Poetry of passion presents peace as the viable alternative
By Perwez Abdullah
Karachi: The cool breeze flowing across the lawns of the Arts Council of Pakistan on Tuesday night brushed gently against those who had filled the venue.
It was the perfect setting for a Mushaira: there was passion and a festive mood; it was fun and revelry, a will to carve a peace with India; and most of all, there was poetry from the poets of the two countries that were in a flamboyant mood to talk about peace. And they did so poignantly.
Eminent personalities of the city, as well as Indian and Pakistani poets celebrated the occasion held under the auspices of ‘Aman Ki Asha.’ Almost everyone took part in setting some pigeons free – a poetic representation of hope for peace that has eluded the India and Pakistan for over six decades. The stage filled with the white flags waved by these people whose enthusiasm was simply contagious.
Everybody danced to the tune of ‘Lal Meri Pat’ sung passionately by Shazia Khusk, and received equally by the audience, who were jovial and showed their approval to the peace effort launched by Jang and Times of India groups.
Singer of the ages, Mehdi Hassan, was also there to give credence to the occasion. Javed Miandad, Shoaib Muhammad, Behroze Sabzwari, Kashif Khan, Salahuddin Sallu and others representing cricket stars, actors and elite of the city also pledged their support to the Jang Group.
The poets – both Indian and Pakistani – used some traditional and some non-traditional poetry that suited the theme of the Mushaira. Sadr-e-Mushaira, the renowned Indian Poet Nida Fazli, recited verses that expressed the feelings of the people from the other side. “Most of the people living in India want peace that can bring prosperity to the subcontinent. We have endured many evenings of gloom and depravity. It is the time to have prolonged periods of joy and that could come through the peace,” she said.
Poet Tarannum Riaz, who is based in Delhi but hails from Srinagar (Kashmir) symbolised peace with butterflies which give a sense of colour and fascinate our faculties with countless mirth and merriment. The same butterflies lose their beauty and wings if someone clutches them with rough hands.
Dr Fatima Hassan from Karachi had verses that were littered with meaningful allegory for peace and the suggestion that the two neighbours had so much in common and there was no need to continue the senseless enmity and grudge.
Poet Dr Shahnaz Nabi, Head of the Urdu Department at the University of Calcutta, recited verses that expressed the pain of divided families, divided culture and divided people. She pointed that the division had divided the flute of god Krishna and ‘Payel’ of Radha, his spouse, and euphuism for the divided religious deities.
She asked questions with pathos about Heer and Ranjha, who were left in Pakistan, and even Urdu poets of highest order, such as Ghalib and Iqbal, who have been bracketted as Indian and Pakistani poets. It was pathetic and so unnatural; her voice rang late at night with conviction and sincerity that touched the hearts of the audience a great extent.
Jang Editor Mahmood Sham thanked the poets for their cooperation and lavished praise to others who had come from far and wide to give their voice to the peace initiative by his group and Times of India.
– I am in Pakistan and feel at home. People are friendly and we talked in the same language, ate the same food. I do not understand what the fuss is about. What is the bone of contention and why?
– Poet Ahmed Mahfooz, Professor at Jamia Millia University, New Delhi.
– It is my first visit to Pakistan. Allow me to say that I am overwhelmed. People are so polite and they are doting on us. I feel like I am not away from home. It is a marvellous feeling. It is simply marvellous.
–Poet Tarannum Riaz from New Delhi
– I teach at University of Calcutta and it is my first visit. I was pleasantly surprised to find a relative at the airport. I was moved. The reception is simply corrupting me. I am being pampered and a toast of the people. I will miss it back home.
–Poet Dr Shahnaz Nabi, Head of Urdu Department, University of Calcutta
– I am a permanent fixture at Mushairas in Pakistan. I am grateful and I find my stay here very relaxing and productive – people understand the poetry. I hope the movement of others to the two countries will be eased too. It will bring joy to the millions on both sides of the divide.
–Poet Khushbeer Singh Shad, New Delhi
Source: The News
Date:4/1/2010
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