The 1,200-capacity auditorium at the International Indian School (Boys Section) was almost full to the capacity when the city's latest mushaira ended around 2 a.m.
The annual event, organized by Khak-e-Taiba, a private organization of mainly Hyderabadi Indians, is eagerly awaited in Jeddah. But this year it was hit by the non-attendance of three main crowd-pullers. Munawwar Rana, Nawaz Deobandi and Manzar Bhopali are the star performers of Indian mushairas. They were among a list of dozen guest poets invited from India. But for some reason they could not arrive in Saudi Arabia.
So the mushaira had a lackluster start with lengthy and, at times, irritating speeches and unending formalities. Though the mushaira was presided over by a towering literary figure, Kalim Aajiz, giving the event some credibility, most of the poets were unknown with no literary standing. The poet who received the maximum 'daad' (appreciation) was a humorist, Typical Jagtiali. Mixed with his style of delivery and couplets, he turned the auditorium into a laughter mill. His dialogue between Satan and humans was especially applauded:
Har ghar mein hai dish connection kya boloon re chhi chhi chhi
Nangi filmein, nanga fashion kya boloon re chhi chhi chhi
Dekhte hain sab milkar TV bachche, bawa, amma re
Wah wa re, wah wa re, main rah gaya naam ka shaitaan re
Iftikhar Raghib is a Qatar-based poet from India's Bihar state. His couplets were reflective of the sentiments of Asian expatriates earning a living in the Gulf countries:
Wahan mauj udaate ghar waale ye kya jaane
Yahan sookhi roti aayi hai mere hissay mein
Pardes mein rah kar koi kya paanwon jamaai
Gamle mein lage phool ki qismat hi alag hai
Another poet who drew some attention was Sabeehuddin Zafar from Delhi. His meaningful couplets received applause:
Boodha darakht kaanp ke rah gaya
Patte hawa ke saath bahut door tak gaye
Jugnoo ki kya bisaat thi sooraj ke saamne
Haan raat ho gayi hai to ye bhi chamak gaye
Kalim Aajiz is a living legend who has been conferred Padmashree, a prestigious civilian award in India. He was heard with the respect and attention due to him. Because of his old age he was allowed to recite in the middle of the mushaira and leave. He recited more than a dozen couplets and made the audience realize the difference between a poet and a stage performer which most of today's poets have turned themselves into:
Dard ki chot kahin sher se aati hi nahin
Bas chhuri bhonk ke mar jaane ko ji chahe hai
Rasn-o-daar udhar, kkakul-o-rukhsaar idhar
Dil bata tera kidhar jaane ko ji chahe hai
Ana Dehlavi, the only woman among the guests from India, has performed several times in Jeddah. She tried all her crowd-appeasing couplets but failed to generate a wave in her favor. Piqued, she started complaining about the compère, Nayeem Javid, for not encouraging the audience to give her some 'daad.'
Javid was specially invited from Dammam. Though he tried to do his best, it was apparent that compèring a mushaira requires a skill other than literary caliber.
Aleem Khan Falki, a local poet who was also convener of the mushaira, broke the norm of allowing only the guest poets to recite.
Khak-e-Taiba Trust is a well-established organization known for its philanthropic activities. It helps not only the destitute in India, but also offers almost free computer and other courses to all nationalities living in Jeddah. The annual mushaira is part of its donation-generating campaign, which is sponsored by national and international companies. Faiz Al-Abideen, board member of the Yanbu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Shakeel Ahmad, consul education at the Consulate General of India, were the chief guests.
