Saeed Haider

Saudi Gazette

It was a journey of romance, realism, existential dilemma and sublime faith; a journey that took the audience to their world of extreme fantasies and fancies while interpreting in their own perspective the beautiful verses of Urdu poetry rendered by poets at the annual Mushaira (poetry session) organized by the Indian Consulate in Jeddah Thursday evening.



Packed to a capacity, the auditorium of International Indian School (Boys’ Section) reverberated with thunderous applause and traditional wah wahs (expressions of approval or bravos) and Subhan Allah (All praise be to God) for every poet for his or her creative work. Although the session started two hours late, the audience, braving Jeddah’s sultry weather and the non-functional central air-condition of the auditorium, showed extreme patience and remained glued to their seats until the end of the session in the wee hours of Friday.



Welcoming the poets, guests and the audience, Dr. Irshad Ahmed,  consul (Press, Information & Culture) highlighted the features of the Mushaira, and with India celebrating its Independence Day recently, he said the poetry session could even render (Azadi – independence) as the theme. He underlined the noble cause behind this event and thanked dozens of sponsors and organizations for their support. He then introduced each of the 13 participating poets and poetesses amid thundering ovation and invited them on stage.



Gulzar Dehlavi, octogenarian poet from New Delhi, was requested to preside over the session. Wasif Farooqui, a local poet, was entrusted with the task of conducting the Mushaira. He used the event to release his yet another collection of work by the Consul General B.S. Mubarak and Dehlavi.



Later, Mubarak — originally from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu — impressed one and all with his address in chaste Urdu. In his brief speech he lauded the efforts of all those associated with Mushaira. He said that this annual gathering was a true embodiment of Indian ethos of unity in diversity. He said over the years, the Mushaira has taken a form of Jeddah tradition, which is eagerly awaited by Jeddawis. He also stressed the fact that this event is not only a source of night out for poetry lovers but has helped many noble causes. Mubarak then lit the traditional candle marking the opening of the Mushaira.



In his presidential address, Gulzar Dehlavi traced the traditional bilateral ties between India and Saudi Arabia. He recalled how he was asked to prepare and present the welcome address to Saudi King Saud Bin Abdulaziz, during his visit to India. Gulzar, who does not belong to Islamic faith, said that it was always a proud and blissful moment for him to visit the holy land of Arabia. He recited a verse glorifying Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions.



While lauding the connoisseurs of Urdu language, Gulzar extolled the language for its richness and it being a force that binds humanity. He praised the language for its vivacity and embracive powers and explained that words from English, Persian (Farsi), French and Italian are mouthed by a person when he speaks Urdu. He termed Urdu as a language of love and harmony and defined it as two hearts integrating a diversified India into one people. Gulzar traced the history of Urdu language from the period of Amir Khusro to the present age and said that it was wrong to project Urdu as a language of Muslims only. “It is not a property of any one group, sect or religion. Instead, Urdu is the only language which belongs to world community and embraces words from all languages. The diminutive octogenarian stood tall when he recited his couplet glorifying the richness Urdu language has brought to Indian culture and projected true Indian ethos by manifesting unity in diversity.



Wasif Farooqi, who conducted the Mushaira with his usual pun and literary sarcasm, invited Dr. Afaq Fakhri who recited a na’at (poetry in praise of Prophet Muhammad, pbuh) and took the audience to spiritual heights.



After Fakhri, Tarannum Kanpuri enthralled the audience with her Nazm (long poem) “Zaban-e-Urdu Mera Naam” (My name is Urdu Language). She broke all religious and regional barriers of the language when she recited:



Main kya janoon firqa parasti, mein hoon ek bhasha, Jitna Hindu dharam hai pyara utna hi Islam.



(I am just a language free from all communal barriers. And I have equal love for Islam and other religions).



Interestingly her poem “Zaban-e-Urdu Mera Naam” was very similar to Iqbal Ashar’s famous Nazm “Urdu Hai Mera Naam; Mein Khusro ki Paheli.”



Tarannum’s Nazm also carried the same thought and feel as Iqbal Ashar’s. It is now up to the critics to decide who inspired whom.



On popular demand, Wasif Farooqi invited her again in the second round and she captured the imagination of the audience with her melodious voice when she sang:



Ek ghazal aur tarannum se Tarannum chedho, Kuch to haq naam-o-takhallus ka ada ho jaye.



(Recite yet another ghazal in melody and justify your name). Tarannum in Urdu means melody.



Tarannum’s recitation set the tone of the Mushaira and made it clear that it was going to be a long evening. Wasif did show his inexperience in conducting a Mushaira of this magnitude as he lost his sense of timing and repeatedly invited same poets. He also lost his connection with the audience and moved the Mushaira forward without proper allotment of time to each poet. Also, his humor and pun too were rustic.



After Tarannum, Ashfaq Asfi of Hyderabad announced his arrival with his beautiful verses:



Log jo paikar-e-iman baney rehtey hein, Woh faqiri mein bhi sultan baney rehte hein. And Faislon mein na nibhao kabhi janibdari, Faisle sadiyon ka unwan baney rehtey hein.



