Indo-Pak poets regale Urdu lovers in Dammam

Some of the most prominent Kingdom-based Urdu poets from India and Pakistan regaled a number of expatriates at a well-attended poetry evening organized at the weekend in Dammam.
The highly successful literary event was convened to celebrate the presence in the Eastern Province of longtime Jeddah-based litterateur and Urdu enthusiast Syed Yaqoob Asad.
One of his children, Shiraz Mahdi Zia, works for King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) and is an accomplished poet himself.
Yaqoob Asad is the chief patron of Nakhlistan-e-Sukhan, the group that hosted the literary event. Prominent among those who addressed and presented their creative contributions were well-known radio broadcaster and essayist Shoaib Nagrami, poets Suhail Saqib, Tariq Mahmoud Tariq, Naz Muzaffarabadi, Dr. Shafeeq Nadwi, Shaukat Jamal, Iqbal Qamar and Rafeeq Akolvi.
Syed Yaqoob Asad took everyone’s breath away with his remarkable address on the beauty of Urdu language. His subtle turn of phrase, his idiom and the diligence with which he captured and translated fleeting thoughts into words sent the audience into raptures of ecstasy.
“Wah-wah, here is poetry in prose,” gushed excited members of the audience.
“Such events are like the much-sought-after oasis for travelers trekking in the harsh desert of life,” said Yaqoob Asad. He called for concerted efforts to promote Urdu among the new generation of expatriates.
“Urdu is the most beautiful language, and let our children listen to and understand its beauty right from an early age,” he said, lacing his address with some of the most well-crafted Urdu couplets for a telling effect.
Shoaib Nagrami read out a scholarly essay on the importance of literary criticism in Urdu. He referred to a series of books and number of events to drive home his points. He won a lot of admiration for his succinct presentation.
Suhail Saqib, the Dammam-based poet from Pakistan, won many admirers with his couplets. “Lafz mubham hi sahi pyaar se keh aata hun/Dil ki baatein dar-o-deewar se keh aata hun//Ishq me jaanta hun raaz zuroori hai magar/Kya karun phir bhi main do chaar se keh aata hun.”
Naz Muzaffarabadi, the senior and scholarly poet from Pakistan who has many books to his credit, was in his elements. “Usne yehi kamal kiya kuch agar kiya/Saazish hawa se karke shajar be-samar kiya.”
Tariq Mahmoud Tariq is a very sensitive and serious poet. His couplets are often quoted to convey the state of affairs in Pakistan. “Be-yaqeeni ki kaifiyat kab tak, haalat-e-inteshaar se niklo/Rehmaten be-shumaar hain Uski, rehmat ke shumaar se niklo.”
Shafeeq Nadwi, the well-known Indian writer and poet from Riyadh, was a great hit with the audience. He spoke from his heart and presented some of the best couplets of his. “Dawa se kab, kisi dast-e-masihaayi se hota hai/Ilaaj-e-gham jo uski ek angdayi se hota hai//Utha kar sab kitaben ham ne rakh di taaq-e-nisyaan par/Ke dil ko ab sukun bas shor-e-shehnaayi se hota hai.” He received a thunderous applause at the end.
Shiraz Mahdi Zia conducted the mushaira in a very lively style and maintained a constant and healthy connection between the poets and the audience. He recited some of his well-known couplets and earned everyone’s respect, including his father’s. “Raushni ke waaste sooraj hi chaha tha magar/Raat ne daaman nichoda to guzara ho gaya.”
In his address, writer Nayeem Javed spoke on the need for familiarizing Urdu lovers with the language’s unique script, and presented what he described as a workable plan to educate and inform those who are interested in learning the Urdu script.