Cheers to a new year. But for Hyderabadis there is a spoiler alert. They will be ushering in the new dawn sans the Numaish. The eagerly looked forward to trade fair is likely to take a bow this year. Thanks to the COVID pandemic, the 81st edition of the All India Industrial Exhibition is being deferred this time. As a measure of abundant caution, the Exhibition Society has decided against organising the trade carnival beginning January 1.

"The exhibition is only postponed and not cancelled. It may be held sometime during the year", said Minister for Medical and Health, Eatala Rajender, who is also the President of the Exhibition Society. For the first time in 72 years the exhibition will not commence on January 1. In Hyderabad one can't think of the new year without the Numaish. The 46-day carnival has become an integral part of Hyderabad tradition. It is a record of sorts that the show is going on for the last 80 years without a pause. But this time round, there will be a break with the past.

Interestingly, this is not the first time that the Numaish is not commencing on January 1. Way back during 1948 and 1949 also it couldn't be organised in the wake of the partition of the country. On a few other occasions too the exhibition had a delayed start in view of the curfew in the city. The Exhibition Society is expected to review the Covid situation after January 31 and take a decision. "We might start the show in March or April", the Minister remarked.

As of now the Covid situation has improved in Telangana with the cases and the death rate declining. There is no second wave in the State. But still the government doesn't want to take any chances since around 45,000 persons visit the exhibition on an average every day. Moreover traders from different parts of the country put up their stalls and stay here for 46 days. "The Exhibition Society is not a commercial organisation. We have to look after the welfare of everyone", Mr. Rajender said.

As per the Government of India norms which are in force till January 31, more than 200 persons should not congregate at one place. With the exhibition attracting huge rush, visitors and stall keepers cannot be exposed to risk, feels Dr. B. Prabha Shankar, Honorary Secretary, Exhibition Society. Besides being the cheapest entertainer, the annual exhibition also provides gainful employment to hundreds of persons every year. The proceeds of the Numaish come handy to finance and support 20 educational and voluntary institutions run by the Exhibition Society.

Started with just 50 stalls in 1938, the 'Numaish Masnuaat-e-Mulki' has grown beyond the wildest dreams of its founder, Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam. It has also grown in content and coverage to assume an all India stature. That it draws visitors by the thousands everyday despite the presence of so many shopping malls and multiplexes speaks of its popularity and durability.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated December 31,2020

Read More

 For sometime Khan Athar was part of Abid Aur Dedh Matwale and Hangama, the comic shows of Hamid Kamal and Munawar Ali.

Those who wish to sing, always find an occasion. You can say this about Khan Athar, Hyderabad’s well-known singer, who passed away the other day. He had only one passion, singing. And he indulged in it till the very last. His ailing heart didn’t stop him from regaling audience with a beautiful ‘Naat’ at the Urdu Maskan just two days ago.

Not a day passed without some organisation or the other inviting him to sing. And Khan Athar wouldn’t refuse despite his failing health. For him anything better than singing was more singing. He just grew with it and dominated the cultural scene in Hyderabad for decades. An abashed fan of Mohd Rafi, he paid tributes to the maestro every year on July 31 by organising the ‘Yaad-e-Rafi’ show. Only this year he couldn’t hold the programme on account of the Covid pandemic.

He sang all types of songs – filmi numbers, geet and bhajans. But he is best known as a ghazal singer. He shot to fame through his stage performances and ghazal programmes on All India Radio. His larynx had an enormous range, depth and malleability. Khan Athar’s shows at Gandhi Bhavan and Ravindra Bharati were a sell out, offering entertainment with style and sparks. Those visiting the annual Numaish looked forward to his musical concerts.

For sometime Khan Athar was part of Abid Aur Dedh Matwale and Hangama, the comic shows of Hamid Kamal and Munawar Ali. He had a lucky break when film producer, Lekh Tandon, chose him to sing for the TV serial, Farman. Later he also sang for Jeelani Bano’s TV programme, Manzilen Pyar Ki. He gained international repute when he performed at Doha and Jeddah to mark the 400 years of Hyderabad formation. Not many know that Khan Athar also sang the mythological dance ballet, Sri Krishna Parijatam and Bhamsura, in Hindi.

He was a bubbly four year when he gave his first performance at the Nizam College. The silver cup bagged by him still occupies the pride of place at his home. It was his uncle, Mirza Ataullah Baig, who inspired him to sing. But his father was opposed to the idea of his son taking up singing as a career. However, Khan Athar was determined and created a niche for himself.

But later he learnt that organising musical shows was not a profitable venture. “You can’t live on wah-wahs alone” he used to say, his voice betraying a touch of bitterness. Nonetheless he gave break to upcoming singers in his Jawan Dil Cultural Troupe and at the same time advised them not to depend on art alone for survival.

Of late the master singer was upset at the dwindling patronage for ghazal singers although the government talked of promoting art and culture. He gave expression to his disappointment thus:

Kis ko ghazal sunayen ghazal aashna hai kaun

Shehre ghazal bata ke yehan reh gaya hai kaun

(To whom should ghazal be sung, who’s conversant

Oh city of ghazal tell who is left here)

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today 

Dated December 15,2020

Read More

 Even with designer abayas and hypermod cyber symbolism, the Pearl comes wrapped in the spirit of its purana sheher, like a warm cup of one-by-two chai with Osmania biscuits

Easy Like A Hyderabadi

Think of Hyderabad and what comes to mind is biriyani, sherwani and pareshani. While the first one continues to be a rage, the other one still marks sartorial excellence, although its use is on the wane. The third attribute sticks out like a sore thumb. However, Hyderabadis, as is their wont, take it in their stride. “Light ley le yaar”, is the spirit in which they try to blow away the worries.