(Those who are firm in faith are like sultans even in their poverty. and don’t show bias in decision-making as many a time decisions are decisive issues of the centuries.)



He touched the heart of the audience with his:



Jab kami sadq-o-khairat mein aa jayegi, Ghar to ghar basti bhi afaat mein aajayegi.

Apne aslaaf ke ahwaal zara ghaur se padh, Phir se garmi tere jazbaat mein aa jayegi,

Sabr kar dhoop mein kanton se mohabbat kar le, Fasl poorani hai barsaat mein aa jayegi.



(Whenever there is a decline in charity not only houses but cities will be in turmoil; evaluate the deeds of your forefathers in proper context, it will warm your emotions.  And have patience and accept sunshine and thorns in equal measure as eventually harvest will arrive with the monsoon).



By now the night was moving into early hours of morning, and there was need to awake the sleepy audience. The task was bestowed on Nashtar Amrohvi, a poet who laced his verses in humor, to set the audience alight. He did not disappoint as be brought the house down with his verses and couplets with the crowd virtually eating out of his hands and in an absolute frenzy.



Aaine ke samne ghanto tayyari ke baad, Tum haseen lagti ho begum kitni dushwari ke baad.



(You take hours in front of a mirror. Yet, you look beautiful only after so much effort.)



Nashtar suddenly took an absolute U-turn and brought the audience to the real world with his:



Barhana jism ko chadar koi udhaye kyuon, Sadak ki laash hai koi mazaar thoda hi hai



(Why should anyone cover a naked body; it is a street side corpse and not a mausoleum).



The audience was now in total connect with the Mushaira and in this mood Wasif Farooqi invited young Nadeem Shad to the podium. He opened with a tribute to mother with the verse:



Maa ki khidmat hai ibadat, Ye ibadat aaj tak hum be wuzu kartay rahay.



(Serving mother is a worship; but all through I have been worshiping her without ablution.)



Nadeem, however, lost his connection with the audience midway and virtually indulged in a verbal duel with a section of crowd. But he retrieved his night with a solemn verse that captivated the crowd.



After Nadeem Shad, Shahbaz Nadeem Ziai did succeed to capture the mood of the audience with this: Mohabbat mein woh pagal ho raha hai; Hamara masla hal ho raha hai.



(He is getting crazy in love and this is solving our problem).



Moin Shadab was honest in facing today’s declining values when he said:



Humne ye kis say dosti karli, Aisa lagta hai ke hum nay khudkushi karli. And Apni aulad se taazim ki ummeed na rakh, Apnay maa baap say tu nay jo baghawat karli.



(With whom I have developed friendship, it appears that I have committed suicide. And, don’t expect respects from your children; you have yourself rebelled against your parents)



Moin Shadab’s couplets were a true hit on modern day society.



Azm Shakiri, who came to the Mushaira venue straight from the airport, justified his late arrival with some heart-rendering couplets. He was the pick of the Mushaira after legendary Gulzar Dehlavi. He said:



Khoon aanso ban gaya aankhon mein bhar janay kay baad, Aap aaye to magar toofan guzar jaanay kay baad



(Blood turned into tears in the eyes and you came to my rescue after storm [my troubles] has passed) and his following couplet virtually created an uproar.



Zindagi kay naam pe hum umar bhar jeetay rahay, Zindagi ko hum nay paaya bhi to mar jaanay kay baad.



(All my life I lived for a life but I got life only after my death.)



His next couplet: Zakhm jo tum nay diya woh is liyay rakha haraa; Zindagi mein kya bachega zakhm bhar jaanay kay baad was yet another couplet that brought the audience to their feet.



Traditionally Dehlavi was expected to recite his poems last but since he had to take a flight in early hours, he was invited after Azm Shakiri.

Dehelavi’s verses: Aaine ko hum roz badal saktay hain, Ikhlas ko hum nahin badal saktay. And Is sitamgar ki meherbaani se, dil ulajtha hai zindagani se took the Mushaira to a greater level. It was a legend in direct communion with the audience. His Khaak se kitni soratein utreen, dhul gaye naqsh kitnay paani say; and Dil ka aalam ajeeb aalam tha; Jab jawaani mili jawaani say



(So many faces emerged from dust, so many faces washed away by water. My heart was in a peculiar condition when youth met youth.) elevated the mood of the audience to a somber level with his lines drawing a picture of life.



Gulzar set a very high standard for coming poets and Zubair Ibne Safi coped well.



Woh jo tanzeem-e-nau kay nigahbaan hain, Khud zamaane kay haathon pareshaan hain; Kuch to insaniyat ka bharam chahiye, Tum bhi insaan ho hum bhi insaan hain.



(Those who are guardians of the new order themselves are victims of society. We need some semblance of humanity as we all are humans.)



Dr. Naseem Nikhat followed Zubair in lamenting the declining social values:



Sab apni apni majboori batatey hein; ye bachchey maa ki mohabbat kahan samjhte hein.



And Tahir Faraz too touched on a social theme with his verse touching a chord with the audience.



— With input from Abdul Rahman M. Baig