One page of My life

One Page Of My Life

         By: Tariq Ahmad Malik

Genre: Autobiography.

Date: 8/8/2018,Wednesday(Afternoon)

 I have strong liking for reading but I can't sit on a book even for 10 minutes.
 In fact ,I am going to tell you how I have been made to waft with the passing winds of time.
 I did my PG in Economics in 1998.I later on did another PG in Urdu ,as a private candidate. Next ,I qualified NET in Urdu in the first attempt..
But this all could not change my fate the way I had wished.
I would work mercilessly hard to excel in Economic studies but I could not qualify NET in Economics.However, at IGNOU study Center, as a counselor I was given good rating.

Poetry writing had been one of my early passions. The poet in me was already in making.I would write symbolic short stories right from my class 10th.I didn't know then that it was an artistic genre.I was a shy student. I would write romantic stories but would try to hide every detail. This made me a boy of metaphors. This  I would do intentionally  lest somebody should discover mine being a boy harboring whimsies.
I was appointed as teacher on 12/5/2003.I was given to teach English in a high school. Being student of Economics, I was expected to be well versed at teaching maths,but I wasn't. The reason being the syllabus at Kashmir University.We were taught every faculty in Classical, and Keynesian formats. Our geometry was made strong, and maths kept weak.
Later on, after we had completed our PG, only neo -classical texts were introduced. Now every problem,and law had to be proven mathematically.
Thus I found myself weak at maths,and hence struggling in Economics.
Teaching English at school helped me get the rhythm of structures involved in the language. I fell in love with English.But I was contended only with teaching. I didn’t think of going for higher studies in it.
It is now 2018 and I have been teaching English at schools. My friends ,in the meanwhile, helped me keep afloat in poetic arena.
I started writing poetry during college days. Up till 1998 I had learnt the basics of poetry.I started with writing in Urdu.I was highly praised for it.
Yes,If you get standard poets around you, you have more chances to grow into  a mature poet.
When I joined first poetic organization in 1997 ,I found
Shahnaz Rashid,Shabir Ahmad Shabir, Dr Rafiq Masoodi,Shabnum Gulzar,Hassan Azhar,Athar Farooq,Mahsoor,and Bashir Chirag like good poets associated with the organization. These poets encouraged me to write in kashmiri as well. I kept composing poetry and earned a good name.In 1998 my gazl was selected for criticism at DD Srinagar during a mushaira.I was thoroughly appreciated. The mushaira was moderated by Shahnaz Rashid.
Prominent poet Hakeem Manzoor ,in his weekly "Khabr v Nazr" dubbed me as a  poet that keeps promise. Seeing my future prospects, he offered me one full page for writing economic columns. But I was unemployed then. I could not concentrate on any of the things.
In December 2004,I felt bored with poetry. I felt that the poets were very crooked people in their actual life. I left the poetry and the company of poets altogether. I did never revisit my decision after that.This situation continued, and the time was enough for the world to forget Tariq as being once a good poet.
Here comes the miracle?

On one February day 2017,Hassan Azher phoned me saying that they had a literary page,"Rafiabad Adbi Markaz".They were nearly 70 poets added to the page. He told me that an English poem had been posted on the page for analysis, but none had written its analysis for past 10 hours. He suggested me to have a look. He posted it on my wall.
I saw the poem, and wrote its summary  in a classroom manner. It was appreciated on the page.Dr Rafiq Masoodi suggested them to add Tariq to the page.
The poem belonged to a poet who was to become one of my  good friends on earth. Only two days later the same  person had the worlds most beautiful tussle with me at "women's day eve”. That tussle gifted me the friend worth cherishing.
What happened after that is an open secret.
Thanks a lot to the person who provided me a reason to keep breathing as a poet. Thanks to the friend for making me understand how some people can change your perception to the dramatic heights.
I pray to Allah to keep my friend always around me. I can't afford to miss his company.

Coursty

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Tariq Ahmad Tariq