Much water has flown down the Musi, now reduced to an open sewer dry most of the year. Today the city of domes and minarets boasts of structural and spatial expansion. A city of contrasts. The Orient and the Occident meet here. Historic and modern structures commingle while palatial buildings and slums exist cheek-by-jowl. But the buzzword of late is—raze the old and raise new edifices.

Nonetheless, the socio-cultural ethos survives. The Jhas and Jungs have yielded place to Raos and Reddys, yet the quintessential Hyderabadi remains the same—simple, accommodative and outgoing. Despite growing self-centeredness—a result of living in a global world—the human bond survives. The divide on religious lines is of recent origin. The Hyderabad of yore presented a successful example of pluralistic society with everyone taking part in the dominant public culture. Muharram is observed by Hindus as ‘Peerla panduga’ in Telangana, while Muslims join them in the Diwali festivities.

Rhythm Of Change

Hyderabad is in a flux today with its beat, tenor and character undergoing a shift. The pace of life has become fast thanks to the cluster of software giants and technological strides. And yet  I find life leisurely and laidback in parts of the city, particularly the purana sheher. Drop into any Irani hotel here and you can find people ordering one-by-two chai with Osmania biscuits, something hard to find elsewhere. Don’t be surprised if you are greeted with the usual honorific ‘hello boss’. For the office boss they use demag kharab—an euphemism for ‘idiot’. Where else can you find people getting annoyed for disturbing them at ‘subah subah’ when you call at 11 in the morning? And they haggle on prices, even after seeing a ‘fixed price’ board.

Deccani Diction

The two oddities Hyderabad is known for still remain—hau (yes) and nakko (no). The most popular joke is how once a person from Delhi asked a Deccani scholar the meaning of these words. The latter informed that  hau and nakko are used by illiterate persons. Upon this the other guy remarked, “Nawab sahib you surely are a highly educated man.” “Hau,” came the reply. If you think this is strange you are wrong. The cosmopolitan city throws up funny linguistic styles, a result of Telugu, Urdu and English words impacting each other. “Nuvvu gadi bhagainchukunta pote we will end up in hospital”. Howzzat?

Some things never change in Hyderabad. And that includes the incorrigible autowalas. Though taxi aggregators are giving them a run for their money, their fleecing ways have not gone. The kiraak autowalas remain a law unto themselves. Time was when hapless commuters could at least take comfort from the amusing verses painted on the back of the autos. But the mobile shayeri is on the wane now.  Most autos carry the line phir milenge—raising fears of a rerun.

Modishly Traditional

Of late, Hyderabad is witnessing a revolution in manners and morals. While the generation next tries to be flippant, turning their noses up at conventions, the oldies stick to the time-tested values religiously. Though westernwear and fashion have stolen a march over traditional apparel, the good old ‘burqa’ survives. On the contrary, it has reinvented itself. Young college girls can be seen making a fashion statement with designer abayas.

Even as it embraces modernity, Hyderabad retains its old world charm. Its cultural calendar is hectic. For the pop generation there is the upmarket HITEX  and Shilpa Kala Vedika to catch up with music and dance performances. For middle-aged Hyderabadis there are mushairas and kavi sammelans to regale in other parts of the city. A melting pot of art and culture for sure. Charminar at one end and the 10-storyed cylindrical cyber tower at the other. That sums up the exponential growth of the pearl city. If one exudes vintage charm, the other sports a chic, energetic and upscale look. It’s lovable, and liveable too. I wish Hyderabad was less chaotic and noisy.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Outlook Magazine

Dated December 21,2020

Read More

 

By now it's an established fact. Nobody can dare the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) in its den. The recent GHMC polls have reinforced the near invincibility of the party yet again. Another factor the results have underlined is that voters in the Old City plump for the party - not the candidates. Anyone, irrespective of religion and caste, can have a cakewalk at the hustings if they contest on the Majlis ticket.

This time round the Majlis romped home from 44 divisions, a repeat of its 2016 performance. And among the winners are K. Tara Bai (Falaknuma), S. Raj Mohan (Puranapul) and Mandagiri Swamy (Karwan). They are among the five non-Muslim candidates fielded by the Majlis this time. In the 2016 civic polls four Hindu candidates won on Majlis ticket - D. Mohan (Jambagh), Rajender Yadav (Karwan), Raj Mohan (Puranapul), and Tara Bai (Falaknuma). In fact in the previous election, Majlis president, Asaduddin Owaisi, celebrated the win of Raj Mohan by tweeting, "Hindu candidate of MIM wins over Muslim candidate of Congress".

Myth, after all, remains the never-ending story. The popular perception among people is that the Majlis is a Hyderabad-based and Muslim-alone party. Nothing can be farther from the truth. In the last few years, the party has spread out of its traditional stronghold to contest both the local body and Assembly polls in Telangana, Seemandhra, Maharashtra, and UP. The party's performance in the Bihar Assembly polls is by far the best outside Hyderabad. The Majlis bagged five Assembly seats of Seemanchal with a comfortable majority. Flush with success the party has now set its eyes on West Bengal. Majlis successes outside its bastion have raised the eyebrows of other parties and earned Mr. Owaisi the sobriquet of 'vote cutter'. But unfazed Mr. Owaisi is bent on expanding his party footprints across the country. "Irrespective of whether we win or not we will contest", says the Majlis leader.

