IN MEMORY OF
A.A. RAVOOF SAHIB
By Mr. S. Abdul Ghaffar sahib in Crescent dated 26th October 1975
"To meet, to know,
to love and then to part
is the sad tale of many
a human heart."
On the night of the 22nd of Augusr 1975, a scintillating star slipped of the journalistic horizon, Janab A.A. Ravoof saheb, who strode the world of Muslim journalism like colosses for nearly four decades, left this world after performing his prayers which were to be his last prayers of his life on "Shabe Qadar". It seems as though God needed him more in the Celestial abode than we in the terrestrial region.
To meet Ravoof saheb was simply to love him. Any stranger who met him got the impression that he was treated like a life-long friend. Amiable by disposition and genial by temperament Ravoof saheb endeared himself to one and all.
LOVERS OF IQBAL AND GHALIB
My association with him lasted half a decade. But I cherish with love and gratitude every meeting of mine with him. Hardly was there an occasion when our conversations were not lively.
Being ardent lovers of Iqbal and Ghalib we used to ravel in recitation of Urdu couplets. Once he was very busy with his works. Not wanting to disturb him, I remained silent for a while skipping over a magazine lying on his table. Suddenly, he stopped writing and turning towards me, recited this verse from Iqbal:
"Yah khamushi kahan tak,
lazzate faryad paida kar"
I promply replied with a couplet from the same poet:
"Nahin minnat kashe taabe
shuneedan dastaan meri
Khamushi guftugu hai
bezubani hai zuban meri"
Ravoof saheb felt so happy at this as to remark that there was a mini 'Mushaira' at the Crescent office. But our mini 'mushairas' were not confined to "Crescent" office. They were held during our telephonic conversation too.
I have a flair for writing which began from my college days. I leaving the college, I contributed articles to a few leading newspapers and when "Radiance" radiated from Delhi, I took more interest in that Muslim journal. But real opportunities for the full satisfaction of my inner urge to write came when the "Crescent" appeared on the horizon of Madras under the able editorship of Ravoof saheb. This gave me many pleasant opportunities of meeting this great man who was a "gem of the purest ray serene".
PERSONAL LETTERS
It was my proud privilege to receive personal letters from him asking me to contribute articles for the special issues of "Crescent" and at the same time, making kind enquiries of my family. I remember it was in 1970 that for certain unavoidable reasons I could neither write for the weekly nor could I see him for a few weeks. One day, after finishing the day's work, he, along with his right hand man, Janab Jalal Zackariah saheb, honoured me by his visit to my house. After making kind enquiries and finding me O.K., he said: Now I am terribly relieved of my anxiety." Such was the affection he had for me.
Ravoof sahib believed in hard work. On more than one occasion he told me that he was never afraid of hard work. Though his heart was weak - he had suffered from heart ailment- he possessed indomitable will and invincible courage.
Sullen life is no life at all. Life is to be pleasant, should be marked by civilised humour. Ravoof saheb was noted for his witty humour. Once I asked him why some writers reproduce copy-right material without due permission. Pat came the reply: "Because, copy-right is their right to copy." Ravoof saheb's intellect was as sharp as razor and his heart as soft as velvet".
To be a prolofic writer, one should be a voracious reader. Ravoof saheb was a man of vast learning who can be described as a walking encyclopaedia. According to him, books are the most useful and most harmless companions of man. They speak to you only when you go to them. Otherwise, they rest where they are kept.
SIMPLE STYLE
Simplicity of style in writing is not that easy. Ravoof saheb's style was unique in that his diction was simply superb. Beautiful phrases and idioms flowed from his pen with tremendous ease and power.
He was a conscientious man. Otherwise he would have had drawn fat salary in any National newspaper. When I asked him why he had rejected the offer of a post in a leading daily in Madras, he said that acceptance of the offer meant smoothering of his conscience, for, he might have been forced to write in a manner prejudicial to the interest of the Muslim community.
Editors aregenerally supposed to be squeamish. But Ravoof saheb was an editor with a difference. He gave due credit to an article and at the same time showed a knack of correcting the contributor. In one of my visits to "Crescent" office, he told me with his characteristic smile, even before I took my seat after greeting him, "Ghaffar saheb, I am sure you know that brevity is the soul of wit" hinting at my two previous articles, which were a bit lengthy. He explained to me the demerits of lengthy articles and said that it was the brief and precise articles that caught the attention of readers. He would not like to abridge my articles but wanted me to edit them myself before I send them for publication.
VERSATILE GENIUS
Humility was his forte despite his being a versatile genius. Once I had an article ready for "Crescent". I wanted to hand it over to him personally at the New College auditorium where Meeland lectures were being held. I hesitated but somehow I summoned courage to ring up to him to enquire whether I could give it to him at the meeting hall that evening. He exclaimed: Why do you hesitate? Are we not brothers ? These words are still ringing in my ears.
If Ravoof sahib was a gentleman to the tips of his fingers, he was also a patriot to the marrow of his bones. In his writings he suggested effective ways and means of making India strong, united and prosperous.
Spirit of selfless and dedicated service to the Muslim community dominated his life. Once , as I was talking to him in the office, he received a trunk call informing him of a communal clash in a North Arcot town. Muslim boys were the victims and a Muslim institution was the target of attack by the hooligans. Ravoof saheb grew restless going over to the phone now and then to make anxious enquiries. He was very upset. I said to myself: Here is the man who has the real concern for the community. His writings were marked by sincerity. He wrote what he sincerely felt.
He never cared for name and fame and devoted his time and talent to the service of the community in an exemplary manner. Those who know him would easily rank him among the most distinguished Muslim personalities of India.
MUSLIM DIRECTORY
In his last days he had been busy compiling "Muslim Directory: who is who." Its objective was to publicise the contributions made by the Muslims in different walks of life so that this may spur them on to greater efforts. The Muslims should shed their inferiority complex and prove that theyn are second to none in nation-building activities. Unfortunately, he did not live to see its publication.
Such was Ravoof, the man, the journalist, the writer and the poet. Alas! We miss him and mis him very badly. Bur however good a man may be and whatever be his contributionsto society, he is bound to succumb to the icy hand of death one day. And so, Ravoof saheb has gone the way of all flesh. But then as Iqbal has so beautifully put it, death can snatch away our near and dear ones only. It can never take away the love we cherish for the departed soul. This love lives forever in our hearts in the form of sorrow.
"ishq kuch mahboob ke
marne se ma jata nahin,
Rooh me gham ban ke rahta
hai magar jata nahin."
Ravoof saheb's life was noble and worthy. How well has Hellen Keller has said, "Life is an exciting business, it is more exciting when it is lived for others." Our beloved Ravoof sahib lived and died for the Muslim community. May his charming personality guide not only the present generation of Muslim journalists but also the generations yet unborn. Aameen.
