KARACHI: It was disconcerting to see the dodgy Skype connection through which Indian lyricist and film-maker Gulzar was to address a press conference organised at the Arts Council on Tuesday to highlight a series of paintings titled Ghalib and Gulzar by artist Shahid Rassam.

The renowned Indian film and literary personality was constantly on the phone even when the Skype connection was somehow working. The organisers, the Arts Council that is, should know by now that to avoid technical glitches such events are arranged with a fair degree of preparation.

Still, whatever little Gulzar was able to speak again reaffirmed his fondness for poetry, art and Pakistan.

He said the credit for the series went to Shahid Rassam, who came up with the idea and worked hard at it. Though Shahid’s inspiration was Gulzar, Ghalib was his inspiration for the project, he said, adding that Ghalib was the one whose verses he grew up reading.

Gulzar said the marked feature in the selection of Ghalib’s verses was to capture the mood (kaifiyat) with which the great Urdu poet had penned them. On the insistence of the organisers, Gulzar recited the following two lines by Ghalib:

Woh apni khu na chhorein ge, hum apni waza kyon badlein

Subuk sar bun ke kya poochhein ke hum se sargaran kyon ho

(She wouldn’t change her disposition, I won’t change my nature

Why should, then, I ask her why she’s annoyed with me)

Earlier, Fazil Jamili, who initiated the event, said it was Shahid’s idea to do a series of artworks on Ghalib and Gulzar’s poems. For that the artist met Gulzar, who chose Ghalib’s verses for him. Then Shakeel Adilzadah came into the picture and he chose Gulzar’s poems for Shahid.

Fazil’s introduction was followed by the screening of a video in which Gulzar and Shahid were seen addressing a press meet in Mumbai, with bits of an interview of the two. In the interview, Gulzar said Shahid was much more than a painter.

Shakeel Adilzadah said he had known Gulzar since the time he took out the Subrung magazine and was impressed with his poetry. When Shahid presented this concept to him he liked and accepted it.

Ahmed Shah said such collaborative efforts helped bring India and Pakistan closer. He also said that Shahid had already made 50 artworks on the subject.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2015

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