Efforts to widen the party base began in the early 1980s when the late Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi sought to spread his party's influence in several Telangana and Rayalaseema towns where the Muslim population was sizable. However, the party struck gold when his son, Asaduddin Owaisi, took over the mantle. For quite some time now Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi is playing the Dalit card to the hilt. He feels the Dalit-Muslim unity will result in a win-win situation for both the marginalized communities. "Empowerment of Dalit-Muslim is the need of the hour as both the groups are socially, educationally and economically backward", he keeps harping in election after election.

This is no empty slogan. The Majlis has, in fact, walked the talk. The party nominated three Dalits as Mayors and two as Deputy Mayors. K. Prakash Rao was the first Dalit Mayor from Majlis in 1986-87 followed by A. Satyanaryana (1988-89) and Allampally Pochiah (1990-91). The two non-Muslim Deputy Mayors were M.B. Shivraj (1987-88) and Hanmanthu (1989-90). Over the years the Majlis has kept fielding Hindu candidates in Assembly and local body elections. Other political parties that flaunt the 'secular' card find it hard to beat this record.

While the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh impacted many parties, the Majlis not only held its own but went on to reap electoral gains beyond its bastion. The party won 101 wards in Telangana and five in the Seemandhra region. The winners included six non-Muslims and 38 women candidates. In the Panchayat Raj elections held in 2014, the party bagged 21 posts of Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) members. The Majlis put up a spectacular performance in the 2014 Assembly election, securing a vote share of 3.7 percent. This helped the party gain recognition from the Election Commission of India as a State party in Telangana with 'kite' as its reserved symbol. The Majlis dream run continued with the party wresting two Assembly seats of Aurangabad Central and Byculla in Mumbai in the Maharashtra Assembly elections held in 2014. The party repeated its good performance the following year in the Maharashtra civic polls by winning 26 seats in the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation. Five of the 13 ST candidates it fielded won, creating a rare Dalit-Muslim social coalition. In the 2019 Assembly elections in Maharashtra, the party won from Malegaon Central and Dhule City.

Why do non-Muslim candidates root for Majlis? The style of functioning of Mr. Owaisi and his team is the reason, many feel. Once the electoral heat is over, the Majlis leaders settle down to work at Darussalam, the party headquarters. Right from the Hyderabad MP to MLAs, MLCs and Corporators - all are available every day for the people to meet. No prior appointment is required. People just walk in and represent their problems. "This is the reason why our party clicks with everyone. Moreover, we believe in working with all", says Majlis MLC, Syed Aminul Hasan Jafri.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated December 11,2020

Read More

 

There are no permanent friends or foes in politics. But to continue to be friendly with a party while also intending to shun it at the same time is difficult. The TRS has found itself on the horns of this dilemma now. The GHMC results have queered the pitch for the pink party as it has failed to come up with the required numbers to capture the Mayoral post. It has no option but to tie up with the Majlis with whom it was engaged in a triangular fight in the just concluded civic polls.

The TRS has paid a heavy price for being 'friendly' with the Majlis. It gave a handle to the BJP to target the ruling party's 'unholy nexus' with the Majlis and reap rich dividends that catapulted it from a mere four seats in 2016 to 48 seats now. In the build-up to the GHMC polls, the TRS put up an aggressive posture and publicly declared that it had no truck with the Majlis. Now to reach out to the very same party for help for the Mayoral seat is quite embarrassing for the TRS. Having fought bitterly with the BJP, the TRS can't think of forging an alliance with the saffron party. So that leaves the ruling party with the only option to cosy up to its old ally.

The TRS has emerged as the single largest party with 55 corporators but fell short of 12 votes to grab the Mayor post. A minimum of 98 votes are required for any party to stake claim for the top post, a figure no party has now. There are a total of 45 ex-officio members, including MPs, MLAs and MLCs, who are eligible to vote in the GHMC council meetings. The TRS has 31 ex-officio members but still way behind the magic figure of 98. The MIM has 10 ex-officio members followed by BJP (3) and Congress (1).

Both the TRS and the MIM are in no hurry since the term of the existing Council is up to 10 February. They are weighing all the options. TRS working president, K.T. Rama Rao, and Majlis leader, Asaduddin Owaisi, refuse to be drawn into any controversy. "We will consult our MLAs, MLCs, the newly elected Corporators and party leaders before taking any decision," is all that Owaisi said when asked whether his party would support the TRS.

In case there is no tie-up between the two parties, the Majlis might ask its members to be absent on the day of the poll to thwart the chances of its arch-rival, BJP. The Mayoral election is held on the basis of members present and voting.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated December 05,2020

Read More

 

The GHMC polls results of which were declared on Friday has put the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) in a king maker's position yet again. Though the BJP has stolen a march over the Majlis pushing it to the third position, still the Asadudddin led party is poised to play a key role in the civic body. The ruling TRS has emerged as the leading party undoubtedly with reduced majority, it has to depend on the Majlis to capture the coveted Mayoral post.

