The year-end revelry, rather madness, is about to begin. Where to let the hair down and whom to shake a leg with.

The year-end revelry, rather madness, is about to begin. Where to let the hair down and whom to shake a leg with. This is the biggest question worrying the well-heeled. One wants to get immersed in the frenzy and wish away the blues.

Big hotels are already arranging programmes to ring in the New Year. Some call it a new chapter, some a new beginning. But is it really so? The year never ends or begins—life just goes on. Will it be any different in 2019? You are living in a fool’s paradise if you say ‘yes’. Simply celebrating the New Year won’t change the shape of things to come. The elusive window of well-being will not open just because a new year has dawned.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. Nothing changes unless one brings positive changes in oneself. But the things most of us do as the New Year approaches are appalling. Elaborate parties are planned, venues chosen and menus selected. Some are busy jotting down New Year resolutions. It’s a ritual one wants to go through and get done with. At the stroke of midnight, a big cheer goes up, bottles are uncorked and the effervescent liquid gushes out. Next morning one gets up bleary eyed with a slight hangover only to find out that things have not changed a wee bit. 

This, however, doesn’t mean that one shouldn’t celebrate. But this can be done in a meaningful way. Why not resolve to be nice with everyone? Charity should begin at home. So let the first beneficiary of your good behaviour be your parents, wife and children. Go for an image makeover and give a big surprise to your colleagues by sharing their work. Why not resolve to shed that extra weight and feed the poor? For a change let’s put off airs and be fair with everyone. These acts look small but they have a lasting impact and liven up people around us. Don’t get fooled by the calendar. There are as many days in a year as you make use of.


The other day a friend of mine jolted me out of complacency when he explained how people are going bonkers in the one-upmanship race. New years or birthdays, he says, are not occasions to celebrate but time to take stock and do mid-course correction. Every time we tear off a leaf from a calendar, we are tearing off a month from our lives, a fact few are conscious of. And none knows how many years are left in our kitty. There is no way we can change the past but we can certainly make a fresh start and change the ending.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in The New Indian Express

Dated December 21,2018

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Hari Om is a bureaucrat who also impresses with his crooning skills

Think of a bureaucrat and what comes to mind is a serious, person. But Hari Om begs to differ. He sports a relaxed and sociable look. And if you observe keenly you may even catch him crooning under his breath.

He is not the archetypal IAS officer we have come to recognise. Hari Om wears many hats — writer, poet, musician and singer — and is making waves with his ghazal albums. What started as a mere hobby has now turned into a obsession. So much so that today his melodious voice has become his identity.“Singing has given me greater satisfaction than becoming an IAS officer,” admits Hari Om who is secretary, General Administration Department in Uttar Pradesh government.

Though endowed with a dulcet voice, and singing right from his student days Hari Om began singing publicly only in 2015, taking everyone by surprise. Ever since, he has been flooded with requests to sing. The other day he readily obliged a small group of admirers at the Media Plus auditorium here in Hyderabad.

Main tere pyar ka mara hua hoon, Sikandar hoon magar hara hua hoon... he sang. An unabashed fan of Mohd Rafi and ghazal maestro, Mehdi Hasan, he is gradually developing his own style of singing. Initially his civil servant colleagues thought his interest in singing was a passing phase. But when he cut three albums they knew his singing is no flash in the pan. “Everyone knows that I am singing and there is no objection from the government,” says Hari Om.

Fascinated by Hindi literature, he did his doctoral thesis on the novels of feminist writer, Krishna Sobti. He also developed a liking for the poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz and released his first album Intisaab to mark the poet’s birth centenary celebrations in 2011. There’s been no looking back after that and two more albums followed quickly — Roshni ke Pankh (Wings of light) and Rang ka Darya (River of Colours).

Hari Om has also published his short stories under the title Amreeka, Meri Jaan and his Hindi poems Khwabon ki Hansi .

Having worked as Collector of 11 districts in UP, he has seen life at close quarters. And all this is reflected in his writings. “There is lot more in me waiting to come out,” he says and recites the verse:

Aankhon mein samaye huye manzar ki tarha hoon

Main boond hoon aansu ka, samandar ki tarha hoon


The literary streak in him has broadened his vision and perspective of life. “Now I take greater care in dealing with people’s issues,” says the young civil servant who was in Hyderabad on an official visit as election observer. On the insistence of his admirers he has agreed to give a performance at the NTR auditorium in Telugu University on Wednesday evening.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in The Hindu

Dated December 12,2018

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If published, Amir Rizvi’s work would be the largest set of lexicons

When this monumental work sees the light of the day, Urdu readers will have the largest ever set of lexicons — six dictionaries spread over nearly 4000 pages are awaiting publication. Only, Syed Jafar Amir Rizvi doesn’t have the wherewithal to publish them.

