Jaihoon , the very name reflects the mystic beauty of his lines. He is proud of his deep inclination towards the philosophy of love propounded by Jalaludheen Rumi and Allama Iqbal. He is Mujeeb Rahman, a 28-year-old pravasi Malayalee poet, writing in English.

Adopting the new media-the Internet- for his creative expression, his verses transcend the geographical boundaries of nations and even continents. With a novel and two collections of poems to his credit, Jaihoon has won hearts around the world.

Published from the United States, his second work Henna for the heart is a manifestation of his profound thinking and deep conviction of the mystic philosophy of Sufi Saints. Each line in this collection is soaked in his quest for eternal love that cures the sufferings of the wounded souls. In this materialistic era when spirituality is a hot-selling commodity, I must confess that none of my poems were composed, except after being stimulated by an intense experience, he says.

He is immersed in Sufi thinking. But watching the merciless world around, the poet revolts against the hegemony of consumerism and the materialist way of life. Questioning the indifference of the society towards the invading forces at their doorsteps, with a sarcastic note, he writes, let us still sit in a silent corner, and quietly whisper about easy prayer, while in the land of enemy, men and women march in protest (lines from henna for the heart). Perhaps, due to the media Jaihoon has chosen largely to remain unknown in Kerala. The young expatriate poet hails from Venginikkara near Edappal in Malappuram district. Jaihoon a river in Turkistan-is his pen name.

Being proud to be a Malayalee, he keeps his ties with the land alive through his writings. The Cool Breeze From Hind, his third book, shares his nostalgic feelings about his roots. The book is a result of his journey from Kochi to Kasarkode. The journey was a discovery of my roots and as well as the essence of Indian culture, the communal harmony, he says. The book traces the centuries-old cultural relation between Kerala and the Arab world. Egoptics, a harmonious mixture of prose and verses, was published in 2001. The title, comprising ego and optics, is a self-coined term to describe the sum total of my observations and experiences, says Jaihoon.

Born and brought up in two different cultures, the fusion of traditions is palpable in his writings. The poet laments about the chauvinistic thinking of the modern man, who lives in a global village. Appreciating the sand dunes and paddy fields, the writer stands for love that defies the boundaries of nations.

The IT savvy poet is also the editor of www.jaihoon.com,a website which he uses as a platform for his literary career. Apart from his creative works, the site also provides news, articles, and video clippings relating to various subjects. Jaihoon is settled in Sharjah with his family and working as lease and licensing officer at Sharjah airport international free zone. Deeply inspired by the Sufi thoughts, for Jaihoon, writing is a search for spiritual love in every being.

(First published in The Pioneer (VivaCity), Aug 18, 2005)

http://www.jaihoon.com/621.htm

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