“From The Haves to Have Nots”: A Marxist Analysis of Habib Jalib’s Poem Ay Chand Yahan Na Nikla Ker (O Moon, Do Not Rise Here)

Abstract

The present study has been designed around the application of Marxist theory on Habib Jalib‟s poem “Ay ChandYahan Na Nikla Ker” (O Moon, Do not Rise Here). The study justifies Marx‟s views that behind every human activity be it social or political the deriving force is Economics. The study brings forth Jalib‟s poetry as resonating with the themes of classicism, capitalism and exploitation of proletariat at the hands of bourgeoisie. Textual analysis of the poem unsnarls that the poet has employed the image of moon as a universal provider but Jalib forbids and restrains the moon to get arisen in his world because his world is all divided in to class system where the capitalists and bourgeoisie are looting and plundering the working class. The lower class has fallen in to under class now to whom survival has become in endurable. Being persistently exploited at their hands, Jalib highlights that owing to the ever growing financial needs, the proletariat are compelled to sell their vital organs like kidneys. The study reveals that Jalib depicts that the rulers and politicians as money mongers, they are so engrossed in their money making that they have forgotten that they are public servants. Hence the study displays Jalib‟s poem as the true embodiment of Marx‟s ideas.