Khak-e-Taiba Trust Mushaira Boosts Popularity of Urdu in Saudi Arabia

By Siraj Wahab

Published in Arab News on Sunday, April 13, 2008

It was a night to remember for hundreds of Urdu lovers who packed the International Indian School auditorium in Jeddah on Thursday for a grand "mushaira" or poetry-reading session organized by the Khak-e-Taiba Trust.

In attendance at the well-organized event were some of the best names in Urdu poetry from India such as Waseem Barelwi, Azhar Inayati, Taher Faraz, Raees Ansari, Jalil Nizami, Asrar Jamae and Johar Kanpuri. They provided the audience with a veritable feast of couplets that are sure to remain in their hearts and on their lips for some time to come.

In their beautifully crafted lines, the visiting poets talked not only of love, which is what Urdu poetry essentially is all about, but also of war, of pathos and poverty, of cultural decadence and the pangs of separation, of riots and politics and even of the so-called clash between East and West. The poets omitted nothing of concern to an average Indian and Pakistani expatriate in the audience for whom life away from home is a constant struggle and an everyday challenge.

Many eyes, therefore, went moist when one particular poet, Taher Faraz, took the audience on an emotional journey recalling all the good memories associated with one's mother or "maayi" as he called her. In his lines, Faraz tried successfully to convey how she would wait in freezing cold for her son to return home in the middle of the night, and how on other occasions she would scold him one moment and envelop him in the warmth of her bosom the next and how she would treat him to sweets wrapped neatly for him in the folds of her "sari".

It was seasoned poet Azhar Inayati who took the "mushaira" to a new level with many exquisite couplets. The ones that particularly found great favor among the audience were:

Ye Aur Baat Ke Andhi Hamare Bas Me Nahi

Magar Charaag Jalana To Ikhtiyar Me Hai

Khudkushi Ke Liye Thoda Sa Ye Kaafi Hai Magar

Zinda Rehne Ko Bahot Zehr Piya Jaata Hai

Is Aadmi Ne Bahot Qehqahen Lagaye Hain

Ye Aadmi Jo Larazta Hai Muskurate Huwe

Isi Liye Ke Kahin Unka Qad Na Ghat Jaaye

Salaam Ko Bhi Wo Darte Hain Haat Uthate Huwe

Huwa Ujala To Hum Unke Naam Bhool Gaye

Jo Bujh Gaye Hain Charagon Ki Lau Badhate Huwe.

Inayati then launched into a ghazal dealing with the traditional values of the East and how they are under attack today:

Jab Tak Safaid Andhi Ke Jhonke Chale Na The

Tehzeeb Ke Darakht Bhi Itne Gire Na The

Pehle Bhi Log Milte The Lekin Ta'aluqaat

Angdayi Ki Tarah To Kabhi Toot-Te Na The;

Unke Ke Bhi Apne Khwab The Apni Zarooraten

Haumsaaye Ka Magar Wo Gala Kaat-Te Na The

Pakke Gharon Ne Neend Bhi Aankhon Ki Chheen Li

Kacche Gharon Mein Raat Ko Hum Jaag-Te Na The

Rehte The Daastanon Ke Maahol Me Magar

Kya Log The Ke Jhoot Kabhi Bolte Na The

Inayati was fantastic, but Taher Faraz was the hero of the night. He kept the audience spellbound with his beautiful poetry rendered in a style suggestively reminiscent of the legendary exponent of classical ghazal, Khumar Barabankvi.

Baandh Rakha Hai Zehn Mein Jo Khayal

Usme Tarmeem Kyun Nahi Karte

Besabab Uljhanon Me Rehte Ho

Mujh Ko Tasleem Kyun Nahi Karte

And then,

Zindagi Ka Lamha Lamha Motabar Kar Dijiye

Aap Apne Gham Ko Mera Humsafar Kar Dijiye

Aap Bhi Makhmoor Hain Main Bhi Thakan Se Choor Hoon

Aisa Kije Mera Qissa Mukhtasar Kar Dijiye

Zindagi Ke Khushk Sehra Mein Bahar Aa Jayegi

Apne Ashkon Se Mere Kandhe Ko Tar Kar Dijiye

Raees Ansari, who conducted the mushaira, tackled some interesting issues in his couplets. For instance:

Dar-o-Deewar Sukhan Karne Lage Hain Humse

Ab Tere Shehr Se Hijrat Bhi Nahi Kar Sakte

Itne Majboor Hain Is Ahd Ke Budhe Maan Baap

Apne Bachchon Ko Nasihat Bhi Nahi Kar Sakte

And,

Neza Nahi Badla, Koyee Khanjar Nahi Badla

Qaatil To Badalte Rahe, Ye Sar Nahi Badla

Pehle Ki Tarah Aaj Bhi Ghar Jalte Hain Mere

Sarkar Badalne Se Bhi Manzar Nahi Badla

Mumkin Hai Kabhi Dhoondne Aa Jaaye Wo Mujhko

Maine Isee Ummeed Pe Ye Ghar Nahi Badla

Johar Kanpuri tried in his own way to explain how Islam had nothing to do with those who mistreat women.

Uska Islam Se Rishta To Nahin Ho Sakta

Jisne Aurat Pe Sitam Dha Ke Qayamat Ki Hai

Chauda Sau Saal Ki Taareekh Utha Kar Dekho

Humne Jango Me Bhi Aurat Ki Hifazat Ki Hai

Asrar Jamae provided welcome relief with his lighter lines. There were howls of laughter when he said:

Begum Ne Ek Din Kaha Naukar Ko Badtameez

Usne Diya Jawab Ke Kamtar Nahi Hun Main

Madam, Zara Tameez Se Batein Kiya Karen

Naukar Hoon Aapka, Koyee Shauhar Nahi Hoon Main

Qatar-based Jalil Nizami's two couplets found particular favor with the audience:

Mah-e-Nao Dekhne Tum Chhat Pe Na Jana Hargiz

Shehr Me Eid Ki Tareekh Badal Jayegi

And,

Itna Saj Dhaj Ke Ayadat Ko Na Aaya Kije

Warna Kuch Soch Ke Ye Jaan Nikal Jaayegi

The first couplet is very popular but not many knew that it was by Jalil Nizami.

All good things have to come to an end and this "mushaira" too did after five hours with no break. But not before the president of the mushaira, Waseem Barelwi, recited choicest couplets in his inimitable style:

Laga Ke Dekh Le Jo Bhi Hisaab Aata Ho

Mujhe Ghata Ke Wo Ginti Men Reh Nahi Sakta

And,

Main Chahta Bhi Yahi Tha Wo Bewafa Nikle

Use Samajhne Ka Koyee To Silsila Nikle

Earlier, Indian Consul General Ausaf Sayeed, who was the chief guest, congratulated the Khak-e-Taiba Trust for the excellent "mushaira" and announced that the Indian Consulate would organize a World Urdu Conference in the first week of June. He called Urdu a language of love.

The poets were introduced to the audience by Aleem Khan Falki. Afsar Faheem, the trust president, and Shameem Kausar, its chief patron, thanked the community for all the help it extended in supporting the caravan of Urdu in Saudi Arabia. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hamrani came in for special praise for his support to the event.