Doosra Banbaas

Bought a nice poetry book "Doosra Banbaas" today. This is a collection of "Ghazals" and "Nazms" by one of the greatest Urdu poets of our times Kaifi Aazmi.

I have been reading his poetry only sparsely till now, I find his poetry very realistic and full of life. Even if he is describing something remorse, it is decorated and presented in a manner that encapsulates your own sorrow along with.

I once saw a video of him in a "mushaaiyra" in Karachi. He was very upset, when the photographers surrounded him clicking away, and distracting him from reciting. He quipped to them, "Dekhiye meri tasveeren itni na lijiye, nazm khatarnaak hai, kahin giraftaar na ho jaayoon, in tasveeron ki wajah se." He then went on to recite "Berooni Andaaz".

Concluding, just four lines from the nazm "Ahteeyaat" in "Doorsa Banbaas". I find such a format of poetry very easy and free to write in. Something that a 'ghazal' does not provide. But then the magic of 'ghazal' is different altogether.

अब तुम आग़ोश-ए-तसव्वुर में भी आया न करो,
तुमको ये रस्म भी दुनिया न निभाने देगी,
बढ़ के दामन से लिपट जाएगी यूँ ताज़ा बहार,
मेरी आग़ोश-ए-तसव्वुर में न आने देगी।