Saeed Haider

Saudi Gazette JUBAIL — Mirza Ghalib, the legendary poet-philosopher of 19th Century India, was given a tribute by celebrating his poetry, philosophy and other works during a Mushaira (Poetic Session) held at SADAF beach Camp in Jubail Industrial City and hosted by the Bhopal NRIs Forum last week. The evening witnessed Urdu poetry in its all glory and majesty and unfolded its true character symbolizing India’s plurality and its unity in diversity. The evening was not just a tribute to Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib but to the rich Indian ethos which assimilated all cultures and religion and evolved one true nation united by its diversity and pluralism. Some very prominent poets from India, Malaysia, the UAE and the Kingdom paid tribute to the legend of Ghalib in their own little way. The greatness of Ghalib lies in his versatility, which spanned from spirituality, to philosophy, existentialism, prose, satire and even humor. He was one poet who on one hand was a court poet during the reign of Bahadur Shah Zafar then on the other hand was the embodiment of common man suffering the plight of a decaying economy. At one time he sat next to the emperor as an elite and on another occasion slept overnight in jail as a commoner. The evening reflected all shades of the legend who is unparalleled in global history of literature. He is among those components of Urdu literature who took poetry from the court and the dancing rooms of the city to the streets and by-lanes of Delhi. Poet after poet and academicians poured their heart out to shed light on the great poet in their own