Contrary to the expectations that the GHMC poll outcome would be on predictable lines, the results caused a major upset with the TRS failing to retain its supremacy in the civic body. Though the party aimed to cross the century mark, it couldn't even reach its previous best of 99. The TRS ended up with 55 seats with the BJP making inroads in its stronghold. The saffron party, the biggest gainer, put up a spectacular performance by improving its tally from 4 in 2016 to 48 now. The BJP reaped a rich harvest with host of party leaders campaigning vigorously for the local body polls. The main loser was the Congress which has to remain content with just 2 seats.

The bitterly fought and communally polarised elections did not cut ice with people which was clear from the low voter turnout. The civic polls showed yet again the vice-like grip of the Majlis in the old city. The party managed to retain its 44 seats in the face of the stiff challenge posed by the TRS and BJP.

Over the last three decades and more the Majlis has maintained its supremacy in the civic body. When elections were held to the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) in 1986 after the gap of nearly two decades, the Majlis emerged as the single largest party winning 38 wards in the 100 member Council. With the support of Congress, which won 24 seats, it ruled the MCH.

In the 2002 civil polls, the Majlis again emerged as the single largest party with 36 seats. The Majlis was pushed to the third position when elections were held to 150 divisions in 2009 after the formation of GHMC in 2007. The Congress topped the table with 52 divisions followed by TDP which secured 45 and Majlis 43 seats. The BJP got just 5 seats. However, the Majlis held the Mayoral post for three years in alliance with the Congress. In the 2016 elections, the ruling TRS stormed to power in the GHMC bagging 99 divisions followed by MIM which added one more seat to its tally to reach the 44 mark. Though the Majlis lost the king maker's position in the Corporation to the ruling party it, however, shared power with TRS in the Standing Council.

This time again the Majlis finds itself in a dominant position in the Corporation with its support becoming inevitable for the TRS to win the Mayoral post.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated December 04,2020

Read More

 

Hyderabadi rappers Mudassir Ahmed and Syed Irshad are back with their 

new album ‘Resurrection 040’

Deepawali is just over. Now get ready for some verbal fireworks.

Haq ki awaz

Main hoon Hyderabadi aatishbazi

Kabhi na dekhi hogi alfazon ki golabari

Watan se teri nafarmani

Farzi teri rashtravadi

Zalim tera zulm, nahin mujhe hazam

Sar se utaroon tere saya

Main hoon aamile khaas

It’s Hyderabadi Rap, Urdu Hip-Hop. Desi rappers, Mudassir Ahmed and Syed Irshad, are now back with a bang. And this time with a new album — Resurrection 040. The 12-track album is gonna make you groove to the heavy beats and reggae influences.

The rap duo, who go by the stage names ‘Mo Boucher’ and ‘Irish Boi’ are set to light up the rock scene in the country. The songs are real fire — combining as they do sufi and hip-hop genres. Since they are returning after a long hiatus of six years, the album is appropriately named ‘Resurrection’ while 040 represents their home city, Hyderabad’s telephone code.

It was in 2007 that Mudassir and Irshad established ‘Thugs Unit’, their hip-hop group, in Hyderabad with fusion beats and multilingual lyrics switching from Urdu, English and Jamaican Patois. They produced many mixtapes and singles.

Two years later, they took to rapping in chaste Urdu and garnered a lot of attention among the youth. Talking rhythmically to the beat of rap music, they try to expose the ills of establishment. Fighting crime with rhyme, as they call it. There is also a generous doze of spirituality and self-reflection thrown in the lyrics. Hitherto confined to qawwalis, sufism later entered Bollywood in a diluted form. But now, the Hyderabad hip-hoppers have made it a part of the rap culture.

The new album, Resurrection 040, released on Friday on Apple Music, the global music distribution platform, is produced by the US based Grammy-nominated and multiplatinum producers, including Buck Wild and Anno Domini of the UK. Some of the songs go by catchy titles such as Rubaroo (face to face), Raahe Rast (straight path), Suroor-e-Ishq (exhilaration of love), Pardafash (unmasked), and Atishbazi (fireworks).

“Our songs become voice of the voiceless. We inspire people through music and make them to think and question,” say the rapper pair who make their own compositions ranging from dreams, romance and life on the whole. Their new album has 80 per cent Urdu lyrics and the rest has English and Jamaican flavour.

So get ready for some boom-bap beats.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today 

Dated November  20,2020

Read More

 

The book is sure to warm the hearts of aficionados

Is there anything left to be written about them? This is the question that comes to mind when one thinks of William Shakespeare and Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib. Over the years numerous scholars have probed and delved into every aspect of their works in minute detail. To discover a new angle about them is perhaps next to impossible.

Yet there remains an unquenchable thirst among scholars to come up with a new perspective about these celebrated writers. Interestingly, Prof. Anwar Moazzam has done the impossible. He has undertaken the daunting task of unravelling the intellectual concerns of Ghalib, a subject hitherto not attempted by anyone.

And sure enough he has succeeded in presenting new shades of meaning and uncovering subtle nuances in the works of Ghalib, the giant of Urdu and Persian poetry. Prof. Moazzam’s newest book — Nightingale of an Uncreated Garden – Ghalib’s Intellectual Concerns, is sure to warm the hearts of Ghalib aficionados.

The reader enjoys a mesmerising journey which takes him through the life and works of the great poet. More importantly the reader gets a peak into the intricate web of the poet’s thoughts, particularly his mystical point of view.

