Kyaa rahaa hai Mushaairon men ab Log kuch jam'aa aan hote hain What is there in poetry soirees now? Some people gather, and that is it. In this couplet, almost a century ago, Meer Taqi Meer, one of the legends of Urdu Poetry, was complaining about the changing state of Mushairas. At Meer's time Mushairas were exclusive gatherings for literary elite patronized by Kings and Nawabs. Imagine how would have Meer reacted to the Mushaira at Indian International School in Riyadh where more than thousand cheering, clapping and demanding Urdu poetry lovers were gathered in the auditorium and many more were enjoying the open-air CCTV relay of the Mushaira in the school yard. Traditions change with time. These days Mushairas have become a public gathering and transformed into a sort of a performing art. A new popular Mushaira culture has evolved over the years. “Mushaira is a symbol of Indian culture and ethnicity, and we make it a point to maintain our socio-ethical character,” said M O H Farook, Indian ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while inaugurating the Mushaira. Rajeev Shahare, deputy chief of mission, said that Indian society is well known for its spiritual and moral excellence and regard for moral and ethical values besides being an amalgamation of a large number of religious streams, languages, that are essentially secular in nature. Hifzur Rahman, secretary, culture and information, Indian embassy, welcomed the gathering and introduced the participants who had come from different parts of India. Nepalese ambassador Hamed Ansari was the guest of honor while distinguished poet Rahman Jaami presided over the event. Participants included Chander Bhaan Khayal, Surinder Singh Shajar and Iqbal Ashhar from Delhi, Dr. Mohsin Jalganvi and Hina Shaheedi and Rehman Jami from Hyderabad, Suleiman Khumaar from Bijapur, Aalam Khursheed from Bihar, Mukhtar Yousuf from Maligaon, Dr Anjum Baarabankavi and Nusrat Mehdi from Bhopal, Dr Kaleem Qaiser from Balrampur U.P, Irfan Jaffery from Bombay, Girgit Amadabadi from Gujrat, Azm Shaakeri form Patyali, Zia Tonki from Rajisthan and Mesam Razvi from Allahabad The Mushaira was a big success since the selection of poets was compatible and relatable to the literary tastes of the heterogeneous audience in Saudi Arabia. The credit of the success of the Mushaira also goes to the anchor (nazim) Iqbal Ashhar, who knew how to please and handle the over-enthusiastic audience and yet to maintain dignity of Mushaira. The poets who had melodious voice and modulation (Taranum) got most cheers and applauds yet the ones who recited ( without taranum) their ghazals that touched the sensibilities and sentiments of the audience were well appreciated too. The Mushaira reflected the contemporary trends of Indian Mushairas where poetry is not only confined to romantic Ghazals and geets but it incorporates various social concerns too. Azm Shakiri's Tarannum and delicate emotional ghazals stole the hearts of audience: Andheri raat mein kaanton ka bister teri yaadon ne makhmal kar diya hai ( In the gloomy night your memories have transformed my bed of thorns into velvet.) Iqbal Ashhar's famous poem “Urdu” was a big hit. The poem raised the question that why Urdu language that was evolved in India and has a secular disposition is being neglected in its homeland. Chandre Bhan Khyal, the vice chairman of National Council for promotion of Urdu, recited few stanzas about Prophet Mohamed's (peace be upon him) birth, from his long poem in praise of Allah's last prophet. Meesam Rizvi got huge applauds for his coupet: Masjid e koofa se awaaz e Ali aati hai, zindigi hoti hai momin ki ibaadut ke liye. (Imam Ali's voice is coming from the Mosque of Koofa, life of a beliver's is devoted to divine worship) Mohsin Jalganvi , the editor of the literary page of Eithemad , Hyderabad said : Rivayat ki rava dari bohat hai, yahan rishton ki beemaari bohat hai. (There is too much of confirmation of tradition and associations, almost like an ailment.) Dr. kaleem Quaiser: Barkatain ho gayen keh kar ye hi rukhsat afsous,dukh nahin ba'ant sake bhai to ghar ba'ant liye (Alas! blessings have departed, saying “brothers could not share each other's sorrows, instead they divided the ancestral home”) Surender Sing Shajer: Hur eik shakhs ko oos ke huqooq dilwa doon ,shajer mujhe jo kabhi ikhtiar mil jaye. __
