‘niraala’ jee ko smaran karate hue ekaek shaantipriy dvivedee kee yaad aa jae, isakee pooree vyanjana to vahee samajh sakenge jinhonne in donon mahaan vibhootiyon ko pratyaksh dekha tha. yon auron ne shaantipriyajee ka naam praay: sumitraanandan pant ke sandarbh mein liya hai kyonki vaastav mein to vah pantajee ke hee bhakt the, lekin main niraalaajee ke pahale darshan ke lie ilaahaabaad mein pandit vaachaspati paathak ke ghar ja raha tha to deharee par hee ek seenkiya pahalavaan ke darshan ho gae jisane mera raasta rokate hue ek tedhee ungalee meree or uthaakar poochha, ”aapane niraalaajee ke baare mein ‘vishvabhaaratee’ patrika mein badee anargal baaten likh dee hain.” yah seenkiya pahalavaan, jo yon apane ko krshn-kanhaiya se kam nahin samajhata tha aur isalie hindee ke saare rasik samaaj ke vinod ka lakshy bana rahata tha, shaantipriy kee abhidha ka bhooshan tha.
jis svar mein savaal mujhase poochha gaya tha usase shaantipriyata tapak rahee ho aisa nahin tha. aavaaj to rasik-shiromani kee jaisee thee vaisee thee hee, usamen bhee kuchh aakraamak chidachidaapan bharakar savaal meree or phenka gaya tha. mainne kaha, ”lekh aapane padha hai ?”
”nahin, mainne nahin padha. lekin mere paas riporten aaee hain! ”
”tab lekh aap padh leejiega tabhee baat hogee,” kahakar main aage badh gaya. shaantipriyajee kee ‘yuddhan dehi’ vaalee mudra ek kunthit mudra mein badal gaee aur vah baahar chale gae.
yon ‘riporten’ sahee theen. ‘vishvabhaaratee’ patrika mein mera ek lamba lekh chhapa tha. aaj yah maanane mein bhee mujhe koee sankoch nahin hai ki usamen niraala ke saath ghor anyaay kiya gaya tha. yah baat 1936 kee hai jab ‘vishaal bhaarat’ mein pandit banaaraseedaas chaturvedee niraala ke viruddh abhiyaan chala rahe the. yon chaturvedee ka aakrosh niraalaajee ke kuchh lekhon par hee tha, unakee kavitaon par utana nahin (kavita se to vah bilakul achhoote the), lekin upahaas aur vidamban ka jo svar chaturvedeejee kee tippaniyon mein mukhar tha usaka prabhaav niraalaajee ke samagr krtitv ke moolyaankan par padata hee tha aur meree aparipakv buddhi par bhee tha hee.
ab yah bhee ek rochak vyanjana-bhara sanyog hee hai ki seenkiya pahalavaan se paar paakar main bheetar pahuncha to vahaan niraalaajee ke saath ek doosare diggaj bhee viraajamaan the jinake khilaaph bhee chaturvedeejee ek abhiyaan chala chuke the. ek chaukee ke nikat aamane-saamane niraala aur ‘ugr’ baithe the. donon ke saamane chaukee par adhabhare gilaas rakhe the aur donon ke haathon mein adhajale sigaret the.
ugrajee se milana pahale bhee ho chuka tha; mere namaskaar ko sir hilaakar sveekaar karate hue unhonne niraala se kaha, ”yah agyey hai.”
niraalaajee ne ek baar sir se pair tak mujhe dekha. mere namaskaar ke javaab mein keval kaha, ”baitho.”
main baithane hee ja raha tha ki ek baar phir unhonne kaha, ”jara seedhe khade ho jao.”
mujhe kuchh aashchary to hua, lekin main phir seedha khada ho gaya. niraalaajee bhee uthe aur mere saamane aa khade hue. ek baar phir unhonne sir se pair tak mujhe dekha, maano taula aur phir bole, ”theek hai.” phir baithate hue unhonne mujhe bhee baithane ko kaha. main baith gaya to maano svagat-se svar mein unhonne kaha, ”daul to raamabilaas jaisa hee hai.”
