Muhammad Mujahid Syed

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — "Mushairas, as an institution, in India have great secular foundations. Those who connect Urdu with Muslims must attend Mushairas to know the truth," said Iqbal Ashhar, a prominent Urdu poet, who hails from Delhi.



Iqbal was in Jeddah to attend the "Annual Mushaira" organized by the Consulate General of India Thursday.



"Urdu poetry is playing a crucial role in keeping the language alive. Now Urdu poetry has come out of its romantic role and bravely confronts social and political issues," Ashhar said.



Ashhar, a graduate from Delhi College (Zakir Hussain college), has authored two books (poetry collections), "Dhanak Tere Khayal Ki" in 2005 and "Ratjage" in 2010. The latter has also been presented with an annual award for the "Best Urdu Poetry Collection of the Year 2010" from Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy in 2011.  



Talking about his childhood, Ashhar said: "My father belonged to Amroha while my mother was from Aligarh and they both had a very good taste of Urdu literature. In our family we had literary traditions and almost all the members had developed a great affection and love for Urdu language, poetry and literature. This atmosphere persuaded me toward Urdu Ghazal."



Ashhar is a popular poet who has attended hundreds of Mushairas in India and has traveled to the US, Canada, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. He said that he had never compromised over the standard and the quality of the Urdu Ghazal.



He further said that he never considers one’s success in Mushairas as a final standard.



"It's not only the audiences of the Mushairas but also the readers that confirm the place and the rank of the poet, judging his/her ability and mastery over poetry.



"If the popularity in the Mushairas were only the case, then Shaharyar would have never got the most prestigious Indian literature award 'Gyanpeet,'" said Ashhar said.



Following are a few couplets from his poetry



Aaj phir neend ko aankhon

se bichhadte dekha

Aaj phir yad ko chote

purani aayi



Muddaton baad pasheman

hu darya humse

Muddaton baad hamen

pyas chhupani aayi



Yeh jugnuwon ki qayadat

men chalne wale log

The kal charagh ki

manind jalne wale log



Hamen bhi waqt ne patthar sifat bana dala

Hamin the mom ki soorat pighalne wale log



Sitam to yeh ki hamari safon men shamil hain

Charagh bujhte hi khaimah badalne wale log

Simat ke rah gaye mazi

ki dastanon tak

Hudoode zat se aage

nikalne wale log



Hamare daur ka firaun

doobta hi nahin

Kahan chale gaye paani

pe chalne wale log



Hijr ki raat hai aur unke

tasauwwur ka charagh

Bazm ki bazm hai tanhaai

ki tanhaai hai



Kaun se naam se taabir

karoon is rut ko

Phool murjhaye hain

zakhmon pe bahar aayi hai



Woh  shakhs ek hi lamhe

men toot photo gaya

Jise tarash raha tha

main ik zamane se