged the court and vociferously pleaded for his immediate release on bail. The magistrate was forced willy-nilly to accept the plea. Ustad was jubilantly brought to the bar room and asked to pay lawyers’ fee. “What is it?”, he inquired. “Verses”, shouted the lawyers.

Ustad with teary eyes recited two verses to the shame of the regime: ‘Koi dabaa nachahwey saanu nahi dabaa sakda / koi kinna e laeke dum khum nikley / Daman shair di kothri vich sunya a/ do revolver te dasti bomn ikley [no one can bring me to my knees however puffed up they may be with power / from the poet Daman’s hut two revolvers and hand grenades have been recovered, they say’].

Bhutto’s political opponents approached him but he refused to be a part of any political party to maintain his intellectual freedom which he defended at all cost throughout his life.

During the oppressive days of Zia ul Haq’s dictatorship, Daman wrote his poem against martial law which went viral. ‘merey mulk de do khuda / la elaa hte martial law / ikk rehnda arshan uttey / duja rehnda farshan uttey / ohda naa Allah mian / ehda naa general Zia / wah bhai wah, general Zia /kaun kehnda tainu ehtunja …[My country has two gods; Allah and martial law / The former is up in the sky and the latter here on the ground / That one is called Allah and this one is general Zia / Bravo! general Zia, who can dare tell you to step aside!]’.

Chaudhry Zahur Elahi was a friend and admirer of Daman. He invited him to his son’s wedding in Gujrat. He accompanied by his friends went there. General Zia was also there as a high profile guest. He got the wind of Daman being among the guests. He expressed his desire to see him. Chaudhry Zahur Elahi somehow persuaded him to meet the general Zia, a master in the art of subterfuge, warmly received him showing feigned humility typical of him. After the exchange of pleasantries, Zia requested Ustad to recite some poems, including the one he had written about him. He politely replied that “we are here to celebrate the wedding. It’s not the occasion for poetry recitation. I will recite my poems at some public meeting when an opportunity comes. And by the way sir, I am not a radio which one can tune to Lahore station or Jalandhar station at will”. Remember Zia’s ancestral city was Jalandhar.

Ustad Daman fell sick and was admitted to the Services Hospital. His bed was in the general ward. One day administration wanted to shift him to a private room. He refused. So the ward was made spic and span. All the beds except four were removed. General Jilani, Punjab’s governor, escorted by Dr. Iftekhar, entered the ward and presented Ustad a bouquet. He inquired about the health and the medical attention he was getting. He said that Ustad could be sent abroad for treatment if he agreed. He also conveyed him the good wishes of his boss Ziaul Haq. Ustad with one of his hands on his chest didn’t utter a word. The governor started chatting with the doctors about his health issues. While leaving he handed Ustad’s attendant Raja Muhammad Riaz an envelope. According to Raja, Ustad asked as to who he was and what was in the envelope. When told the visitor was the governor and the envelope had a cheque of Rs10,000 in it, Ustad said that a man needed three things; food, shelter and clothes. And he already had these things.

Referring to the governor and his ilk he said: “They are beggars. What can they offer me”! He ordered his attendant to immediately go to General Post Office and send the cheque to the governor through registered post. Otherwise he wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. He had a sigh of relief when he was shown the receipt of the cheque mailed in the evening. Such a man was Ustad Daman! He left our planet on Dec 3, 1984. He was among the bravest because he lived a life free of fear.

Note: The write-up is based on the narrative found in Tanveer Zahoor’s book ‘Ustad Daman: Hayati, Shairi te Vichaar’ published by Sachal Studios, Lahore.