Prof. Moazzam, who taught Islamic studies in Osmania University, Aligarh Muslim University and Hamdard University, also published a book in Urdu — Ghalib Ki Fikri Wabastagiyan. This 19th century bard continues to stimulate and delight generations of poetry lovers. Like Shakespeare, Ghalib’s verses have become part of everyday usage. Almost unwittingly one recites his couplets to drive home a point.

And for scholars Ghalib presents a challenge, rather a puzzle, since his verses are densely textured and loaded with a world of meanings. “The extensive commentary on Ghalib in South Asia has always focused on appreciation of various facet of his poetry to the total neglect of the thought content”, says Prof Moazzam and cites this oft quoted verse: Na tha kuch to Khuda tha, kuch na hota to Khuda hota Duboya mujh ko hone ne, na hota main to kya hota (When there was nothing, (only) God existed, had there been nothing God would have been; my being spoiled me, had I been non-existent, what would I have been) Ghalib was an iconoclast and refused to follow traditional views without critical examination.

His poetry often raised questions about the Islamic belief of life after death, predestination, reward and punishment. He asked questions about himself, his beloved, God, the universe, the existent and the non-existents, agnostics and rationalists, religious, traditional and anti traditional values. Treating Ghalib’s poetic narrative as poetic conversation would help reveal several layers of his poetics, says Prof. Moazzam. Concepts like vujud (existence), imkan (probabilities), zuhur (manifestation), ishraq (illuminism) are some of the dominant philosophical elements in his poetry. There are three ways to unravel the enigma that Ghalib is: his Urdu poetry, Persian poetry and his letters.

Quality wise his letters are as good as his poems. Prof. Moazzam does justice by going into all the three aspects of the maestro. Urdu poetry, according to Prof. Moazzam, is more sensuous than intellectual. Usually the aesthetic expression of feelings is paid more attention than the intellectual content.

Ghalib, however, differs in that his poetic aesthetics includes thought, intellect and deliberation. He was the first among the intellectual leaders to welcome the potential of the new academic, scientific and administrative measures introduced by the British colonial regime to take medieval India into the modern age.

“Rational and intellectual study was an integral part of Ghalib’s poetics”, points out Prof. Moazzam. Contrary to what one thinks, it is Ghalib’s Persian writings that reflect his innermost intellectual concerns. He doesn’t fall into any school of thought and yet he gives space for every point of view. The 290-page book helps one meet the real Ghalib.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today 

Dated November 05,2020

Read More

 Elizabeth Kurian’s The Art and Science of Ghazal, breaks down the nuances of the style helping listeners understand the fine poetry

Who is not interested in ghazal? Almost everyone. But not everyone is able to fully understand or appreciate the fine nuances of a ghazal. Very few are aware of what is radeef, qaafiya, matla, takhallus and maqta. Now a solution is at hand should one want to know all about Urdu prosody.

Elizabeth Kurian, who goes by the nom de plume, Mona, has come up with a book which addresses problems faced by those interested in Urdu shayari, but are unfamiliar with its rhythm, intonation, style and structure. A poetess in her own right, Mona seeks to impart Ilme Arooz, the grammar of ghazal, through her book ‘The Art and Science of Ghazal’. This book is in fact a readers’ guide to Urdu ghazal appreciation, scansion and prosody.

The 132-page book throws light on the evolution of Urdu and provides an overview of ghazal and its structure. It also unravels the intricacies of ghazal and the principles governing its writing. “I want people to appreciate the beauty of ghazal and I hope my book will help them”, says Mona.

A multilingual writer, she has 14 books to her credit in English, Hindi and Urdu. Actually a banker by profession, she took voluntary retirement from the Reserve Bank of India to indulge in her literary passion. Her first book, Beyond Images, is an anthology of English poems. Later she translated it into Malayalam and Urdu languages. This books was also translated into Tamil and French.

Buoyed by its success, she translated Maryam Gazala’s Hindi/Urdu poems into English under the title “Mirrors of My Soul”. She followed it up with English rendition of Dr. Ram Barayya’s Hindi poetry (Tremors), Nusrat Mohiuddin’s Urdu nazams (Awaiting a New Season), Dr. Ahilya Misra’s Hindi poems (Shwaas se Shabd Tak). Later, she came up with two more books – -Qause Quzah and Zauqe Justaju — containing her collection of ghazals, nazms and khitas.

Mona’s Urdu poems have a haunting sameness with Parveen Shakir, the renowned Pakistani poetess. In a simple language she portrays a vast canvass of emotions and gives voice to feminine concerns. One can detect anguish and hope and everyday concerns reflected in her ghazals. Sample this one:

Teri tarha main na badal saki

Lagi thokeren, na sambhal saki

Nai rah par tu bhi chal pada

Tere bin kahin main na chal saki

In her new book, Mona brings all her writing experience to help ghazal lovers understand and master the craft of writing. Ghazal is a metered poetry which has not just a metre (bahr) and rhyme (qaafiya) but a constant refrain (radeef). All these are explained in detail with the help of transliteration tables, charts and notations. If you are looking to improve your ghazal appreciation ability or hone writing skills, The Art and Science of Ghazal is the book for you.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today 

Dated October 10,2020

Read More

 

This sordid tale also has some romantic overtones. 

Surely love can blossom even under the most trying times.

The story is all too familiar. Unrest, uprising, protests and violence. That’s what comes to mind when one thinks of Kashmir, the theatre of unresolved conflict. But these uneasy and often heart-wrenching developments can become stuff of a gripping tale in the hands of an expert writer.

