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Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Urdu poetry: Less classical and more contemporary

Mumbai is India's commercial capital and the biggest metropolis. Its known for the film industry. But, Mumbai is a centre of Urdu language and literature. Poets, who have written lyrics for Hindustani movies, for generations, came from Urdu background.

Abdullah Kamal, who is one of the leading Urdu poets in the country, is not the one to compromise on quality. For him, literature is his first love. He can't alter his verses to suit the movies. I have a few of his ghazals in my 'bayaz' [diary].

Read this ghazal:

anaa rahi na meri mutlaq-ul-unaani ki
mere wujood pe ek dil ne hukmraani ki

karam kiya ki bikharne diya na usne mujhe
mere junoon ki hifazat ki, meherbaani ki

PahaaD kaatna ek mashGhala tha, bachpan se
Kadey dinoN mein bhi teshe se naujawani ki [Kadey=tough, Tesha=axe*]

Azl se husn ka apna mizaaj tha yahi
Yahi ki dasht mein aaye the, baaghbaani ki

badan, ki uDne ko par taulta parinda saa
kisi kamaan see chadhti nadi jawani ki

Sunaii khwaab mein us Gul ko dil ki bechaini
Naseem-e-sehen chaman ne jo aana kaani ki

'Kamaal' main ne to dar se diye uthaye nahin
Uthai usne hi deewaar badgumaani ki

Read Kamaal's poetry in Urdu, Hindi & Roman English scripts AT THIS LINK