A nuclear scientist by profession and a linguistic buff by passion, Amir has slogged for ten years to write the dictionaries on subjects which are totally new to Urdu language. Having accomplished the task, he is desperately looking for a sponsor to publish his works. His talks with the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) and the Maulana Azad National Urdu University in this connection have remained unfruitful.

Lexicography runs in his genes. His grandfather, Syed Tasaduqh Hussain Rizvi, authored the Loghat-e-Kishwari , way back in 1886; that still remains a popular reference point in Urdu. But what triggered Amir’s interest is Gossamer Years’ the tenth century classic of a Japanese writer, presented by his daughter. So impressed was he with the book that he wanted to translate it in Urdu. But when he sat down to translate he couldn’t get appropriate words in Urdu. “It was then that I decided to compile a comprehensive dictionary,” says Amir who served in the Department of Energy, US.

After retirement in 2007 he devoted his time and energy to writing seven dictionaries - Farhang-e-Amir, Farhang-e-Mauzoee (thematic dictionary), Farhang-e-Mutaradif and Mutazad (dictionary of synonyms and antonyms), Farhang-e-Qafia (rhyming dictionary), Urdu Lugath ki Tareekh (history of Urdu lexicography) and Farhang-e-Lisaan (linguistic dictionary). Of these only Farhang-e-Amir has been published; the rest await publication.

Salient features

What is unique about Amir’s lexicons is their encyclopaedic range. They not only provide information related to language and literature but are also a treasure trove of words for students and research scholars. For instance the thematic dictionary is a thesaurus in four languages - Urdu, Persian, Arabic, English. So one can find the meaning of a word in four languages at once. With more than one lakh words, the 1100-page lexicon is structured subject-wise.

Amir has fulfilled a long-felt need for a thesaurus in Urdu with a 2000 page dictionary. “Its benefits will be known once you start using it”, he says.

The Farhang-e-Qafia is also exceptional; it could be of immense help to poets in search of appropriate rhyming words. “Such a dictionary simply doesn’t exist in Urdu”, says Shujat Ali Rashid, a Urdu writer.


Apart from this, Amir has also penned Urdu and English poetry under the title Milak-e-Shairi and Distant Song, and has authored a Hand Book of Nuclear Science and Engineering on design and construction of nuclear power plants. What worries this 80-plus writer is the fate of his lexicons. He wants them published during his lifetime. Will someone come forward to help him?

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in The Hindu

Dated December 07,2018

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Gulzar’s recital of his new nazm was a trip down memory lane.

When was the last time you curled up in bed with a book in hand? May be a decade ago or more. Or is it once-upon-a-time, to use the cliché? Times have certainly changed and so have reading habits. Blame it on technology, one can’t have enough of the modern gadgets.

Whatever happened to bookworms? Perhaps the expression itself doesn’t hold good anymore — at least not with the generation next.

Now, we have people peering into their smartphones endlessly.

Psychologists have a new clinical name for this addiction. They call it ‘nomophobia’ (short for no mobil phone phobia). Youngsters press the panic button at the very thought of being separated from their smartphones.

“My children will rather go to bed hungry than have their mobiles snatched,” remarks a friend bringing into sharp focus the desperation among youngsters to the mobiles.

Small wonder footfalls have come down in libraries. Even diehard bibliophiles have turned to either Kindle, smart boards, tablets or e-books to slake their thirst for reading.

Thanks to digital technology who will rummage through dusty library shelves for a piece of information when you can have it at the click of a button.

Not to run the risk of becoming obsolete libraries have started embracing technology and providing online access to their database.  

All said and done the pleasure of holding physical books and reading at one’s convenience and in a posture one likes is simply inexplicable. Can a tablet emit the ethereal smell of ink that a book gives?

What about the joy of turning dog-eared pages or coming upon dried flowers in the folds of books. A click will change the screen but the taste of licking the forefinger while shuffling pages is something else.

