Maintaining its tradition started eight years ago, Khak-e-Taiba Trust, a non-profit charity organization based in Jeddah, once again brought on stage poets of various genres from India, Thursday. The auditorium of International Indian School Jeddah burst into applaud as chief guest of the evening Indian Consul General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed announced an International Urdu Conference to be organized in Jeddah by Maulana Azad University under the auspices of the Consulate General of India on June 6-7 preceded by a grand Mushaira on June 5. The Mushaira got off to a delayed start with a ‘Naat' recited by Azhar Enayati. Dilshad Nazmi, of Ranchi, invoked the glorious traditions of Urdu poetry: Munafiqon nay wahin morchay banaiy hain Adu hamari safon ki daraarr jaanta hain (Hypocrites have dug in well-placed trenches/ the enemy is aware of vulnurable spots in our ranks) Shoaib Rumi, who came from Qatar, echoed the sentiments of people with courage. Her aik makan say uthta hay nafraton ka dhuwaan Hae aadmi ka ellaqa'a edhar ko mat jaana (Malevolent smoke is coming out of each dwelling/ go not that way that leads to humans domain) Jalil Nizami, who also came from Qatar, rendered romantic ghazals: Masnad-e-ilm na shahi achi Tou ho raazi tou tabahi achi Teer-o-khanjar say katari say kahin Teri duzdeedah nigah hi achi (Neither scholarly couch nor royal throne is good/ if it be your will even destructuion is good / better than an arrow, a dagger or spear's point is your bashful side glance) Raees Nizaami, of Ujjain, touched on the current issues of terrorism and affront to Islam: Ab agar kahin parinda bhi koi takraiy ga Daikhna yeh elzaam meray sar hi aayay ga Kay un ki tanqees-o-ahanat ghayr mumkin hay Raees Chaand tak phainka huwa pathar kahin na jaiay ga (Even if a bird dashes against/ the blame will be placed squarely on me/ for it's impossible to find fault with them/ a stone hurled towards the moon goes nowhere) Abida Rafa'at made her appearance in a mushaira after about 25 years: Dil tumhaara hae, jaan tumhaari hae Naam ko zindagi hamari haey Apna apna nasib haey yeh tou Ghum hamaray, khushi tumhari hay (My heart is yours, my life is yours/ my very existeance is nominal/ each one to its own destiny/ we own our shorrows, yours the joy) Asrar Jama'ai, of Patna, brought ripples of laughter in the audience through his comic couplets: Her heaviness gir gayin bistar say tou muskura kar un kay shoher nay kaha, Zalzalay say gir gayin aap ya aap kay girnay say aaya zalzala (When her Heavness fell off the bed the husband smilingly said/ fell you down due to earthquake / or your falling brought it about) Lucknow's Raees Ansary was appreciated for his couplet: Yeh jaltay bujhtay diyay chashm-e-tar may rehnay day Kay ghar ki baat jahan tak ho, ghar main rehnay de (Let these quivering lights remain in teary eyes /it's best for house secrets to dwell therein) Tahir Faraz from Rampur, who is recognized internationally for his ghazals, captivated the audience when he presented his romantic nazam ‘Bohat khubsoorat ho tum.' He made the atmosphere truly electrifying. A sample of his couplets: Meray aansu teri aankhon say agar mil jain Jitney murjhayay huway phool hain ,sab khil jain (If my tears mingle in your eyes/ all withered flowers will bloom anew) Johar Kanpuri presented Nazams on politics and terrorism. Sirf ahsaas-e-nadamat,aik sajdah,chasm-e-tar Ay khuda tujh ko tou manaana bohat asaan hae (Repentance, prostration, tearful eyes/ how easy is it to propitiate Thee O God) The poet of ghazal with innovative tone, Azhar Enayati, of Dehli, enlivened the atmosphere with: Khud kashi kay liyay thora sa hi kaafi hay magar Zindah rehnay ko bohat zehar piya jaata hae (For suicide a little kpoison is more than enought/ but for survival a lot more has to be consumed) The Mushaira reached its peak when the prince of Urdu poetry, Professor Waseem Barailvi, began reciting his ghazals: Yeh soch kar koi ahd-e-wafa karay mujh say Hum aik wa'aday pay umrain guzaar daytay hain (Thin before your vow of fidelity/ for we pass on lives on a plighted word) Another beautiful couplet: Shartain lagai jaati nahin dosti kay saath Kijiyay mujhay qabool meri har kami kay saath (Conditions are not laid in friendship/ accept me with all my shortcomigns) Wasim Barailwi presided over the Mushaira while Raees Ansary of Lucknow conducted the proceedings. Earlier, Aleem Khan Falki gave an introductory speech about the goals and achievements of KTT as convener. __
