JEDDAH, 4 December 2004 — Talk Urdu and you talk love. Thanks to its lyricism, the language has become synonymous with romance to those who love it. No wonder that ghazal, the most popular genre of Urdu poetry, is defined as a conversation or “guftagu” between two lovers. However, Urdu poetry has been used brilliantly in India over the years to reflect the signs of times — and the times, more often than not — have been violent. The question in the current context inevitably was: Can there be love in a time of war?
At the annual mushaira organized by the Consulate General of India here over the weekend, Meraj Faizabadi answered that question with a series of thought-provoking couplets. The night simply belonged to him. Interestingly, he did not recite the famous lines he composed before the demolition of the Babri Mosque in India in 1992 and which soon became almost his trademark:
“Apne Kaabe Ki Hifazat Tumhein Khud Karni Hai/Ab Ababilon Ka Lashkar Nahin Aane Wala; Tu Pukarega To Aye Sehne Haram Aayenge/ Ab Ababilon Ke Andaz Mein Hum Aayenge/ Leke Hum Aayenge Haathon Mein Sadaqat Ke Alam; Yeh Alag Baat Hai Taadaad Main Kam Ayenge.”
No, this time it was Iraq that was on his mind, and the capacity crowd at the grand International Indian School auditorium repeatedly burst into wah-wahs at lines which challenged and then warned the merchants of war: “Toofan Samajh Raha Tha Ke Hum Doob Jayenge/ Aandhi Mein Hum Hawaaon Se Aage Nikal Gaye” and “Raaj Mahlon Se Khandar Ka Raasta Ho Jayega/ Hum Faqeeron Se Jo Uljhega Fana Ho Jayega” and then this one: “Zinda Rehna Hai To Halaat Se Darna Kaisa/ Jang Laazim Ho To Lashkar Nahin Dekhe Jaate.”
Urdu poets, then, want peace with justice and dignity, like the vast majority of those whose language, and religion, they share. But they can hardly be blamed if in the face of escalating violence and worsening times for Muslims they withdraw into nostalgia. And indeed, Munawwar Rana found the audience prepared to follow him all the way with verses from a recently released book on “mother”. The poems sent many expats — far from home as they are — into the warmth of their mother’s “dupatta”. Yet going down memory lane can be a painful experience too: “Kisi Ko Ghar Mila Hisse Mein Ya Koyee Dukaan Aayee/ Main Ghar Mein Sabse Chhota Tha Mere Hisse Mein Maan Aayee” and “Maine Rote Huwe Ponchhe The Kissi Din Aansoo/ Muddaton Maan Ne Nahin Dhoya Dupatta Apna.”
Farid Anjum was simply amazing, while, in a lighter vein, his Deccani “shayeri” sent the crowd into howls of laughter. His lines were simple, but Deccani as a language has a special flavor and, when it is spoken in style as it was by Farid Anjum, it can be a heady concoction. His humor was on full display in the following lines: “Shayeri Se Bahot Lagaao Hai Kya/ Pet Mein Gas Ka Dabao Hai Kya” and “Kab Huwa Aqd Mera Yaad Nahin/ Kab Ghusi Ghar Mein Bala Yaad Nahin” and “Jodi Ab Yeh Jamna Kaisa/ Woh Moti Main Dubla, Kaisa; Achhe Achhe Doob Ke Margayeen/ Tair Ke Nikla Langda Kaisa; Wasl Ki Shab Hai Jaane Wafa To/ Haath Mein Tere Danda Kaisa; Amma Baawa Dono Kaale/ Beta Nikla Gora Kaisa.” His “Rokte? Cheer Daaltaun” was an absolute gem.
The tone had been set earlier by a rib-tickling speech, needless to say in Urdu, by Arab News Editor in Chief Khaled Almaeena, who opened the event. In no small measure, too, the compere is of crucial importance to the success of any mushaira, and in Anwar Jalalpuri, this one had just the man for the job. His command of the language and the sophistication of his dialogue delivery was spell-binding. And when he recited his own couplets he revealed what a serious poet he is. “Kabhi Chirag Kabhi Teergi Se Haar Gaye/ Jo Beshaoor The Woh Har Kisi Se Haar Gaye; Ajeeb Khel Ka Maidaan Hain Duniya Bhi/Ke Jisko Jeet Chuke The Usee Se Haar Gaye” and “Pardes Main Tum Khush The Magar Yeh To Batao/ Ghar Laut Ke Aaye Ho To Ghar Kaisa Laga Hai.”
Professor Ghayas Mateen, who was named president of the event, had praise for the efforts of Consul General Ausaaf Sayeed and Consul (Press, Information and Administration) Hifzur Rahman in organizing the mushaira and then recited a couple of his own couplets. “Salamat Bheed Main Pehchan Rakhna/ Hatheli Pe Saja Kar Jaan Rakhna” and “Woh But Nazdeek Aata Ja Raha Hai/ Khuda Wanda Mera Imaan Rakhna.”
Raees Ansari, Sunil Kumar Tang, Mallika Nassem, Habib Hashmi, Aqeel Nomani and Raees Nizami were among the performers. But Nazar Etwi created quite a stir with the following: “Chehre Ke Nuqoosh Itne Zakhmon Ne Badal Daale/ Logon Ne Mujhe Meri Awaaz Se Pehchana.”
The mushaira went on for five marathon hours, with the crowd remaining glued to their seats till the very end, screaming “Mukarar, mukarar.”
