Poet Rahat Indori & Hindu Temples at Pakistaniat.com

I was standing at the railway platform waiting for the Lucknow-bound train to arrive which my chacha (uncle) had to board when the man walked past us. My elderly 'chacha' said, 'Arrey, Rahat Sahab'.
Hearing which he turned his head back while walking and acknowledged him.

I don't know how but the first couplet (matlaa) of one of his ghazals instantly came to my lips:

uski katthai aaNkhoN meN haiN jantar mantar sab
chaaqu vaaqu, chhuriyaaN vuriyaaN, khanjar vanjar sab

اسکی کتھیء آنکھوں میں ہیں جنتر منتر سب
چاقو واقو چھریاں وریاں خنجر ونجر سب

Rahat, who earlier looked in a hurry, suddenly stopped and came to me. He appeared overwhelmed. First, like an elder he kept his palm on my head and then embraced me warmly. That was an interesting meet. He surely loved being recognised and more so hearing his own couplet from someone. What a coincidence it was!

I have posted this ghazal earlier, I guess:

jis din se tum ruuThiiN, mujhse ruuThe ruuThe haiN
takia vakia, chaadar vaadar, bistar vistar sab. CLICK TO read it in Urdu, Hindi and Roman at www.bestghazals.blogspot.com

Meanwhile, the blog of Adil Najam and his friends, Pakistaniat.com has the lead story of Desecration of Hindu Temple in Karachi: Stop It. NOW!. It is laudable the way the blog has expressed concern over the minorities' issue (Hindus in Pakistan). It's a popular blog and would surely create awareness.

The article starts with: Religious intolerance must never be tolerated. To be silent in the face of intolerance is intolerance itself. And I absolutely agree. Heartening to see these voices, which are necessary in all evolved societies.