AAANE Gives A Befitting Tribute To Sir Syed Ahmed Khan On His 199th Anniversary

"Maut se Bachne ki ek tarkeeb hai - DoosroN ke Zehun meiN Zinda raho" - Such was the advice the renowned poet Iqbal Ashhar of Delhi had offered to hundreds of Urdu lovers who had gathered to listen to international and local poets on the occasion of the 199th birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. Keeping up with its tradition the Aligarh Alumni Association of New England (AAANE) this year invited international and local poets. Naseer Turabi (Pakistan), Iqbal Ashhar (India), Shakeel Azmi (india) and Haider Husnain Jaleesi (Pakistan) - local talent included: Dr. Saleem Khanani, Dr. Sana Qureshi, Muneebur Rahman, Gauhar Azmi, Aejaz Bhatt and Iqbal Danish.

"All of us who graduated from Aligarh Muslim University are testimony to the vision of Sir Syed," said AAANE's President Dr. Noman Siddiqi in his welcome speech, "and now in turn we should advance his agenda." Noman thanked his team and volunteers and took cognizant to the fact that an event of this magnitude can only be possible with great team work. He further added, "AAANE has and continues to promote the cause of education within local and international venues."

Iqbal Ashhar hailing from Delhi, India presided over the Mushaira quite well. Ashhar in his own flowery language complimented Dr. Noman Siddiqi and his team for: "decorating this event with a beautiful bouquet of poets." Iqbal Ashhar kept the audience smiling and laughing with his amusing anecdotes and humorous remarks as he introduced the poets one after another. Dr. Saleem Khanani, an oncologist by profession, recited his poetry:

When Dr. Khanani finished the last couplet, Ashhar told the audience, "Make sure that Khanani Sahab does not get a visa to visit Pakistan, anymore."

Gauhar Azmi and Sana Qureshi started off the Mushaira with "Hamd-O-Naat" and when they were done Ashhar was quick to respond, "Now let's talk about a different Mehboob"

Iqbal Danish got ahead of his namesake as he looked at his watch and said he still had 4 minutes and 56 seconds remaining. His poem brought attention to the plight of children of Iraq - referring to the children as "Bomb ke tukron se Khelne wale". Danish drew rather a grim picture of the aftermath of the Iraqi war where not only uncountable innocent lives were destroyed but the infrastructure as well.

â€œBigri hoouai hai soorat-e-ahwaal dehkna

Maazi ka aaj ho gya kya haal dekhna

Sab kuch chala gya hai zamane ke saath

Danish na jai haat se, Iqbal dekhnaâ€

Haider Hussain Jaleesi and I may be a decade apart but we both lived a stone throw of each other on Tariq Road in Karachi and went to the same school: Habib Pubic - as he revealed this to me at the Mushaira event, he went on to elaborate his affinity and passion for poetry goes back to a Mushaira that he attended and offered a couplet when he was only 8 years old. "Under the Sidarat of Qamar Jalalvi" Haider said proudly. Haider Jaleesi is known for his humorous poetry and today he was no different. He had the audience laughing as he eloquently shared some of his poetry:

"Khe Shaadi ke baad sher hua hain kamal ke

Urdu durust ho gaee Begum ko paal ke

MuuN doh ke phailhi baar wo jab ayee saamne

Matlab samajh giya maiN Urooj-o-Zawal ke"

"Kuch dostoN ne Mujhse kaha Shaadi karlo phir

Randave ki zindagi hai sarsar Malaal ki

Haami bhari to pit gayye Mister Kamal se

Itna kaha tha Chahiye biwi kamal ki"

"Zabaan se unki main Inkar sunkar shaad hota hooN

Keh Urdu mein Nahin English mein wo In Car khaheti hai"

Iqbal Ashhar, enthralled the audience with his melodious voice as well as good poetry. He pointed out that it takes a long while before Shayeri takes its form and place in the adabi world. He managed to articulate this nicely in one line: "ITNI AASANI SE MILTI NAHIN FUN KI DAULAT - DAHL GAEE UMAR TO SHEROAN PE JAWANI AAEE"

Iqbal Ashhar who is labeled by his fans: "Kush Gulu Shayer" - clearly lived up to his reputation when he recited "Urdu is my Name" in tarrunum .

Urdu hai mera naam main Khusro ki paheli
Main meer ki humraaz hu Ghalib ki saheli

Ghalib ne bulandi ka safar mujhko seekhaya
Hali ne muravvat ka sabak yaad dilaya
Iqbaal ne aaina_e_haq mujhko dikhaya
Momeen ne sajayee mere khwabo ki haveli

Iqbal Ashhar after he finished took on the Sidarat role back again. He introduced Shakeel Azmi, who was born in Aramgarh in UP, India. He is married and his 6 children keep him pretty occupied, but he still manages to steal a few hours to satisfy his thirst for poetry. When he is not writing poetry he is either writing a film-script or writing lyrics for Bollywood songs.

A few notable couplets:

apnÄ« manzil pe pahuÃ±chnÄ bhÄ« khaá¸Œe rahnÄ bhÄ«

kitnÄ mushkil hai baá¸Œe ho ke baá¸Œe rahnÄ bhÄ«

baat se baat kÄ« gahrÄ.Ä« chalÄ« jaatÄ« hai

jhuuT aa jaa.e to sachchÄ.Ä« chalÄ« jaatÄ« hai

Shakeel has offered some good advice in his poetry, as can be ascertained from the few couplets:

dhuan dhuan hai faza raushni bahut kam hai

Sabhi sepyaar karo zindagi bahut kam hai

maqaam jiska farishtoN se bhi ziyada tha

hamari zaat mein vo aadmi bahut kam hai

Naseer Turabi the last poet to render his works was invited to the stage with utmost respect. Turabi was born in Hyderabad, Deccan but came to Pakistan after her independence. He went to University of Karachi in 1968, but began writing poetry in 1962. His Ghazal "Woh Hamsafar Tha" was written on the separation of East Pakistan. Naseer Turabi praised the audience and the AAANE team and indicated that after seeing the enthusiasm and interest level shown here today the work of Ghazal will keep on flourishing. He read out a few couplets from some of his ghazals and the audience were deeply immersed.

"Vo shaqa jis ke liye sher kahe raha hooN Naseer - Ghazal sunaae huae usko ek zamana hua"

"Banka choNksa jaata sar-e-rah Naseer - Kisi aawaz this ye kisko bulati thi ye"

Woh bewafa hai to kya mat bura Kahoo usko

Jo hua so hua khush rakhe khuda usko

Nazar na aaye to uski talaash mein rehna

Kahin mille to pakar ke usse dekhna

It was past midnight and the hall custodians were waiting to wrap up the evening, but the audience were still thirsty for more.

The richness of the art and poetry exhibited today resonated well with what the Massachusetts Governor Charles Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito had to say: "The annual Mushaira continues to showcase the organization's dedication to education and the arts. Poetry in particular, with its personal nature and emotional power, is the perfect medium for sharing ideas that establish common ground and resonate within us."

KUDOS to AAANE team of Massachusetts - You did it again.