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Pak, Indian poets cast a spell on capital

ABU DHABI - Perhaps politicians of the Indian subcontinent ought to take lessons in friendship building from poets of their countries. For even as they struggle to find a common cause to sit together and sort out the differences, poets from the two neighbouring nations came together on Friday evening in Abu Dhabi, at a delightful Mushaira (poetry evening) that went on till late into the night.

Over a dozen poets from India and Pakistan, including bigwigs like Dr Pirzada Qasim, Waseem Barelvi, Amjad Islam Amjad, Mairaj Faizabadi, Saghar Khayyami, Prof Inayat Ali Khan and Jamiluddeen Aali, Shehpar Rasool rendered some excellent verses to the delight of diplomats from the two countries and a full house audience at the Le Meridien Ballroom.

The evening was set rolling with renderings from the local expatriate poets. Tasnim Abidi and Yakoub Tassavur were much appreciated. The lady for her poem Devi and Tassavar for his couplet, "Hayat rait se sikkay hi dhaalti guzri..."

Presented by Khaleej Times, the International Mushaira 2003 Abu Dhabi was a blend of humour and serious poetry at its best. Professor Inayat Ali Khan and Saghar Khayyami, in a class of their own in humour poetry, and Assad Jaffri, a local poet from Abu Dhabi, sent audience into peals of laughter with their humorous verses.

While emotive rendering by Mairaj Faizabadi, Amjad Islam Amjad and Waseem Barelvi were gripping. Gulrez Rampuri was quite impressive with his couplet, Na jaane kis liye talwaar phaink de usne, mein uski fateh ka ailaan karne wala thaa. This was his debut offshore appearance. So was Rehana Roohi, the only woman poet among the guest poets from abroad.

Prof Inayat Ali Khan, an accomplished poet, presented some thought provoking poetry. His See rahe hain hum ek doosray ka kafan, mout hans rahi hai yeh mashgala dekh kar and Hadesay se bada saniha hua. Log thehray nahein hadesa dekh kar were well received.

And Saghar Khayyami's barb at the geriatric Indian leadership, Aankhon per bandh padeh shutter hain. ghutno pe kisi aur ke sarkar khadi hai, sent the jam-packed hall into howls.

Mairaj Faizabadi's ghuroor karti hein qoumein to roshni ka khuda chiragh deke ujala samet laita hai and teri talq kalami ka kiya bura manoon ke too naehin tera khaandan bolta hai, was spellbinding. The Mushaira was compered masterly by Zahoor ul Islam Javed, a poet in his own right.