raamavilaas (do. raamavilaas sharma) par unake gahare sneh kee baat main jaanata tha, isalie unakee baat ka arth mainne yahee lagaaya ki aur kisee kshetr mein na sahee, ek kshetr mein to niraalaajee ka anumodan mujhe mil gaya hai. mainne yah bhee anumaan kiya ki mere lekh kee ‘riporten’ abhee un tak nahin pahunchee ya pahunchaayee gaee hain.
niraalaajee saamaany shishtaachaar kee baaten karate rahe-kya karata hoon, kaise aana hua aadi. beech mein ugrajee ne ekaek gilaas kee or ishaara karate hue poochha, ”loge ?” mainne sir hila diya to phir kuchh chidhaate hue svar mein bole, ”paanee nahin hai, sharaab hai, sharaab.”
mainne kaha, ”samajh gaya, lekin main nahin leta.”
niraalaajee ke saath phir idhar-udhar kee baaten hotee raheen. kavita kee baat na uthaana mainne bhee shreyaskar samajha.
thodee der baad ugrajee ne phir kaha, ”jaanate ho, yah kya hai ? sharaab hai, sharaab.”
apanee anubhavaheenata ke baavajood tab bhee itana to main samajh hee sakata tha ki ugrajee ke is aakraamak ravaiye ka kaaran vah aalochana aur bhartsana hee hai jo unhen varshon se milatee rahee hai. lekin usake kaaran vah mujhe chunautee den aur main use maanakar akhaade mein utaroon, isaka mujhe koee kaaran nahin deekha. yah bhee nahin ki mere jaanate sharaab peene ka samay shaam ka hota, din ke gyaarah baje ka nahin! mainne shaant svar mein kaha, ”to kya hua, ugrajee, aap sochate hain ki sharaab ke naam se main dar jaoonga ? desh mein bahut se log sharaab peete hain.”
niraalaajee keval muskura die, kuchh bole nahin. thodee der baad main vida lene ko utha to unhonne kaha, ”abakee baar miloge to tumhaaree rachana sunenge.”
mainne khair manaayee ki unhonne tatkaal kuchh sunaane ko nahin kaha, ”niraalaajee, main to yahee aasha karata hoon ki abakee baar aapase kuchh sunane ko milega.”
aasha meree hee pooree huee : isake baad do-teen baar niraalaajee ke darshan aise hee avasaron par hue jab unakee kavita sunane ko milee. aisee sthiti nahin banee ki unhen mujhase kuchh sunane kee soojhe aur mainne isamen apanee kushal hee samajhee.
isake baad kee jis bhent ka ullekh karana chaahata hoon usase pahale niraalaajee ke kaavy ke vishay mein mera man pooree tarah badal chuka tha. vah parivartan kuchh naatakeey dhang se hee hua. shaayad kuchh paathakon ke lie yah bhee aashchary kee baat hogee ki vah unakee ‘juhee kee kalee’ athava ‘raam kee shaktipooja’ padhakar nahin hua, unaka ‘tulaseedaas’ padhakar hua. ab bhee us anubhav ko yaad karata hoon to maano ek gaharaee mein kho jaata hoon. ab bhee ‘raam kee shaktipooja’ athava niraala ke anek geet baar-baar padhata hoon, lekin ‘tulaseedaas’ jab-jab padhane baithata hoon to itana hee nahin ki ek naya sansaar mere saamane khulata hai, usase bhee vilakshan baat yah hai ki vah sansaar maano ek aitihaasik anukram mein ghatit hota hua deekhata hai. main maano sansaar ka ek sthir chitr nahin balki ek jeevant chalachitr dekh raha haoon. aisee rachanaen to kaee hotee hain jinamen ek rasik hrday bolata hai. viralee hee rachana aisee hotee hai jisamen ek saanskrtik chetana sarjanaatmak roop se avatarit huee ho. ‘tulaseedaas’ meree samajh mein aisee hee ek rachana hai. use pahalee hee baar padha to kaee baar padha. meree baat mein jo virodhaabhaas hai vah baat ko spasht hee karata hai. ‘tulaseedaas’ ke is aavishkaar ke baad sambhav nahin tha ki main niraala kee any sabhee rachanaen phir se na padhoon, ‘tulaseedaas’ ke baare mein apanee dhaarana ko any rachanaon kee kasautee par kasakar na dekhoon.
