Online mushairas keep Hyderabad’s literary scene alive

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