KARACHI: It was so encouraging to see poetry lovers pack a vast area such as the lawns of the Mohatta Palace Museum on Saturday evening to attend a mushaira organised by the Corporate Pakistan Group. The other praiseworthy aspect of the event was the not-so-large number of poets taking part in it, therefore, allowing each versifier to stay on stage for a longer period and recite their poetry to their heart’s content.

Rahman Faris was the first poet to take the stage. He set the tone of his stint there by reciting a couplet which paid tribute to the host (nazim) of the mushaira, Faisal Sabzwari.

A’aey hain Lahore se hum in ki yaari ke liyey

Taalian ho ja’aen Faisal Sabzwari ke liyey

[I’ve come from Lahore as Faisal’s friend

Please give him a round of applause]

Dr Kabir Athar followed him and presented some ghazals. A sample of his impressive creative pursuit:

Kahin main deir se punhchun to yaad aata hai

Kahin main waqt se pehley bhi jaaya kerta tha

[When I arrive late at a venue, it reminds me:

There used to be a place where I’d arrive before time]

Irfan Sattar, who now lives in Canada and had flown in to participate in the programme, was warmly greeted by the host.

The poet said he was going to recite his poems in his own city after a decade.

He recited a few ghazals which were all liked by the large crowd. The opening two lines of one of them were:

Tere lehjey mein tera jahl-i-darun bolta hai

Baat kerna nahin aati hai to kyun bolta hai

[Your inner lack of wisdom reflects in your tone and tenor

If you aren’t cultured enough to converse, why speak?

The mushaira was then taken to another realm by Mir Ahmed Navaid. He claimed he’d be reading the kind of poems that poets tended not to in mushairas. His verses were enthusiastically received by the audience which otherwise seemed to be more attuned to romantic verses.

Main apna aap shad o mad se manvaney nahin aaya

Samajhney aaya hun dunia ko samjhaney nahin aaya

[I haven’t come here to stake a claim to greatness

I have come here to understand the world, not to preach it]

The only woman poet, Yasmeen Hameed, lent a touch of profundity to the whole gig. Her ghazals and nazms had philosophical undercurrents with interesting turn of phrases.

Kahani munjamid ik harf mein rakhi gai thi

Samandar ki nishani barf mein rakhi gai thi

[The story was frozen into a letter The ice stood as the symbol of the sea]

Prof Inayat Ali Khan, although he read some touchy stuff as well, tickled the audience’s funny bones with his sharp wit and politically-charged humour, something he is known for.

It was nice to see him enjoy the big turnout and wanting the attendees to listen to what he had to say.

Hum hain badnaam minister to koi baat nahin

Media kerta hai tar tar to koi baat nahin

Baarhvein paas hain teacher to nahin lag sakte

Haan jo bun ja’aen governor to koi baat nahin

[What if I’m an infamous minister

Let the media create hoopla

He has only studied till class 12, can’t be a teacher

But it’s all right if he becomes governor]

Anwar Shaoor had a great many requests to pay heed to. Poetry buffs sitting in front of the stage kept asking him to read some of his famous ghazals, which he did, but also recited a few others. They were all appreciated by them.

Kabhi kabhi mujhe lagta hai ghar mein koi nahin

Kabhi kabhi mujhe lagta hai ghar mein koi hai

[Sometimes I feel there’s no one in the house

Sometimes I feel there is, but can’t tell who]

Amjad Islam Amjad was the penultimate versifier of the evening. He recited quite a few of his ghazals and nazms, some of which were those that he is asked almost at every mushaira to read. It has to be said though that he began his stay on stage with an impactful ghazal:

Kuch wazahat na iltija keejey

Sach kaha hai to hosla keejey

Hum ne maana ke moa’tbar hai dimagh

Dil na maane agar to kiya keejey

[Don’t explain or complain If you’ve uttered the truth, stick with it I admit that the mind is reliable But what if the heart doesn’t believe so]

Iftikhar Arif was the last poet of the mushaira, and he beautifully took the event to its worthy climax. His couplets and verses made the crowd praise him wholeheartedly. His poems were socially and politically profound with the rhythmic flow that is typical of his creative output.

Muhafiz-i-ravish-i-raftagan koi nahin hai

Jahan ka main hun mera ab wahan koi nahin hai

[There’s no one to save the past’s glory No one exists in the land from where I come]

Teri shoreeda mizaji ke sabab terey nahin

Ay merey shehr terey loag bhi ab terey nahin

[No one cares for you, because of your uncertain demeanour Dear town, not even your citizens].

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2020