Tarek Miskhas lighting the candle to open the Mushaira. Also seen in the picture, (left to right) Syed Jamal Qadri, Imran Pratapgarhi, Dr. Majed Deobandi, Tahir Faraaz and Syed Khaja Viqaruddin. — SG photo by Abdul Rahman M. Baig



Abdul Rahman M. Baig

Saudi Gazette

What better way to celebrate the first anniversary of Telangana Day than to organize a Mushaira (poetry session) to pay tributes to all those involved in the creation of the young state. And that’s exactly what happened in Jeddah this week.



Urdu Academy of Jeddah and the Twin Cities Youth Welfare Association joined hands to organize a grand and exclusive poetic gathering on Tuesday. Poets from India regaled the audience with their ghazals, nazms and naats (all various forms of Urdu poetry with specific verse meters) that were sprinkled generously with political satire, humor and rhythmic punch. Some of the poets expressed the existing social chaos in India through their poetry, while some expressed their concept of love and friendship; joy and tragedy. The venue reverberated with "wah wahs and subhan Allah (expressions of appreciation in Urdu) as poets presented their work to the audience.



Tarek Mishkhas, editor-in-chief of Urdu and Malayalam News was the chief guest at the evening. In a short speech he praised the richness of Urdu and hoped that one day he could be fluent in the language to enjoy the sublimity and subtlety of the language.



UAJ President Jamal Qadri congratulated the people of Telangana on the state's first anniversary and praised the special status accorded to Urdu by the state government. "We are grateful to Chief Minister K. Chandershekhar Rao and his deputy Mohammad Mahmood Ali for issuing the ordinance to accord first language status to Urdu." He hoped that peaceful atmosphere will prevail throughout the state and people will maintain the great tradition of communal harmony as reflected by Urdu, which is a true symbol of national integration and manifests unity in diversity.



Syed Khaja Viqaruddin of Twin Cities Youth Welfare Association in his speech said that the Mushaira was a right platform to celebrate the formation of the new state and it was one of the mottos of the association to promote Urdu language through these types of events.



Aleem Khan Falaki carried the audience with his humor and punch lines in conducting the session.



After the traditional inauguration by the chief guest who lighted the candle in presence of all the participating poets, Dr. Majed Deobandi presented his naat (poetry in praise of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him). He sent the people into rapture with his couplet:



Jo Mere Nabi Ka Nahin Mera Bhi Nahin Woh

Jaari Yehi Allah Ka Farmaan Hua Hai



(This is ordained by Allah that those who do not belong to the Prophet, surely do not belong to Him)

In another couplet he highlighted the communication between God and His last Prophet (pbuh):



"Allah Jise Paas Bulakar Karein Baatein

Insanon Mein Aisa Koi Insaan Hua Hai



Describing the sequence of revelation of the Holy Qur’an, he said it was revealed whenever the Prophet (pbuh) needed instructions.



Pesh Aayi Hai Sarkar Ko Jab Koi Zaroorat

Nazil Usi Tarteeb Se Qur’an Huwa Hai.



Lamenting the miseries of life, A.M. Turaz in his ghazal portrayed the sense of alienation and loneliness when he said:



Rootha Hoon Kisi Rooh Ke Maanind Badan Se

Ek Baar Jo Bichda To Palat Kar Nahin Aaya



(I am angry at this world like a soul that never returns to the body after leaving it).



Sikandar Hayat Gadbad broke the melancholic tone of the Mushaira with his humorous couplets:



Zehan-o-Dil-o-Jigar Se Main Loose Ho Raha Hoon

Khud Apne Aap Se Hi Misuse Ho Raha Hoon

Mangoon Khuda Se Jannat Ya Mangloon Dinar

Ye Sounch Kar Main Khud Hi Confuse Ho Raha Hoon



(I am losing all my senses, I am being misused by myself. I am confused that whether I should ask God Paradise or money)



The use of English words added extra sock to his sarcasm on the eternal vagaries and the constant tussle of the human mind.



In another couplet he targeted the relevance of four marriages in the present day society. He brought the crowd to its feet by reciting:



Shaadi To Char Kar Chuka Faslay Bahar Mein

Guzara Na Ek Din Bhi Hua Apna Pyar Mein

Main To Mushairon Mein Raha Aur Biwiyaan

Do Arzoo Mein Mar Gayeen Aur Do Intezaar Mein



(I married four wives in my youth but did not get to live with the fragrance of love for a single day. While I was busy in Mushaira sessions two of them died in their desire and the other two of the long wait)



After his soulful naat (eulogy), Dr. Majed Deobandi again returned but this time with a different genre. He lambasted the prevailing corrupt political system with the couplet:



Ye Kaisi Andheron Ki Siyasat Hai Ke Har Soo

Jalte Hein Chiragh Aur Kahin Noor Nahin Hai



(What kind of corrupt politics is prevalent these days. There is no light despite lamps being lit)



Dr. Majed took the audience to corridors of corrupt politicians and expressed the miseries of common man in his couplets.