The noted poet Gulzar, who was in the city recently, took everyone down memory lane when he recited his new nazm, Kitabein (books).

He touched a raw nerve, explaining how books now languish in almirahs waiting longingly for someone to take them out:

Kitabein jhankti hain bund almari ke sheeshon se
Badi hasrat se takti hain
Mahinon ab mulaqatein nahin hotin
(Books peer through glass doors of the bookcase
Looking longingly
For months there are no meetings now)

Books used to serve another purpose too. On the pretext of taking and giving them to the beloved, the tomes are allowed to fall — leading to blossoming of new ties:
Kitbabein maangne, girne, uthane ke bahane rishte bante the
Inka kya hoga?
Wo shayad ab nahin honge
(Relationships were build while borrowing, dropping and picking up books
What about those?
That may never happen)

These verses evoke memories of the famous encounter between the hero and heroine in the movie Mere Mehboob, when they collide in college and the books in their hands fall. This is simply unthinkable with a laptop. It would break if you let it slip.  

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Deccan Chronicle

Dated December 2,2018

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The Siddis of A.C. Guard practise in preparation for playing at a political rally, in Hyderabad on Thursday. (DC)

An ethnic group of African descent is hot favourite among parties for election campaigns.

The drums thud faster. The slow tom-tom changes to a resonant pitch. Then the rhythmic beat of teen-mar takes over. The cheer leaders couldn’t hold back. Some break into a slow jig and then dance with abandon. Their dark faces glistening with sweat, the drummers raise the tempo sending everyone foot-tapping. Election time is ‘marfa’ time in Hyderabad.

No party can do without the sturdy bandmasters of A.C. Guards. Interestingly, they owe allegiance to none. And they don’t care which party wins the battle of the ballot. Morning they may drum up support for a Congress candidate, afternoon for its arch rival, TRS and before the day ends play for a Majlis nominee. All that they are interested in is to make hay when the sun shines. The Siddis of A.C. Guard have their hands full as the D-day draws near.

An ethnic group of African descent, they are a class apart when it comes to playing the Arabi duff and marfa. Though there are other bands in town, but many make a beeline to A.C. Guards to liven up celebratory occasions like marriage. For elections too leaders turn to the Siddis to pep up their electioneering.

Donning their trade mark attire — white shirts, lungis and red-chequered scarves, the Siddis cast a spell when they roll and crash the drums. Sometimes they also use the huge dhols and tiliya (brass pot) to produce the cham-cham sound.

But playing band for elections, many say, is not remunerative. They have to accompany candidates on padyatras in hot sun —  not knowing when the programme will start and end. The most difficult part is getting the payment. 

“Once the programme is over everyone disappears and catching hold of the leaders is difficult”, says Ahmed of Saleem Arabi Marfa Party echoing the views of many others. As such many prefer the marriage parties where the band is played for a fixed time and payment is prompt, not to speak of generous tips from guests.

Impressed by their physical strength and horsemanship, the 6th Nizam, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, recruited them for his African Cavalry Guards. Later they were provided housing quarters and the area they inhabit now is also known as Siddi Risala.

There are only three main bands here, each with a group of 50 to 60 members. The Siddis are a closely knit community. But the generation next is not interested in music and dance.

“They want to study and take up decent jobs,” Afsar of KGN Arabic Duff tells this newspaper.

 

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Deccan Chronicle

Dated November 30,2018

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No bogus voting, impersonation is a sin, Muslims told.

 To vote or not to vote the Hamletian dilemma persists for some. As the five yearly date with democracy draws near election authorities are pulling out all stops to motivate people to exercise their franchise. For a change ulemas too have jumped onto the bandwagon. Many mosques in the city now see the khateebs using the Friday sermon to enlighten the Muslim community on the importance of voting.

Ulemas are taking pains to explain the importance of taking part in the electoral process especially at a time when minorities are being targeted at every level. Choosing leaders of honesty and integrity is the need of the hour, they feel. “Vote is both our strength and need and staying away from elections is nothing but foolishness,” says Mufti Syed Ibrahim Husami who has authored a book on elections and importance of voting. The 130-page book, which discusses various aspects of elections in the light of the Shariah, is doing brisk business in mosques and the other bookstores. It is only once in five years that one gets the chance to play a kingmaker and throwing away this opportunity makes no sense, the Mufti says.



