Abdur Rahim Khankhana Poems,Abdur Rahim Khankhana, who is also called Rahim by many, was an Indian poet and composer who specialised in Hindi rhyming couplets. He was also responsible translating older works into Persian and for a number of books on astrology.
He lived during the reign of Akbar, the Mughal emperor and was appointed as one of the principal group of nine ministers at the royal court. There is a small village in the north west of India called Khankhana that has been named after Rahim, lying in the state of Punjab’s Nawanshahr district.
Abdur Rahim Khankhana Bio
He was born on the 17th December 1556. His father, Bairam Khan, was a trusted member of the emperor’s staff, serving as mentor and guardian to Akbar himself. He was of Turkic origin. The connection with the emperor continued when, following the murder of Rahim’s father in Gujarat, his mother became Akbar’s second wife, thus making Rahim the stepson of the emperor. This may have been one of the main reasons why Rahim was able to secured a ministerial appointment, although this cannot be confirmed either way.
When Rahim died some time in 1626, at the age of 72, his body was placed in an impressively constructed tomb which still sits today on the Mathura Road in New Delhi. The building of this tomb had been commissioned by his wife in 1598. It is perhaps a morbid thing to do but she was obviously anticipating his death in the future. Some of the marble and sandstone used in its construction was taken in 1754 and used for another tomb, this time for the statesman known as Safdarjung.
Abdur Rahim Khankhana Poems
Says Rahim
the thread of love
once broken, it does not unite
if it does, knots appear.Says Rahim do not spurn the trivial
seeing the weighty
when you need a sewing needle
of what use a sword.Says Rahim keep your sorrow
to your own heart
others will taunt you
none willing to share.Says,Rahim a man with no education
wisdom, religion and generosity
an animal without a tail or horns
futile is his birth in this world.Says,Rahim pleased I am not
being offered ambrosia without respect
better to die with dignity
drinking poison.
Says Rahim a dilemma indeed
when you speak out the truth
worldly ties break
with lies you don’t ever reach God.
Says Rahim the sun rises with glowing rays
it sets with equal grace
so does a good man
living through ups and downs.
Body, a paper toy
turns into pulp in a trice
strange, so says Rahim
yet filled with much pride.
How will the weak ever live
fighting the strong?
Says Rahim like being at war
with the crocodile while in water.
A tree does not eat its own fruits
no pond drinks up its own water
a good man saves for others’ needs
so says,Rahim.
Blessed is the love the fish has for water
lifeless without it
says Rahim a bumble bee is different
hopping flower to flower.
Blessed is the swamp
insects thrive on
says Rahim so vast the sea
yet everyone comes away thirsty.
Says,Rahim my Lord’s image is embedded in my eyes
there is place for none else
like a traveller turning away
from a full caravanserai.
