Legacy of Urdu Poetry

 

(36) Legacy of Urdu Poetry

12-2-98

by Fazeel Azeez Chauhan

Language is an important asset of a community. Language connects people to their culture, religion, history, ancestors and expression of feelings. Urdu is very beautiful and by definition is a multi-cultural language. When Urdu is your mom's first language you can study English for 20 years and still be unable to reach the depth of certain feelings. Poetry is the language of feelings and can be a good test of a person's identity. If you find that English poetry sufficiently expresses the range of your feelings, then you lean toward that language. If you find that conveying a wide spectrum of feelings in English can be cumbersome at times, then you may savor Urdu poetry. Does that mean that Urdu speakers feel more than English speakers?

Urdu also connects us to our ancestors. Authentic Urdu poetry is a good means for connecting to our roots. Sometimes, a person doesn't realize the value of roots, until he's in his 30's or when she becomes a mother. If you want to destroy a people, cut them off from their roots. Without sustenance, even the most beautiful plant will wither away and die. So the work that Nayyar Apa and Urdu Markaz have been doing for a decade is extremely crucial for our survival, specially in America. People might be staring at you with judgemental glances, but you can shrug them off your shoulder by humming some Urdu poetry which transports you to another place.

If you are a person who gets confused about his identity, three easy things can help clarify feelings. One, go to Pakistan and absorb the authentic things of the mother land. Two, intake the positive things of the culture by making friends with wise Pakistani elders. Three, submerge yourself in the works of bona fide artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Khusro, Ghalib, Iqbal and Faiz. Some poets specialize in writing love songs about women. But self-realization is even higher, as emphasized by the awesome inspirational poetry of Allama Iqbal. What's important about Sha-ir-e-Mashriq (the Poet of the East) is his U-Turn. He got a PhD of Philosophy in Germany and was well versed in Western thought. Yet he didn't sell out and promoted Islamic and Eastern values.

The authenticity of the arts of non-western people is endangered by TV and other forms of invasion. Authentic Urdu poetry quickly connects us to our ancestors, and to the truth. Urdu Markaz attempts to promote poets who are carrying on the bona fide traditions of a long line of great poets. They organize wonderful poetry readings at least once a year. The audience has been increasing greatly, as hundreds of people attend and partake in the flavorful verses. Writing poetry is very hard work. Good poets also have a deep understanding of philosophical, social, political and psychological influences.

Talking about Urdu poetry in English is a peculiar idea. The best thing is to read the poetry yourself and attend Urdu poetry readings. You may learn many lessons through the experiences of poets and don't have to re-invent solutions from scratch. Like tribal music or ancient rituals, at a Mushaira, you get the sense that your ancestors have practiced the same traditions, hundreds of years before you. It is an un-adulterated experience of our culture.

On November 6, Urdu Markaz held the Mushaira in Buena Park, near Disneyland. But niether Disneyland, nor Magic Mountain can offer the rides that the Urdu poets piloted. Plus, the Mushaira was much cheaper, and the experience meant something beyond pure entertainment. Peerzada Qasim did an excellent job of hosting the event. Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi was the honored president. Jameel Badlavi and Gain Chand were the honored guests in the audience. Some of the poets were from U.S. including: Farooq Taraz and wife Noshi Geelani, Zarreen Yaseen, Zafar Rizwi, Iqbal Mian Zaidi and Iftikhar Naseem. Abdul-Rehman Siddiqui was given the 1997 Poet Of The Year Award for his book "Naghma-e-Zanjeer". Amjad Adaya also presented him with a $5,000 check. A pleasant surprise was the Community Service Award given to Abu-Bakr Vakil for his consistant assistance.

Mansoora Ahmed had won the Academy Of Letters Award in Pakistan. She brought tears to our eyes with her verses about the political and social unrest. Nawaz Dayo-Bandi, Mansoor Usmani and Irfan Siddiqui had come from India. Waseem Baraylvi, Peerzada Qasim and Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi arrived from Pakistan. It would be unfair to acknowledge one poet and not another. You had to be there. If you weren't, you missed an thoroughly fulfilling experience. The program journal handed out was the best ever. It was generously sponsored by community businesses. Printed on glossy paper with colorful roses on the covers, it had poetry of all the greats. At the end, it included works of the evening's featured poets. Many thanks, wah wah and muqarrar irshaad to Urdu Markaz International!!