Asim Mukhopadhyay weaves an interesting story piecing together the turbulent happenings and the plight of the locals caught in the crosshairs of the armed conflict between the militants and the security forces.

The just released novel, Dance On The Graves, set against the backdrop of the Kashmir imbroglio makes for an interesting read. It has all the drama, twists and turns of a thriller to hold the attention of readers. Those who have read the author’s debut novel, Half Man, a book on Naxal movement, will find his latest work of literary fiction even more engrossing. Mukhopadhyay has a wide experience as a teacher, journalist and social scientist. He bagged the Media India award in 1982 for the best human interest story of the year for the article “Evils of dowry”. He has also been a long time contributor to Economic and Political Weekly and has to his credit many non-fiction books.

Though a novel, The Dance On The Graves is based on the life of Atta Muhammed Khan, an honest farmer of Chahal Bimbyal in Barmulla district. The author happened to read a brief report on the miserable life of the farmer who ends up as a grave digger. “I just borrowed Atta’s flute but the tunes are mine”, says Mukhopadhyay.

As the title suggests, Dance On The Graves, revolves around the life of Hasanath Wani Ahmed, an old farmer from Malali village in Kupwara district. As ill luck would have it he is forced to bury young men killed by cops in undocumented encounters. His story depicts the dilemma and helplessness of farmers who become victims of circumstances and turn grave diggers in the valley and also on the other side of the LoC. Ultimately Hasanath becomes a schizophrenic case, throws up tantrums during nights, sings strange songs and dances on graves.

Mukhopadhyay, who is known for his versatility, turns the otherwise horrible happenings of Kashmir, into a gripping tale of anguish and pain of the locals. For most of them survival is up for grabs. Any day they may end up with a bullet from the militants or the security forces. There is no peace for being young in Kashmir as the insurgents are out to trap them. The book edited by Mosiur Rehman of Woven Words, explores the sinister designs of the separatists who supply drugs to youth to lure them on the path of militancy. It also throws light on the machinations of people who sell politics and drugs from the same basket. Mukhopadhyay lays bare over ambitious fence-sitters in the ruling party who love to fish in trouble waters for being denied a share in the power cake.

This sordid tale also has some romantic overtones. Surely love can blossom even under the most trying times. Cupid strikes Kismat-Namrata and Iqbal-Suhana, sons of the grave digger and the daughters of the high profile State Home Secretary and the cricket coach. Sadly the book doesn’t offer any solution to the Kashmiri tangle. But if you are looking for a nerve wracking novel, Dance On The Graves, is the book for you. It’s simply un-put-downable.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today 

Dated September 20,2020

Read More

 

It is under shutdown for the last six months and yet it sports a spick-and-span look. Step inside and you find everything in order - sporting a neat and clean appearance. That's the Salar Jung Museum for you. Though it still remains out of bounds for visitors, but for the 100-odd staff members it is work as usual. They are working tirelessly to ensure that the sprawling museum premises and also its world class objets d'arts retain their spotless shine.

Each day every object in each gallery is dusted and cleaned. The SJM has 39 galleries spread over two floors. The museum workers open every showcase, take out the objects, wipe and clean them before putting them back in position. The galleries are also regularly sprayed with disinfectants. The normally crowded museum now wears a deserted look save for the staff members. The prolong shut down has no doubt cut into the museum revenue but it has also given it the breathing time to carry out much needed repair and renovation work. The museum has seized the free time to speed up the documentation and conservation work.

The SJM draws visitors from across the globe. On an average about 3000 persons visit it and the footfalls see a massive rise during weekends and holidays - giving it a monthly revenue of Rs. 2 lakh. But right from March 15 the museum is shutdown following the lockdown - causing a revenue loss of Rs. 1.5 crore till day. In fact the other five major national museums in the country - National Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi, Allahabad Museum, Indian Museum and Victoria Memorial Museum, Kolkata are also shutdown these last few months.

"We are expecting the museum to be thrown open to visitors from October. The Government of India has also issued the SOP. We are awaiting further instructions", says A. Nagender Reddy, Director, SJM. On its part the SJM authorities have marked out circles on the floor in all the galleries for visitors to stand maintaining social distancing while viewing the art objects. Thermal screening and hand santizers are also being installed for benefit of visitors as and when the museum opens.

A virtual treasure house, the SJM has a collection of over 42,000 fascinating art objects, 8,300 manuscripts and 58,000 printed books. It is also a repository of precious sculptures, paintings, carvings, textiles, ceramics, metal ware and carpets covering diverse subjects, themes and mediums. Among its legendary collections are the veiled Rebecca, the melody in marble, the double statue of Mephistopheles and Margaretta carved out of a single block of wood. And of course the famous musical clock remains the biggest attraction

During the lockdown period, the museum has been busy organising online exhibitions. So far it has held four exhibitions to mark the International Museum Day, Buddha Poornima festival apart from exhibition of Bidri ware and display of paintings of the celebrated artist, Raja Ravi Verma. "It is now planned to showcase the works of Abdul Rahman Chughtai, renowned painter artist and intellectual from Pakistan", Mr. Reddy said.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated September 10,2020

Read More

Dum-ke-Roat is the dish of the month. It sells like hot cakes during Muharram with people of all faiths rooting for it.


What Haleem is to Ramzan, Dum-ke-Roat is to Muharram. While the syrupy dish did the vanishing act thanks to the initial lockdown, what will be the fate of Roat now. As Muharram, the month of mourning, has set in bakers and restaurants in the city are pinning their hopes on the flat bread to see them through.

