KARACHI: Literature lovers witnessed a high quality mushaira (poetry symposium) organised by the Arts Council to celebrate the 70th Independence Day on Saturday.

Presided over by senior poet Rasa Chughtai, the event had no fewer than 19 poets taking part in it. And barring a couple of verse-wielders, the audience wholeheartedly appreciated the poets’ kalaam with the loud chants of wah wah and the occasional clap.

Rasa Chughtai recited two ghazals. The first ghazal began with the couplet:

Kaho iss ahd-i-na pursaan mein jaani/ Ghazal khwani karein ya zindaani

[Tell me, in these trying times/ Should I write poetry or just survive]

The next two lines:

Kahan tak kaaty’ye ga fasl-i-girya / Kahan tak boyey ga khush gumaani

[Till when shall we reap the harvest of sorrow?/ Till when shall we sow the seeds of optimism?]

Iftikhar Arif, who had flown in from Islamabad to participate in the symposium, read out in his distinct style couplets and verses from his various ghazals. The audience enjoyed them thoroughly. His first piece was related to Independence Day:

Aur to kia kisi paimaan ki hifazat hoti / Hum se ik khwab sambhala na gaya terey baad

[Leave aside the rest of the promises we could’ve kept/ After you, we couldn’t protect the dream that you saw]

Amjad Islam Amjad recited quite a few nazms and a couple of ghazals. His first poem was dedicated to the country, followed by a new ghazal, the second verse of which was:

Iss zameen per hai jo bhi Adam zaad/ Unn kahi daastaan nahin hai kia?

[Each man that exists in this world/ Isn’t he an untold story?]

Sabir Zafar’s two ghazals were very well received, especially the following two lines:

Yeh terey haath buhat narm bhi hain, garm bhi hain

Inhein milaya na ker bad havaas loagon se

[Your hands are dainty and warm/ Don’t extend them to scatterbrained souls]

Ahmed Ataullah from Muzzaffarabad had a different flavour to his poetry. Here’s why:

Tujh ko darya paar se dekha kertey thay/ Phir basti mein kishti ki ijaad hui

[We used to look at you from across the river/ Then the boat was invented by townspeople]

Pirzada Qasim, who had to leave early because he had a prior engagement, also entertained the audience. These two lines were particularly applauded:

Guzishta ahwaal mein chhupi thi nai kahani/ So qissa ye bhi usi tamanna se ja mila hai

[A fresh story was tucked away in an old one/ So the tale has met the same fate]

The rest of the participating poets were: Ajmal Siraj (who conducted the mushaira), Kashif Ghair, Khursheed Alam, Zulfiqar Adil, Suhail Ahmed, Nasira Zuberi, Liaquat Ali Asim, Sarwar Javed (Quetta), Ashraf Shaad, Inamul Haq Javed, Fatima Hasan, Ahmed Navaid and Aqeel Abbas Jafri.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2017