agalee jis bhent ka ullekh karana chaahata hoon usakee prshthabhoomi mein kavi niraala ke prati yah pragaadh sammaan hee tha. kaal kee drshti se yah khaasa vyatikram hai kyonki jis bhent kee baat main kar chuka hoon, vah san 36 mein huee thee aur yah doosaree bhent san 51 ke greeshm mein. beech ke antaraal mein anek baar anek sthalon par unase milana hua tha aur vah ek-ek, do-do din mere yahaan rah bhee chuke the, lekin us antaraal kee baat baad mein karoonga.
main ilaahaabaad chhodakar dillee chala aaya tha, lekin dillee mein abhee aisa koee kaam nahin tha ki usase bandha rahoon; akasar paanch-saat din ke lie ilaahaabaad chala jaata tha. niraalaajee tab daaraaganj mein rahate the. maanasik vikshep kuchh badhane laga tha aur kabhee-kabhee vah bilakul hee bahakee huee baaten karate the, lekin mera nijee anubhav yahee tha ki kaafee der tak vah bilakul sanyat aur santulit vichaar-vinimay kar lete the; beech-beech mein kabhee bahakate bhee to do-chaar minat mein hee phir laut aate the. main shaayad unakee vikshipt sthiti kee baaton ko bhee sahaj bhaav se le leta tha, ya bahut gahare mein samajhata tha ki jeeniyas aur paagalapan ke beech ka parda kaafee jheena hota hai- ki niraala ka paagalapan ‘jeeniyas ka paagalapan’ hai, iseelie vah bhee sahaj hee prakrtaavastha mein laut aate the. itana hee tha ki do-chaar vyaktiyon aur do-teen sansthaon ke naam main unake saamane nahin leta tha aur angrezee ka koee shabd ya pad apanee baat mein nahin aane deta tha-kyonki yah main lakshy kar chuka tha ki inheen se unake vaastavikata bodh kee gaadee pataree se utar jaatee thee.
us baar ‘suman’ (shivamangal sinh) bhee aae hue the aur mere saath hee thahare the. main niraalaajee se milane jaanevaala tha aur ‘suman’ bhee saath chalane ko utsuk the. nishchay hua ki savere-savere hee niraalaajee se milane jaaya jaega- vahee samay theek rahega. lekin sumanajee ko savere taiyaar hone mein badee kathinaee hotee hai. palang-chaay, pooja-paath aur singaar-pattee mein nau baj hee jaate hain aur us din bhee baj gae. ham daaraaganj pahunche to praay: das baje ka samay tha.
niraalaajee apane baithake mein nahin the. ham log vahaan baith gae aur unake paas soochana chalee gaee ki mehamaan aae hain. niraalaajee un dinon apana bhojan svayan banaate the aur us samay rasoee mein hee the. koee do minat baad unhonne aakar baithake mein jhaanka aur bole, ”are tum !” aur tatkaal ot ho gae.
sumanajee to rasoee mein khabar bhijavaane ke lie mera poora naam bataane chale gae the, lekin apane naam kee kathinaee main jaanata hoon iseelie mainne sankshipt soochana bhijavaayee thee ki ‘koee milane aae hain’. kshanabhar kee jhaankee mein hamane dekh liya ki niraalaajee keval kaupeen pahane hue the. thodee der baad aae to unhonne tahamad laga lee thee aur kandhe par angochha daal liya tha.
baaten hone lageen. main to bahut kam bola. yon bhee kam bolata aur is samay yah dekhakar ki niraalaajee badee santulit baaten kar rahe hain mainne chupachaap sunana hee theek samajha. lekin sumanajee aur chup rahana? phir vah to niraala ko prasann dekhakar unhen aur bhee prasann karana chaah rahe the, isalie poochh baithe, ”niraalaajee, aajakal aap kya likh rahe hain?”
