29 September is celebrated as World Heart Day every year. 29 September is also the day which marks the birthday of Internationally-acclaimed Author, Ali Ashhar. On this day, he penned a poem to emphasize on the role of a writer in the society, and what the birth of a writer means for the society. For him, writing is instilling justice with the ink, it’s about giving voice to the voiceless. Art is successful when a common man can access it easily; a voiceless can find his voice in the talent of the artist. Ali Ashhar believes in the power of words and how it can be used a tool to bridge social and emotional differences across towns and borders. Art is a crucial medium to address the underlying evils in the society, and when furnished with technology and artificial intelligence in today’s world, it can give huge boost to the perception of a common man and humanity altogether.
Ali Ashhar himself is a living example where the power of words turned him into a superstar from an unknown guy from a small town. His words reached top universities, journals, magazine, media and newspapers around the globe. Ali Ashhar was recognised as the Best Debut Author for his work which inspired millions of readers. His iconic personality and legendary words made a difference. Subsequently, his work resonated with people from all walks of life as they drew a connection with his art. His approach on social justice and mental health has been received well in the modern literary and academic domain.
His poem ‘Ritual’ emphasizes on the role of writers as pioneers of the society:
It’s the month of october and the transition
is up for the day, the chirping birds witness
desolate leaves at the onset of fall season. Beyond
the aloof horizon belies a vibrant ray of hope;
the caretaker’s metaphors get busy in bridging
the gap between the inner voice and the outer discord,
the syllables get heavy in the contemporary weather
for they carry the onus of vacant melodies
from erstwhile summer. The breeze of conscience around
the garden leads to a boulevard where fellow caretakers
vie for utopia; they follow a ritual in the toughest of times
they profess what comes easiest to them—enlighten the dark ambiance.