He captured the imagination of the audience with his couplets



Samaan-e Tijarat Mera Imaan  Nahin Hai

Har Dar Pe Jhuke Sir Ye Meri Shaan Nahin Hai

Har Lafz Ko Seene Mein Basalo To Bane Baat

Takhon Mein Sajane Ko Ye Qur’an Nahin Hai



(My faith is not for trading and it is not my style to prostrate before every one; Qur’an is not a decorative piece for shelves instead it is worth following and believing each word of the Holy Book)



These verses created an spiritual and blissful moment in the Mushaira. He was requested repeatedly to recite the above verse. Dr. Majed then set the tone of the Mushaira. The poets knew that the audience were now in ecstatic mood and anything less would destroy the tone of the session.



Once again serious mood engulfed the audience and the need for a comic relief to swing the crowd’s mood was evident. Falaki very wisely called Iqbal Shana, famous humor poet, to pep up the audience. His couplets lamenting apathy of audience toward his poetry stirred the entire venue into laughter.



Sunta Nahin Hai Koi Bhi Sanjeegdi Ke Saath

Kaisa Mazaaq Hai Ye Meri Shayeri Ke Saath

Shaeron Pe Nahin Deta Ko Daad Mujhe



Young Imran Pratapgarhi, a 28-year-old Ph.D student in Hindi literature, stunned the crowd with his political perception, bold expression and melodious voice. What impressed the audience most was his usage of simple Urdu words and at places insertion of Hindi without breaking the rhythmic meter of the poetry. He created a niche for himself as a poet of Hindustani language and not a poet of Urdu or Hindi. The audience identified themselves when he recited:



Pehle Aata Tha Ab Nahin Aata

Dar Mein Bhi Yaad Rab Nahin Aata

Kaanpti Hai Zameen Gunahon Se

Zalzala Besabab Nahin Aata



(He lamented that now even in fear people don't remember God. The earth trembles with the load of sins. And these earthquakes do not come without reason. He was alluding to recent tremors that shook India and Nepal)



Kisi Bhi Moulvi Se Ya Kisi Sadhu Say Na Chootega

Madari Ke Kisi Kartab Se Ya Jadoo Say Na Chootega

Safai Kar Rahe Ho To Zara Daman Ki Bhi Karlo

Hamare Khoon Ka Dhabba Hai Jhadu Se Na Chootega



(The stains of blood cannot be removed by neither Hindu or Muslim priests nor they could be removed by any magic or brush. One needs to make serious efforts to clean it.)



His couplets on Palestine and the merciless killing of the people moved the audience to tears.



Famous poet Tahir Faraz who rose to fame with his poem (nazm) Mai (mother) narrated the every day struggle of the common man for survival in the couplet he recited:



Shaam-E-Gham Tujhse Jo Darr Jaate Hain

Shab Guzar Jaaye To Ghar Jaate Hain

Zindagi Tere Taaqub Mein Hum

Itna Chalte Hain Ke Mar Jaate Hain

Unse Milkar Yeh Poochna Hai Mujhe

Zakhm Kya Waqai Bhar Jaatay Hain



In another poem he again highlighted the miseries of life in the existing system.



Ab Is Se Badh Kar Saza Aur Kya Hamari Hai

Tumhare Ahd Mein Jo Zindagi Guzari Hai

Khila Hua Hai Mathe Pe Jo Ye Kaala Gulab

Badi Ke Baagh Pe Tanha Ye Phool Bhari Hai



(The biggest punishment of my life is to live in this era. The black deeds of mankind are worst than all the sins in the world)



In another couplet he took a turn from pessimism to optimism and said:



Banti Bigadti Zehen Mein Yun Tadbeerein Aati Hain

Jaise Udte Badal Mein Tasweerein Aati Hain

Khwaab Na Dekhein Humko Mitaane Ka

Unse Keh Do Aksar Khwaaboun Ki Ulti Taabeerein Aati Hain



(All kinds of ideas come in our mind just like the formation of images in the cloud. Tell those who see dreams of destroying us that some times opposite of dream becomes a reality.)



Despite the next day being a working day, the audience remained glued to their seats till the end of the Mushaira.



Saleem Qadri, general secretary of the Urdu Academy of Jeddah, proposed the vote of thanks.