9th All-India Mushaira satiates Urdu poetry lovers’ intellectual hunger

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 10

The 9th All-India Mushaira turned out to be spellbinding experience for Urdu poetry lovers of the city.

The Faiz Ahmed Faiz Literary foundation in collaboration with Sufi Foundation International organised the event at Nehru Siddhant Kendra last night.

The programme was organised to pay homage to those innocent people who lost their lives in the tragic incident of Shingar Bomb Blast in 2007.

Kashish Hoshiarpuri’s couplets set the tone of the mushaira — “Tum jante nahi ho kis haal mai likhi hai, hamne to teen gazlein bhi che saal mai likhi hai”.

City-based Urdu poet Mukesh Alam and Ritaz Maini and Zuber Ali Tavish from Uttar Pradesh (UP) also won huge applause for their poetic banter on the current situation prevailing in the country.

IPS Mohd Faiyyaz Farooqui, Chief Convener of the Mushaira, said some of the finest poets of the country were taking part in the event. “We assure that the Mushaira will satiate the intellectual hunger of Urdu literature lovers.”

The Mushaira reached its high point when acclaimed Urdu poet Dr Rajesh Mohan held the mike and narrated a couplet— “Aisi ulfat jis se ulfat ka jahaan zinda rahe, aur aisi ulfat karne wale abb kahan zinda rahe.”

The mesmerised audience was hooked on to their seats and burst into a thunderous applause as Dr Rajesh Mohan proceeded with his poems.

Ijaz Asad, an IAS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre, and noted Urdu poet Ijaz Farooqui also won accolades from poets and audience.

The night culminated with a poetic parody of MF Farooqui who also released his book “Nazam Numma” on the occasion.

Besides a galaxy of poets, some of the former DGPs including AA Saddiqui and SK Sharma were also present on the occasion.