Big B recalls ‘babuji’ Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s words on life’s endless struggle

MUMBAI: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the quiet hours of the night shared a deeply introspective note on life, struggle and silence, drawing a moving parallel between the thoughts of his father, the late poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, and eminent Urdu poet Firaq Gorakhpuri.

Recalling a conversation with his “pujya babuji,” the actor wrote that he once spoke about how life is filled with struggle.

“Pujya Babuji se ek din aise hi main keh raha tha ki jeevan mein bada sangharsh hai. Unka uttar aaya, ‘Beta, jab tak jeevan hai, tab tak sangharsh hai’ (As long as there is life, there is struggle). Abhi ek pustak dekh raha tha Firaq Gorakhpuri ji ki, jismein unka ek sher mila (sic).”

The reflection led the cine icon to a sher by Firaq Gorakhpuri, a contemporary and close friend of his father, noting how strikingly similar their emotions and philosophies were. He also mentioned that both poets belonged to the Kayastha community, while emphasising that the late poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan never believed in casteism.