Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna: whose line was it anyway?

Lucknow: “The past is really almost as much a work of the imagination as the future,” these words of Jessamyn West gel well with the fact that for once our Google Guru got lost in the labyrinth of history.

'Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai,’ this timeless expression attributed to immortal hero of freedom struggle Ram Prasad Bismil has been embedded in our hearts as deeply as the physicality of the blood. It is a historical irony that this couplet of the famous Ghazal was written by one unknown poet Bismil Azeemabad. So vividly, it was sung by Ram Prasad Bismil that it became almost synonym with his name. So much so that he crooned it when he was hanged on December 19,1927 by the Britishers on the charge of looting a train near Kakori in Lucknow district on August 9, 1925.

It is pertinent to remember our freedom struggle martyr Ram Prasad Bismil on his 119th birthday on Saturday. He was born on June 11, 1897 in Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. As was he, the passion for the freedom of his country made him humming ‘Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai’ quite often.

The native of Bihar, Bismil Azeemabadi, though a relatively unknown name in the annals of history, was not only a poet but a writer and his one article-- 'Parindo Ke Shaukeen' had become very popular. His collection of urdu poetry 'Hikait-e-Hasti' was, in fact, published by Bihar Urdu Academy.

In 1997, on 50th anniversary of our freedom, the television and radio had publicised this Sarfaroshi couplet as of Ram Prasad Bismil. At that time also, Zaabir hussain, the former speaker of Bihar assembly had expressed his reservation in a magazine 'Tarzumaan'. He had asserted that it was penned by Bismil Azeemabadi and similarity of names confused it. Not only this, the Urdu edition of 'Aaajkal' magazine also produced an article quoting noted poet Ali Sardar Jafri on the same count.

It is surprising that Google search also give results of attributing this to Ram Prasad Bismil and Wikipedia followed the suit.

How the history or misrepresented facts play on the minds of people, it has been the glaring example. We love Ram Prasad Bismil and Bismil Azeemabadi and continue to hum 'Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai' which will always remain engraved in our hearts for the generations to come.

Newztrack salutes Ram Prasad Bismil, our hero on his 119th birth anniversary.