Dum-ke-Roat is the dish of the month. It sells like hot cakes during Muharram with people of all faiths rooting for it. With the general slowdown in business due to the pandemic, Roat makers are unsure how the crispy cake will move this season. Moreover, absence of air flights and difficulty in interstate transport is expected to impact the sales. Nevertheless bakers expect Roat to bring in the moolah even if it doesn’t see the usual feverish sales.
Some bakeries plan to sell Roat as an immunity booster by adding a generous dose of dry fruits. As it is Roat contains almonds, cashew nuts, pista and saffron. “We will add more dry fruits by way of health benefits”, says Pista House proprietor Abdul Majeed.

Whatever be its religious significance, the foodies swamp the market to lay hands on the sweet-baked delicacy with the advent of Muharram. Huge rush is seen at bakeries like Subhan Bakery, Karachi, Pista House, Rose and Needs.

Legend has it that the 7th Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, once offered Roat to the Nala-e-Mubarak Alam near Charminar for the safety and well-being of his grandson, Mukarram Jah Bahadur. And the practice continues till date. Members of the Shia community and also others take vows for the protection of their wards and offer Roat. But over the years it has become a special dish of Muharram with people eagerly looking forward to the seasonal flavour.

Crunchy outside and soft inside, Roat has a mix of ingredients like wheat flour, sooji, vegetable oils, sugar, honey, clarified butter, salt, cardamom and milk products apart from dry fruits. The art of baking involves striking a fine balance between time, temperature and ingredients “Getting the ingredients in the right proportion and then baking them properly till the brownish tinge appears is important”, says Syed Irfan of Subhan Bakery.

While Roats are up for grabs from day one, demand peaks on Youm-e-Ashoora, the 10th of Muharram. Some households make their own Roats with varying degree of success. “I follow a good recipe and bake Roats at home and they are as good as the ones available in the market”, says Afreen, a housewife.

This time the Roats have gone pricey with a kilogram of cookies coming in the range of Rs 600 to Rs 700. But when it comes to a crunchy bite price hardly matters.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today 

Dated August 26,2020

Read More

Hyderabad may miss the historic Bibi-ka-Alam procession this Muharram. Chances of the juloos being taken out on the 10th of Muharram (August 30) have dimmed with the High Court dismissing a writ petition on Wednesday seeking permission.

The Bibi-ka-Alam procession has a long tradition stretched over 400 years. Right from the Quli Qutb Shahi days the city is witness to the Shia community taking out the Bibi-ka-Alam on a caparisoned elephant every year to mark the ‘Youm-e-Ashoora’. This year on account of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Telangana Government has denied permission to the procession while issuing guidelines to be followed during observation of the ‘Majlis’ in Ashoorkhanas. At a recent meeting held with the Shia leaders, the Minority Welfare Minister, Koppula Eshwar, wanted the Bibi-ka-Alam to be carried in a vehicle instead of the traditional elephant as it attracts huge gatherings.

Not agreeing with his views, M/s Fatima Seva Dal Society filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking permission for taking out the procession on an elephant while maintaining the social distancing norms. However, the Court dismissed the petition today without granting any relief. Instead it wanted the petitioners to follow the guidelines issued by the government. This has put a question mark on the Bibi-ka-Alam procession. “We will discuss the matter and see what can be done”, remarked Hasanuddin Aijaz, Mujawar, Bibi-ka-Alawa.

During the last four centuries the annual Muharram procession was never missed. Even when the city was under curfew the procession was allowed. “Government ought to permit the juloos as it has a long tradition. Moreover, not just shias but people belonging to different faiths also participate in it”, said Syed Hamed Hussain Jaffery, President, Telangana Shia Youth Conference.

The Bibi-ka-Alam procession, which marks the culmination of mourning by the Shia community, attracts people cutting across religion and caste. To the cries of ‘Ya Hussain’, the procession starts from Bibi ka Alawa in Dabeerpura and winds its way to the Masjide Ilahi at Chadarghat. Devotees flock the procession route and offer ‘dhatti’ to the Alam. But this time round the pandemic appears to have halted the procession in its tracks.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated August 26,2020

Read More

In the last couple of months the city has seen half a dozen mushairas, literary meets and book release taking place on Zoom and Google Meet platforms

When was the last time you heard a round of applause and shouts of wah-wahs? Maybe some six months back. The corona pandemic has rung down curtains on every activity, including mushairas. The poetic soirees are now back after a long break- albeit in a different form. You can now pursue your passion and slake your literary thirst online. Yes, break into laughter and call for an encore from the comfort of your house.

While biryani might be their culinary delight, it is mushairas that Hyderabadis eagerly look forward to. For many it is the adabi mehfils that bring the evenings alive. In normal times not a day passes without a mushaira, a kavi sammelan or a book release function being held in Hyderabad. But today Urdu Hall and Urdu Maskan, the hubs of literary pursuits, wear a deserted look. Thankfully the scene has now shifted from in-person events to online shows. In the last couple of months the city has seen half a dozen mushairas, literary meets and book release programmes taking place on Zoom and Google Meet platforms.

“The best thing is participants are not confined to just Hyderabad alone. People from different parts of the country and even abroad are taking part in the online events. There is nothing like a virtual session to reach out to a large audience”, says Javeed Kamal, an Urdu scholar and writer. The whole thing started after the death of noted satirist, Mujtaba Hussain, in May. In view of the lockdown a proper tribute could not be paid to this Padma Shri awardee.