yon to kisee bhee lekhak ko yah prashn ek moorkhataapoorn prashn jaan padata hai. shaayad suman se koee poochhe to unhen bhee aisa hee lage. phir bhee na jaane kyon log yah prashn poochh baithate hain.
niraala ne ekaek kaha, ”niraala, kaun niraala? niraala to mar gaya. niraala iz ded.”
angrezee ka vaaky sunakar main dara ki ab niraala bilakul bahak jaenge aur angrezee mein na jaane kya-kya kahenge, lekin saubhaagy se aisa hua nahin. hamane anubhav kiya ki niraala jo baat kah rahe hain vah maano sachche anubhav kee hee baat hai : jis niraala ke baare mein suman ne prashn poochha tha vah sachamuch unase peechhe kaheen chhoot gaya hai. niraala ne mujhase poochha, ”tum kuchh likh rahe ho ?”
mainne taalate hue kaha, ”kuchh-na-kuchh to likhata hee hoon, lekin usase santosh nahin hai- vah ullekh karane laayak bhee nahin hai.”
isake baad niraalaajee ne jo chaar-chh: vaaky kahe unase main aashcharyachakit rah gaya. unhen yaad karata hoon to aaj bhee mujhe aashchary hota hai ki hindee kaavy-rachana mein jo parivartan ho raha tha, usakee itanee kharee pahachaan niraala ko thee-us samay ke tamaam hindee aachaaryon se kaheen adhik sahee aur achook- aur vah tab jab ki ye saare aachaary unhen kam-se-kam aadha vikshipt to maan hee rahe the.
niraala ne kaha, ”tum jo likhate ho vah mainne padha hai.” (is par suman ne kuchh umangakar poochhana chaaha tha, ”are niraalaajee, aap agyey ka likha hua bhee padhate hain?” mainne peeth mein chikotee kaatakar suman ko chup karaaya, aur acharaj yah ki vah chup bhee ho gae- shaayad niraala kee baat sunane ka kutoohal jayee hua) niraala ka kahana jaaree raha, ”tum kya karana chaahate ho vah ham samajhate hain.” thodee der rukakar aur ham donon ko chupachaap sunate paakar unhonne baat jaaree rakhee. ”svar kee baat to ham bhee sochate the. lekin asal mein hamaare saamane sangeet ka svar rahata tha aur tumhaare saamane bolachaal kee bhaasha ka svar rahata hai.” vah phir thoda ruk gae; suman phir kuchh kahane ko kulabulae aur mainne unhen phir tok diya. ”aisa nahin hai ki ham baat ko samajhate nahin hain. hamane sab padha hai aur ham sab samajhate hain. lekin hamane shabd ke svar ko vaisa mahattv nahin diya, hamaare lie sangeet ka svar hee pramaan tha.” main phir bhee chup raha, sunata raha. mere lie yah sukhad aashchary kee baat thee ki niraala is antar ko itana spasht pahachaanate hain. badee tejee se mere man ke saamane unakee ‘geetika’ kee bhoomika aur-savere sahaj khil bhee na saken!”
yon ham log laut aae. ghar aakar phir archana kee meree prati kholakar ham donon ne padha. niraala ne likha tha:
to ajnaiy,
thai poait, writair and novailist
in thai foraimost rank.
