Couplet recitation contest gives boost to Urdu

As part of the North Indian Fraternity Forum’s (NIFF) plan to boost awareness of Urdu among Indian students, an inter-school Urdu Bait Bazi (contest to recite couplets) was held recently at the Indian Consulate. Ten teams from various international schools of Jeddah took part in the competition.
The teams were divided into two groups: Group A: IISJ — Girls Section (GS), Al Wurood (GS), DPS (GS), Al Wurood (BS), Hala International (BS). Group B: Beladi International (GS), Dauha Al Uloom (GS), Hala International (GS), DPS (BS), IISJ (BS)
The program started with recitation from the Holy Qur’an.
The competition kicked off with a couplet of Momin Khan Momin narrated by a judge, Irfan Barabankwi: “Tum mere paas hote ho goya; jab koi doosra nahi hota.”
Team A of the IISJ (GS) started the first round with the couplet: “Aata hai jinhe gaiz nahi faniye jahan per; ahkame shariyat ko wo karte hain sabutaaj.” The remaining 4 teams of group A could not answer the first attack by the IISJ (GS) as it was difficult for them to come up with a couplet whose first letter is J. But the IISJ (GS) was ready with their answer and they won the first round with bonus points.
Elimination round of Group B started with the recitation of a couplet by Anjum Iqbal, a judge: “Lab pe aati hai dua banke tamanna meri; zindagi shamma ki soorat ho khudaya meri.”
Beladi International School (GS) caught the clue and answered back: “Yun to sayyad bhi ho, mirza bhi ho Afghan bhi ho; tum sabhi kuch ho batao Musalmaan bhi ho.”
The round concluded with enthusiastic replies from all the teams. The teams were judged on the basis of quality of couplet, delivery and pronunciation.
The top two teams from group A and B that entered the final round were IISJ (GS), IISJ (BS), Al Wurood International (BS) and Hala International (GS).
The final round was started after Maghrib prayer.
NIFF President Fuzail Ahmed welcomed guests and congratulated the achievers of CBSE grade 10.
He announced the formation of an Urdu club and offered free membership to participating children while encouraging the audience to shoulder the responsibility of promoting Urdu language. He invited writeups for the monthly newsletter of the NIFF.
The final round was led by the couplet of Shabana Iqbal: “Yeh tere khat, yeh teri khushboo, yeh tere khwabo khayal; Makaein jaan hain tere khaul aur kasam ki tarah; Guzishta saal inhein maine gin ke rakha tha; Kisi gharib ki jodhi huee naghad ki tarah.”
The competition was won by the IISJ (GS), while the boys’ team of International Indian School was the runner-up. The other two teams that reached the final round were Al-Wurood International School (BS) and Hala International School (GS).
The winners and runners-up along with their teachers were honored.
The winners of a Bait Bazi round for the audience were also given prizes.