JEDDAH — "It gives me immense pleasure to see Jeddah emerging as a prominent center of Urdu language and poetry. The Jeddah and Riyadh literary circles have proved their importance. We get the glimpses of Kingdom's Urdu literary scene through our trips and the reports published in Indian newspapers and the social media," said Nadeem Siddiqui in an interview to Saudi Gazette. Nadeem Siddiqui, a poet, journalist and literary editor of Urdu Times, Mumbai, was on a brief visit to Saudi Arabia to participate in the Mushairah organized by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. When he came to perform Umrah, Saudi Gazette had a chance to interview him. Siddiqui's journey as an accomplished poet was destined as his poetic roots were strengthened by the constant exposure to great Indian Urdu poets of his times. Their influence and family traditions surely took him toward the realms of poetry, and have been excelling in it with a series of unique works. "I was born on Oct. 16, 1950 in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. My father Jamil Murassa Puri is a poet, who in his heydays used to participate in the Mushairahs with famous poets Majrooh Sultanpuri, Shakil Badayuni and Sardar Jafri. He came to Bombay when I was a child, and sustained his poetic link. In my poetic career, in Bombay, I got inspiration from famous poets Awarah Sultanpuri and Anjum Farouqi," said Nadeem Siddiqui when asked about from where he drew inspiration. "My ancestors belonged to the village Murassa Pur in Allahabad district. It's located near Pariyanwan Railway Station. My father's maternal grandfather Sajjad Hussain was an employee of Nawab Ahmad Hassan, the writer of Tareekh-e-Ahmadi. Murassa Pur was in the jagir of Nawab Ahmad Hassan. It had a literary environment in which poets, writer, dramatist and artists flourished. The famous poet of humor and satire Akbar Allahabadi's son, Ishrat Hussain, was a son-in-law of Nawab Ahmad Hassan. "During childhood I used to see my father composing poetry. I got noticed by my father's friend Kamil Fatehpuri, who was a famous poet. I started composing poetry in 1964. Maqbool Hassan, one of my relatives and a bachelor of arts from Christ Church College, Kanpur, was surprised seeing me composing poetry at such a tender age," he said. But being a poet was not a full time practice of mine, as I had to survive. I worked in the literary section of Urdu media and continued writing on the side. "I joined Qaumi Awaz Bombay in 1982. When it closed down I joined the Inquilab daily. I was very much impressed by Zoe Ansari, a famous literary figure and the editor-in-chief of Inquilab daily. I learned many things from him. Ansari was very affectionate to younger writers. In fact, Ansari, Sultanpuri and Farouqi were my mentors. They guided me in the field of journalism, prose writing and poetry," he said. "Among the classical poets Ghalib, though difficult, is dearest to me. I like Mir and Mushafi too. Mir's poetry is transparent. Among the progressive poets I like Ali Sardar Jafri, Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Majrooh Sultanpuri," he added. "I am very happy that my book "Pursa" that contains biographical notes of famous poets, journalists and the figures that inspired me, was well-received in the literary circles. In this book I have tried to compile my observations regarding the contemporary literary personalities and the world I live in. This book got good reviews," Siddiqui said.