ni…
18.5.51
san ’36 aur san ’51 ke beech, jaisa main pahale kah chuka hoon, niraalaajee se anek baar milan hua. unake ‘tulaseedaas’ ka pahala prakaashan 1938 mein hua tha aur mainne unakee rachanaon ke baare mein apanee dhaarana ke aamool parivartan kee ghoshana rediyo se jis sameeksha mein kee thee usaka prasaaran shaayad 1940 ke aarambh mein hua tha. merath mein ‘hindee saahity parishad’ ke samaaroh ke lie mainne unhen aamantrit kiya to aamantran unhonne saharsh sveekaar kiya aur merath ke pravaas mein vah kuchh samay shreematee homavatee devee ke yahaan aur kuchh samay mere yahaan thahare. homavateejee us samay parishad kee adhyaksha bhee theen aur niraalaajee ko apane yahaan thaharaane kee unakee haardik ichchha thee. jis bangale mein vah rahatee theen usake alaava ek aur bangala unake paas tha jo un dinon aadha khaalee tha aur niraalaajee ke vaheen thaharane kee vyavastha kee gaee. vah bangala homavateejee ke aavaas se sata hua hokar bhee alag tha, isalie sabhee aashvast the ki atithi athava aatithey ko koee asuvidha nahin hogee- yon thodee chinta bhee thee ki homavateejee ke param vaishnav sanskaar niraalaajee kee aadaton ko kaise sanbhaal paenge. mera ghar vahaan se teen-ek pharlaang door tha aur chhota bhee tha; suman, prabhaakar maachave aur bhaaratabhooshan agravaal ko mere yahaan thaharaane ka nishchay hua tha.
homavateejee ne shraddhaapoorvak niraalaajee ko thahara to liya, lekin dopahar ka bhojan unhen karaane ke baad vah daudee huee mere yahaan aayeen. ”bhaee jee, shaam ka bhojan kya hoga ? log to kah rahe hain ki niraalaajee to shaam ko sharaab ke bina bhojan nahin karate aur bhojan bhee maans ke bina nahin karate. hamaare yahaan to yah sab nahin chal sakata. aur phir agar ham udhar alag intajaam karen bhee to laega kaun aur sanbhaalega kaun ?”
yah kathinaee hone vaalee hai isaka hamen anumaan to tha, lekin homavateejee ke utsaah aur unakee snehabharee aadeshana ke saamane koee bola nahin tha.
unhen to kisee tarah samajha-bujhaakar lauta diya gaya ki ham log kuchh vyavastha kar lenge, unhen isamen nahin padana hoga. sanyojakon mein sharaab se parichit koee na ho aisa to nahin tha. shaam ko ek addha niraalaajee kee seva mein pahuncha diya gaya aur nishchay hua ki bhojan karaane bhee unhen sadar ke hotal mein le jaaya jaega.
idhar ham log shaam ka bhojan karane baithe hee the ki hotal se lautate hue niraalaajee mere yahaan aa gae. (main doosaree manjil par rahata tha.) pata laga ki unhonne hee seedhe bangale par na lautakar mere yahaan aane kee ichchha prakat kee thee. suroor kee jis haalat mein vah the usase mainne yah anumaan kiya ki aisa niraalaajee ne iseelie kiya hoga ki vah us haalat mein homavateejee ke saamane nahin padana chaahate the. (mainne doosare avasaron par bhee lakshy kiya ki aise maamalon mein unaka shisht aacharan ka sanskaar bada prabal rahata tha.) lekin yahaan par bhee meree bahin atithiyon ko bhojan kara rahee theen, isase niraalaajee ko thoda asamanjas hua. vah chupachaap ek taraph ek khaat par baith gae. ham logon ne bhojan jaldee samaapt karake unaka man bahalaane kee koshish kee, lekin vah chup hee rahe. ek-aadh baar ‘hoon’ se adhik kuchh bole nahin. unase jo baat karata usakee or ekatak dekhate rahate maano kahana chaahate hon, ”ham jaanate hain ki hamen bahalaane kee koshish kee ja rahee hai, lekin ham bahalenge nahin.”
ekaek niraalaajee ne kaha, ”suman, idhar aao.” sumanajee unake sameep gae to niraala ne unakee kalaee pakad lee aur kaha, ”chalo.”
”kahaan, niraalaajee ?”
