Indo-Pak poetry in the times of paranoid patriotism

It was a perfect day for Delhi. The surprise rain washed away the heat and dust choking the Capital.

And then began a show of craftsmanship, panache and thoughtful rendition of anger -- justifying their billing as wordsmiths.

Poets from India and Pakistan gathered at Delhi’s Modern School on Friday to celebrate the cultural ties and the effervescence of Urdu poetry.

Watch: Poet Nabeel Azeez reciting his poem at the 51st Shankar-Shad Mushaira

The 51st Shankar-Shad (Indo-Pak) Mushaira, one of the oldest in the country, saw big names such as Kishwar Naheed, Iqbal Ashar, Javed Akhtar, Kunwar Ranjit Chauhan, Iffat Zarrin and Dr Gauhar Raza, performing for the audience with nonchalant ease and pointed sarcasm.

Listen: Poetry by Dr Gauhar Raza and Iqbal Ashhra at the 51st Shankar-Shad Mushaira

A tradition nurtured and enriched over the years by the likes of Josh Malihabadi, Jigar Moradabadi, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Kaifi Azmi and Ali Sardar Jafri, the Shankar-Shad Mushaira saw a packed gallery awaiting their favourite poets with bated breath.

Watch: Iffat Zarrin reciting her poem at the 51st Shankar-Shad Mushaira

The more it rained outside, the more the poets bled inside. A range of issues from Kanhaiya Kumar to sedition were discussed, and the audience couldn’t help but clap and cheer.

Watch: Poet Kunwar Ranjit Chauhan reciting his poem at the 51st Shankar-Shad Mushaira

Geographically, Modern School separates the Walled City from the modern Delhi, and thus there couldn’t be a better place to commemorate the tongue which gave birth to ‘Hindustani’, a common man’s language.

The bonhomie around a shared cultural legacy continued till late night, but to ensure that you don’t miss out on good poetry, we have brought to you some clippings from the event.

Watch: Farhat Shahzad reciting his poem at the 51st Shankar-Shad Mushaira

This is the poem Javed Akhtar read at the event:

Ye Khel Kya hai..

Mere mukhaalif ne chaal chal di hai

Aur ab

Meri chaal ke intezaar mein hai

Magar main kab se

Safed khaanon

Siyaah khaanon mein rakkhe

Kaale safed mohron ko dekhta hoon

Main sochta hoon

Ye mohre kya hain

Agar main samjhoon

Ki ye jo mohre hain

Sirf lakdi ke hain khilone

To jeetna kya hai haarna kya

Na ye zaroori

Na vo aham hai

Agar khushi hai na jeetne ki

Na haarne ka bhi koi gham hai

To khel kya hai

Main sochta hoon

Jo khelna hai

To apne dil mein yaqeen kar lon

Ye mohre sach-much ke baadshah-o-vazeer

Sach-much ke hain piyaade

Aur in kea age hai

Dushmanon ki vo fauj

Rakhti hai jo mujh ko tabaah karne ke

Saare mansoobe

Sab iraade

Magar main aisa jo maan bhi loon

To sochta hoon

Yeh khel kab hai

Ye jang hai jis ko jeetna hai

Ye jang hai jis mein sab hai jaayaz

Koi ye kehta hai jaise mujh se

Ye jang bhi hai

Ye khel bhi hai

Ye jang hai par khiladiyon ki

Ye khel hai jang ki tarah ka

Main sochta hoon

Jo khel hai

Is mein ir tarah ka usool kyon hai

Ki koi mohra rah eke jaaye

Magar jo hai baadshah

Us par kabhi koi aanch bhi na aaye

Vazeer hi ko hai bas ijaazat

Ke jis taraf bhi vo chaahe jaaye

Main sochta hoon

Jo khel hai

Is mein is tarah ka usool kyon hai

Piyaada jab apne ghar se nikle

Palat ke vaapas na aane paaye

Main sochta hoon

Agar yahoo hai usool

To phir usool kya hai

Agar yahi hai ye khel

To phir ye khel kya hai

Main in savaalon se aane kab se ulajh raha hoon

Mere mukhalif ne chaal chal di hai

Aur ab meri chaal ke intezaar mein hai

(Interact with Rohit Vats at Twitter/@nawabjha)