The Bazme Shagoofa group sees active participation of ‘shairs’ in the city
With work schedules and long commutes placing a premium on time, Hyderabadis find it difficult to satiate their literary thirst. Now there is a way out, they can attend a mushaira without leaving home, thanks to the WhatsApp group, Bazme Shagoofa.
The group sees postings of various kinds, from jokes to satire, humour and tongue-in-cheek comments on current affairs. There are about hundred plus members who have a fine sense of humour and ensure the group has a rollicking time. With well known humour poets like Typical Jagtiali, Iqbal Shana, Fareed Sahr, Mustafa Kamal, Tasneem Johar, Athar Aslubi, Waheed Pasha Quadri, Shahid Adili and stand-up comedian, Hamid Kamal, there is never a dull moment.
Of late the group has also started a monthly online mushaira. The Group Admin gives a verse called misra-e-tarah and the members are expected to write their poems matching the meter and rhythm. Participants post their poems throughout a predetermined day. Like any regular mushaira, the online version also comes alive with “ wah-wah ” and claps, in emojis.
“The whole thing is intended to provide fun and test ones intelligence”, says Aleem Khan Falaki, an active member of Bazme Shagoofa.
Sample this poem by Iqbal Shana with Kagaz pe rakh diya hai kaleja nikal ke as the tarah misra
Make up jo dhal gaya to baramad hui chudail
Hain beauty parlour main karishme kamal ke
Main ne khasai se to kaleji kaha tha bas
Kagaz pe rakh diya hai kaleja nikhal ke
The members also post hilarious poems of yore. Recently there was a video of the late Sulaiman Khateeb, the famous Deccani poet, reciting a nazm on ‘Harraj ka Palang’ . It was pure fun listening to the master satirist and brought in a wave of nostalgia.
be. Now get ready for the next online mushaira. The 'misra-e-tarah' for the for the next mushaira on the group is :
Mere rashke-qamar teri pehli nazr
Jab nazr se milaee maza agaya
The Group Admin gives a verse called misra-e-tarah and the members are expected to write their poems matching the meter and rhythm.
J.S.Ifthekhar,
Hyderabad based journalist.
Article published in The Hindu
Dated May 21,2018