”ghoomane.” suman ne bebasee se meree or dekha. vah bhee jaanate the ki chhutakaara nahin hai aur main bhee samajh gaya ki bahas vyarth hogee. neeche utarakar main ek badhiya-sa taanga bula laaya. niraalaajee suman ke saath utare aur us par aage savaar hone lage to taangevaale ne tokate hue kaha, ”sarakaar, ghoda dab jaega-aap peechhe baithen aur aapake saathee aage baith jaenge.”
niraalaajee kshan hee bhar thithake. phir agalee taraf hee savaar hote hue bole, ”ye peechhe baithenge, taanga dabaoo hota hai to tum bhee peechhe baithakar chalao. nahin to raas hamen do-ham chalaenge.”
taangevaale ne ek baar sabakee or dekhakar hukm maanana hee theek samajha. vah bhee peechhe baith gaya, raas usane nahin chhodee. poochha, ”kahaan chalana hoga, sarakaar ?”
niraalaajee ne usee aagyaapana bhare svar mein kaha, ”dekho, do ghante tak yah savaal hamase mat poochhana. jahaan tum chaaho lete chalo. achchhee sadakon par sair karenge. do ghante baad isee jagah pahuncha dena, paise poore milenge.”
taangevaale ne kaha, ‘sarakaar’ aur taanga chal pada. main do ghante ke lie nishchint hokar oopar chala aaya.
raat ke lagabhag baarah baje taanga lauta aur suman akele oopar aae. niraalaajee der se lautane par vaheen so sakate hain, yah sochakar unake lie ek bistar aur laga diya gaya tha, lekin suman ne bataaya ki niraalaajee soenge to vaheen jahaan thahare hain kyonki homavateejee se kahakar nahin aae the. lihaaja mainne usee taange mein unhen bangale par pahuncha diya aur tahalata hua paidal laut aaya.
agale din savere hee homavateejee ke yahaan dekhane gaya ki sab kuchh theek-thaak to hai, to homavateejee ne alag le jaakar mujhe kaha, ”bhaiya, tumhaare kavijee ne kal shaam ko baahar jo kiya ho, yahaan to bade shaant bhaav se, shisht dhang se rahate hain.”
mainne kaha, ”chalie, aap nishchint hueen to ham bhee nishchint hue. yon darane kee koee baat thee nahin.”
doosare din main shaam se hee niraalaajee ko apane yahaan le aaya. bhojan unhonne vaheen kiya aur prasann hokar kaee kavitaen sunaayeen. kaash ki un dinon tep rikaardar hote-‘raam kee shaktipooja’ athava ‘jaago phir ek baar’ athava ‘baadal raag’ ke ve vaachan paravartee peedhiyon ke lie sanchit kar die gae hote. praacheen kaal mein kaavy-vaachak jaise bhee rahe hon, mere yug mein to niraala jaisa kaavy-vaachak doosara nahin hua.
raghuveer sahaay ne likha hai, ”mere man mein paanee ke kaee sansmaran hain.” niraala ke kaavy ko ajasr nirjhar maanakar main bhee kah sakata hoon ki ‘mere man mein paanee ke anek sansmaran hain- ajasr bahate paanee ke, phir vah bahana chaahe moosalaadhaar vrshti ka ho, chaahe dhuaandhaar jal-prapaat ka, chaahe pahaadee nadee ka, kyonki niraala jab kavita padhate the tab vah aisee hee vegavatee dhaara-see bahatee thee. kisee rok kee kalpana bhee tab nahin kee ja sakatee thee- sarovar-sa thaharaav unake vaachan mein akalpaneey tha.’
aur kyonki paanee ke anek sansmaran hain, isalie unhen doharaoonga nahin.
unheen dinon ke aasapaas unase aur bhee kaee baar milana hua; dillee mein vah mere yahaan aae the aur dillee mein ekaadhik baar unhonne mere anurodh kiye bina hee sahaj udaarataavash apanee naee kavitaen sunaeen. phir ilaahaabaad mein bhee jab-tab milana hota; par kavita sunane ka dhang ka avasar keval ek baar hua kyonki ilaahaabaad mein dheere-dheere ek avasaad un par chhaata gaya tha jo unhen apane parichiton ke beech rahate bhee unase alag karata ja raha tha. pahale bhee unhonne gaaya tha :
main akela
dekhata hoon aa rahee
meree divas kee saandhy vela.