However, his diehard fans like Prof Baig Ehsas, Dr Humaira Sayeed and Dr Gul Rana decided to host an online programme titled ‘Mujtaba Hussain Ki Yaad Mein’ for a whole month from June 22 to July 22 every night at 8 pm. Academics, writers and scholars from all over India and even from the US, Canada, the UK and Dubai took part in the programme and expressed their views on the great humourist.

Encouraged by the global response, an online ‘Mazahiya Mushaira’ was organised last month which attracted poets such as Ahmed Alvi, Dr Nashtar Amrohi, Waheed Pasha, Pankaj Prasun from across India. The virtual poetic concerts are proving a big hit with people of all age groups, particularly youngsters. “This is just the beginning and more such programmes are in the offing”, says Dr Humaira, who successfully hosted a mushaira from the Government Degree College for Women, Sangareddy, where she works.

Now Sahitya Academy awardee Prof Baig Ehsas has come up with a weekly online programme- Bazgasht. In this programme works of well-known writers and poets are read out followed by a detailed analysis and discussion. The pandemic may have disrupted the literary scene, but Urdu lovers have gone digital to stay connected.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today

Dated August 17,2020

Read More

Noted poet, Rahat Indori, who passed away on August 11th, was a show stealer at mushairas. People just hung around to listen to him whatever the time of the night. Of course he was the last shayer to come on to the stage and recite his poems. Concert organisers knew if he was invited earlier none in the audience would remain to hear other poets.

A live wire performer, Rahat Indori was equally popular among people of all age groups. His reputation knew no bounds and he was a big draw abroad. Mushairas were considered incomplete without his presence. Essentially a poet of love, he captured the romantic sentiments with a touch of finesse. He excelled in all genres of Urdu poetry be it nazm, ghazal or qat’a. Rahat Indori also penned iconic lyrics for a few Hindi movies. What was unique about him was his unique style of recital. His poetry was straight from the heart and no wonder it left the audience asking for more. Sample these verses:

Kis ne dastak di a dil par, kaun hai

Aap to andar hain, bahar kaun hai

Razz jo kutch ho isharon mein bata bhi dena

Haat jab usse milana to daba bhi dena

Kabhi dimag, kabhi dil, kabhi nazar mein raho

Ye sab tumahre hi ghar hain, kishi bhi ghar mein raho

A peoples poet, Rahat Indori was alive to the day to day happenings. Nothing escaped his keen observation. Social injustice, political doublespeak, plight of marginalised sections – everything figured in his poetry. In recent times he turned to poetry of protest and wrote against the controversial CAA/NRC. On the eve of the Republic Day this year, the celebrated poet came to Hyderabad and took part in a mushaira organised by the Alliance Against CAA and NRC. He recited his hugely popular ghazal and received standing ovation for this verse:

Sabhi ka khoon shamil hai yehan ki mitti mein

Kisi ke baap ka Hindustan thodi hai

What endears Rahat Indori to the people is his fearless and outspoken way of saying things. His poetry was vibrant and reflected the everyday concerns of the common man. Interestingly, he himself twitted about his testing positive for Covid-19 and hoped to defeat the disease. But fate willed otherwise. That he did not fear death was clear from his own verses which he wrote some time back. He said:

A saneh to kisi din guzarne wala tha

Mai bach bhi jata to ek roz marne wala tha

In another couplet he says how death turned him a zamindar.

Do gaz sahi magar ye meri milkiat to hai

Aye maut tu ne mujh ko zamindar kar diya

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated August 12,2020

Read More

You can find him at the crack of dawn at the Public Gardens. Come hail or thunderstorm he is there, walking steadily to become one with nature. For the last four decades he has incorporated walking into his daily routine. But these past few months, Ghulam Yezdani has not been able to carry out his favourite morning exercise. He is not alone to miss this early morning workout.

There are no two opinions about morning walking being a blessing for the whole day. But ever since the corona pandemic broke out, morning walkers have been halted in their tracks. All the green spaces in the city are now out of bounds for them. While other activities are gradually being resumed after the lockdown, morning walks and gyms still remain prohibited. “Walking offers immense health benefits and to stop it at this juncture is difficult to understand”, says Mr. Yezdani, chairman, Public Garden Walkers’ Association.

The oldest park in Hyderabad, Public Gardens sees nearly 2000 footfalls in normal times. People of all age groups come here regularly for walking since its vast expanse of greenery offers fresh breath of air. But for the last five months authorities have stopped joggers and morning walkers stating that it would be difficult to maintain social distancing. “When physical distancing can be maintained in other walks of life why can’t it be done during walking”, wonders Mr. Yezdani.

The senior advocate, who is 90 plus, ascribes his good health to regular walking and swimming. For the last two and half decades he has also been organising health lectures for the morning walkers on first Sunday of every month. Doctors and health experts speak on different aspects of wellbeing and offer tips. But even these lectures, which could have been of immense help to people in these trouble times, are not taking place now.

Morning walkers want the government to allow regular walking in all the parks since this exercise is good not just for body but soul as well. Besides warding off heart diseases, walking lowers blood pressure and lightens the mood. “We will ensure that social distancing is maintained while walking”, says Mr. Yezdani.

So why not resume the most ancient and still the best of modern exercises?

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated July 26,2020

Read More