Mehfil-e-Urdu: Legendary stars of Urdu literature descend upon UAE

Lovers of Urdu poetry in the UAE recently witnessed their favourite poets from yesteryear at the Mehfil-e-Urdu. Brought to you by Bazm-e-Urdu Dubai, a non-profitable organisation, Mehfil-e-Urdu is a cultural event that works as a proponent of Urdu without boundaries.

The evening at Hotel Crown Plaza (Deira, Dubai) on the 4th of November 2021 started with Rubaru*, an enlightening session by Dr Arfa Syeda Zehra, educationist and Urdu language expert from Pakistan. Taking centre stage, Dr Arfa spoke about the strong influence that Urdu has in nurturing the soul. By conveying the intricate beauty found in the nuances of the language, she explained that Urdu is the language that has the potential to bring people together. She explained that the language was created during the Moghul period to create a language of commonality between people of different cultures.

I do not wish to live in a man’s world neither in a woman’s world. I would rather live in a HUMAN world. 

Dr Arfa Syeda Zehra

The event also held the Josh-e-Urdu Award ceremony. The award, created in memory of renowned poet, Josh Malihabadi, is awarded every year to an individual or organisation in recognition of their efforts for Urdu. This year, the award was posthumously awarded to Prof Shamim Hanafi, a widely-respected literary polymath, Professor Emeritus of the Jamia Millia Islamia, dramatist and a proponent of the modernist movement in Urdu literature.

The event culminated with the Mushaira-e-Raftgaan (Tamsili) by the Pierrot’s Troupe which proved to be the icing on the cake of the evening. The Mushaira**, an abridged form of history in Urdu poetry, brought together classical and modern Urdu literature’s famous figures in a creative and poetic time warp.

A unique concept, it commenced with Ameer Khusrau taking the stage reading his famous poem:

Zehaal-e-miskeen makun taghaful,
Duraye naina banaye batiyan

“Do not overlook my misery, by blandishing your eyes and weaving tales.”

The poem was befitting to the event in such that one line is in Persian while the next line is in Hindawi, an example of how cultures can coexist respectfully with each other to promote harmony.

Ameer Khusrau was soon followed by characters playing his peers and Urdu greats like Meer Taqi Meer, Mirza Ghalib, Akbar Allahabadi, Allama Iqbal, Josh Malihabadi, Daag Dehlvi, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Meer Anees and Parveen Shakir. 

What ensued was an entertaining evening filled with applaudable poetry reading intermittently sprinkled with friendly banter. From the colourful jesting of Daag with Mirza Ghalib to the confounded emotions of Ameer Khusrau over the use of Urdu language of his peers, Mushaira-e-Raftgaan was a marvellous experience. 

All languages have the power to unite and Urdu has managed to elegantly bring together billions of people in a beautiful bouquet of cultures.

*Rubaru: Face-to-face
**Mushaira: An evening social gathering at which Urdu poetry is read.

About Bazm-e-Urdu Dubai
Bazm-e-Urdu Dubai is a non-profitable, non-religious, and non-political organisation working for the propagation of Urdu language by organising Urdu cultural events in Dubai. Founded in Dubai by Rehan Ahmad Khan, Bazm-e-Urdu Dubai is the first social club in UAE, working towards the upliftment of Urdu, which is licensed by the Community Development Authority Dubai. 

About Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra
Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra is an educationist and Urdu language expert from Pakistan. She is recognized for her knowledge of the Urdu language and literature and is specialized in intellectual history and South Asian social issues; outside of the university sphere, she speaks at language conferences and televised forums.

About Pierrot’s Troupe
Pierrot’s Troupe is a theater company based in New Delhi, India, which was formed in 1989. The group performs original plays in Hindi, Urdu and English. It is credited with giving many new, original, and entertaining productions to Hindi and Urdu theatre: Ghalib In New Delhi, Maulana Azad, Lal Quila Ka Aakhri Mushaira, Big B, Ghalib, K L Saigal, Sons of Babur and Ghalib Ke Khat.