… …
jaanata hoon nadee jharane
jo mujhe the paar karane
kar chuka hoon
hans raha yah dekh
koee nahin bhela.
athava
sneh nirjhar bah gaya hai
ret-sa tan rah gaya hai
… …
bah rahee hai hrday par keval ama
main alakshit rahoon, yah
kavi kah gaya hai.
lekin in kavitaon ke akelepan athava avasaad ka svar ekasanchaaree bhaav ka pratibimb hai jisase doosare bhee kavi parichit honge. isake anek varsh baad ke,
baandho na naav is thaanv, bandhu
poochhega saara gaanv, bandhu!
ka avasaad maano ek sthaayee manobhaav hai. pahale ka svar keval ek taatkaalik avastha ko prakat karata hai jaise aur bhee pahale kee ‘sakhi vasant aaya’ athava ‘suman bhar na lie, sakhi vasant gaya’ aadi kavitaen pratikriya athava bhaavadasha ko darshaatee hai. lekin ‘archana’ aur usake baad kee kavitaon mein hataash avasaad ka jo bhaav chhaaya hua deekhata hai vah tatkaaleen pratikriya ka nahin, jeevan ke deergh pratyavalokan ka parinaam hai jisase niraala jab-tab ubarate deekhate hain to apane bhakti-geeton mein hee :
tum hee hue rakhavaal
to usaka kaun na hoga.
athava
ve dukh ke din
kaate hain jisane
gin-ginakar
pal-chhin, tin-tin
aansoo kee lad ke motee ke
haar piroye
gale daalakar priyatam ke
lakhane ko shashi mukh
du:khanisha mein
ujjval, amalin.
kah nahin sakata, is sthaayee bhaav ke vikaas mein kahaan tak mahaadeveejee dvaara sthaapit saahityakaar sansad ke unake pravaas ne yog diya jisamen niraala ke sammaan mein daavaten bhee hueen to maano aisee hee jo unhen hindee kavi-samaaj ke nikat na laakar usase thoda aur alag hee kar gaeen. sansad ke ganga tatavartee bangale ko chhodakar hee niraalaajee phir daaraaganj kee apanee puraanee kotharee mein chale gae; vaheen avasaad aur bhakti ka yah mishr svar mukharatar hota gaya. aur vaheen gahare dhundhalake aur teekhe prakaash ke beech bhanvaraate hue niraala us sthiti kee or badhate gae jahaan ek or vah kah sakate the, ”kaun niraala ? niraala iz ded!” aur doosaree or drdh vishvaasapoorvak ‘hindee ke sumanon ke prati’ sambodhit hokar ek aahat kintu akhand aatmavishvaas ke saath yah bhee kah sakate the, ”main hee vasant ka agradoot”. sachamuch vasant panchamee ke din janm lenevaale niraala hindee kaavy ke vasant ke agradoot the. lekin ab jab vah nahin hain to unakee kavitaen baar-baar padhate hue mera man unakee is aatmavishvaas bharee ukti par na atakakar unake ‘tulaseedaas’ kee kuchh panktiyon par hee atakata hai jahaan maano unaka kavi bhavitavyadarshee ho uthata hai- us bhavitavy ko dekh leta hai jo khandakaavy ke naayak tulaseedaas ka nahin, usake rachayita niraala ka hee hai :
yah jaaga kavi ashesh chhavidhar
isaka svar bhar bhaaratee mukt hoengee
… …
tam ke amaajy re taar-taar
jo, un par padee prakaash dhaar
jag veena ke svar ke bahaar re jaago;
is par apane kaarunik praan
kar lo samaksh dedeepyamaan-
de geet vishv ko ruko, daan phir maango.
is ashesh chhavidhar kavi ne daan kabhee nahin maanga, par vishv ko diya- geet diya, par usake lie bhee ruka nahin, baantate-baantate hee tirodhaan ho gaya : main alakshit rahoon, yah kavi kah gaya hai.