Poetry in Motion

“It’s an amazing feeling to be reading and listening to poetry here. Earlier,mushairas would begin after an early dinner,and go on till the wee hours of the morning,but this takes us back to the good old days. In Pakistan,this tradition is almost dead because of the fragile law and order situation,” said Pakistan’s first feminist poet Naheed,who read out some woman-centric poetry.

Anwar Jalalpuri compered the evening,sharing anecdotes and historical references. A huge screen outside the venue took the mushaira to a wider audience. “And that’s what needs to be acknowledged. The audience’s warmth,patience with the older poets and their complete commitment to lend an ear to hours of poetry,” shared Nirupama Dutt,who recited a host of couplets in Punjabi.

Powerful to eloquent,romantic to contemporary,ghazals to jokes and of course,the pain of Partition,the evening saw diverse genres and styles of poetry. Renowned poet Rahat Indori credited a few dedicated individuals and poets,who have kept the tradition of mushairas and poetry symposiums alive. “From Aligarh,Delhi and Hyderabad to Washington,poetry is going places. With changing times,poetry in other languages is also finding its place in mushairas. This also serves as a solid ground for contemporary poets to voice their verses and for us to know what’s new in the world of poetry,’’ shares Indori.

Farhat Ali Shahzad,a Pakistani poet living in America works consistently with groups and organisations who plan and organise mushairas in Los Angeles,New York and Washington on a regular basis. For the Indian and Pakistani diaspora,these poetry sessions,adds Shahzad,are a way to connect with their land,its people,with verses telling them stories and situations they were not witness to. “What’s heartening is the number of young people who attend these mushairas. Also,these are the places where we hear new poetry and young poets. Contemporary themes are handled sensitively yet powerfully by new poets,who do not feel shy about expressing their concerns,emotions and feelings via verses,” he says.

A passion for poetry,says Hindi poet Dinesh Raghuvanshi,is all that’s needed to get a mushaira going. Recently in the city on the invitation of the Chandigarh Literary Society for a poetic evening,Raghuvanshi travels frequently for mushairas to cities such as Lucknow,Aligarh and Delhi and believes that if the poetry has substance,the audience will give it respect and love. Thematic poetry,especially in hasya kavi sammelans,draw huge crowds. “We still have mushairas that continue the entire night,and some which are contemporary in feel and philosophy,drawing in young poets and crowds,” notes Raghuvanshi.