Everything may be fair in love and war but not in elections. The Shariah says a big ‘no’ to bogus voting, impersonation and voting by underage persons. A Muslim woman can’t masquerade as someone else’s wife and vote. These are sinful acts and prohibited in Islam. Should one vote for a Muslim candidate or a non-Muslim? What is the ruling for a woman who is in ‘iddat’ (period of waiting after the death of her spouse or after divorce). Can she go out and vote? A number of such questions are rankling in the mind of the ummah (community). Find answers to all these in the light of Quranic injunctions and prophetic sunnah (traditions) in the book — Vote aur Inteqabaat, Ahmiat o Zaroorat — answers this book.

The Mufti discourages voting on religious lines. Candidates who best serve the interest of the community should be chosen irrespective of their religion.

Making out a strong case for voting, ulemas say not doing so is ‘haram’ (forbidden) since voting is essentially a testimony in Islam. And testimony has to be given when the occasion arises. The way giving false testimony is a major sin so is voting in favour of an unworthy candidate. Vote is also a trust and returning it to the correct person is necessary. Under no circumstances it should be cast for monetary benefit or under duress to an unworthy candidate, they argue.

Religious scholars dispel the notion that politics and religion are two different things. Politics is very much part of Islam, they say and list out examples of prophets holding the reins of administration. The book discusses at length such key topics as vote under the Shariah, its importance, whom to vote, electoral process. It also cautions contestants against indulging in character assassination of their opponents and resorting to unfair practices to win.

Except for those in ‘iddat’, there is no bar on Muslim women to vote.  But getting women out to vote is a task. Traditionally they are much less inclined than men to vote. For the first time the election machinery is also making use of the women SHGs to enlighten the fair sex on the need to vote. They are particularly being deployed in the old city of Hyderabad.

A campaign vehicle with Urdu language EVM-VVPAT ( voter verifiable paper audit trail) machines is going round the congested lanes of the Old City. The SHG members go door-to-door to meet the women inmates and encourage them to exercise their franchise.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Deccan Chronicle

Dated November 27,2018

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Urdu poetry is now richer by a new genre, Triveni. The credit goes to filmmaker and lyricist Gulzar.
    A poetic unit of three verses, Triveni packs a punch in the last line by turning around the meaning expressed in the first two verses.
    Gulzar, who has mastered the art of writing the Triveni, regaled the audience the other day at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (Manuu).
    What was billed a seminar turned into a mushaira with the renowned poet holding everyone spellbound with his three-liners. Right from Vice-Chancellor Aslam Parvaiz to professors and students, Gulzar’s recital swept everyone off their feet.
   A book penned by Canada-based Hyderabadi scholar Dr Syed Taqi Abidi, Gulzar ki Taqleeqi Sinf, Triveni, Tashreeh o Tajziya was released on the occasion.         
    Three-line poetry is not new to Urdu language.
    There are various forms like the musallu, the haiku, tikoni, salees and the tipai where an idea is expressed in three lines. But Triveni differs in that it’s free from the restrictions of radeef and qafia (rhyming).
    The thought expressed in the first two lines takes a new twist when the third line is read.
    For the last few years, Gulzar has been writing Trivenis on subjects as varied as love, the calamities of life, social milieu and moral values.
    The best part of Gulzar's shayeri is that one doesn't need to consult a dictionary. His poetry is simple and down to earth. What’s more, he doesn’t hesitate to borrow commonly used English
    Asked why he named his three-line verse Triveni, Gulzar said the first two verses meet like the Ganga and the Jamuna and complete a thought and an emotion. But beneath these streams runs another river, the Saraswati, which is apparently hidden. He likens the Triveni’s third line to the Saraswati which makes a world of difference.

Sample this triveni:

Samne aye mere, dekha mujhe, baat bhi ki
Muskuraye bhi purani kisi pehchan ki khatir
Kal ka akhbar tha, bas dekh liya, rakh bhi diya
(You come before me, acknowledge me, and even talk to me
Your smile reveals our long acquaintance
Like yesterday’s newspaper, read and discarded) 

   At a time when Urdu readership is dwindling, Gulzar remains its face.
In his own inimitable way, he is trying to keep the flickering flame burning. He wants the language to be made simpler for Hindi readers.
    He superbly captures the dilemma facing Urdu thus:
Badi aristocracy hai zaban main Faqeeri mein, nawabi ka maza deti hai .

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Deccan Chronicle

Dated November 25,2018

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