An evening high on poetry… ‘Ek Mulaquat Farhad Shahzad Ke Saath’

A program, Ek Mulaqat Farhad Shahzad ke saath” was held in the Gulmohar Hall of India Habitat Center, New Delhi under the auspices of an ngo, SIET in collaboration with India Habitat Centre.

Farhat Shahzad is a name which stands tall in the pantheon of poets. Those who love ghazals are aware of the special place his poetry holds in the in the music world. Ustad Mehdi Hassan’s album Kehna Ussey released in 1983 contained 7 songs all the ghazals were written by Farhat Shahzad. His meteoric arrival in the world of ghazals left no one in any doubt about the newly discovered genius as the public acclaimed him and poetry found a new giant. His poetry has been sung and celebrated by all the maestros – Mehdi Hassan,  Ghulam Ali, Jagjit Singh.  Lata Mangeshkar has sung his ghazals in the album Sarhadein in a collaboration with Mehdi Hasan.

The jam packed, overflowing housefull audience was treated to a delectable series of old and new ghazals. The audience enjoyed listening to the anecdotes and the history behind the ghazals and the writer

The houseful audience included dedicated fans of Farhat Shahzad, some of whom had travelled from distant places like Gwalior and Panipat to be with their Mehboob Shayar . Distinguished persons in the audience included, the eminent poet Lakshmi Shankar bajpai (former DDG, All India Radio), famous poetess Mamta Kiran, Suniti Sharma from the MEA. Poets Subodh lal, Nazim Naqvi, Popular Ghazal Singer Shakeel Ahmed,  Eminent Ghazal Singer Rita Ganguly, Lt. Gen. Iqbal Singh Sangha, Ficci Flo President Archana Goradia Gupta.

Zara sa, aap se baher nikal ke dekho to

Mein zindagi hoon, merey sath chal ke dekho to

Na larkharaney bhee doonga kabhi, ye waada raha

Pakar ke hath mera, tum sanbhal ke dekho to

Mein aik zinda haqeeqat hoon, koi khwab nahin

Zara sa, piyar sey, aankhon ko mal ke, dekho to

Bohut se log to “father” bhi usko kehtey hein

Tum us ke samney ik din, machal ke dekho to

Tamam umr nahin, sirf aik shab ke liy-e

Khud apney hijr men janaan, pighal ke dekho to

Amar na kerdoon to “shahzad” mera nam nahin

Meri ghazal men bas ik bar dhal ke dekho to

*****

Safar hayat ka tamam, hijraton men bat gaya

Watan, zamin hi rahi, mein sarhadon men bat gaya

Hazar naam they merey, magar mein sirf aik tha

Na-janey kab mein masjidon men, mandaron men bat gaya

Wisal-o-hijr ka fasoon to kab ka toot bhi chuka

Sapoot merey daur ka, zarooraton men bat gaya

Khayal tu hey, khwab tu, sawal tu, jawab tu

Mein teri khoj men nikal ke, raston men bat gaya

Kisi tarha bhi ho, mei n uskey saans men sama sakoon

Bikhar ke is khayal se, mein khushbo-on men bat gaya

Mein lakht-lakht aadmi ke dukh samet-ta raha

Khuda jo masjidon men tha, namaziyon men bat gaya

Safar ke aakhri qadam pe ye khula ke ghar mera

Bacha liya tha rehzanon se, rehbaron men bat gaya!

• About the Author

About Sprightly Spirit

“I dare do all that may become a man. Who dares more is none”. And all, may be. It may be the vigor. Or the spirit. Or the courage to avoid being “politically correct” or bent. And, ban all averse with immaculate overture of graciously fathomable words firm in views. Subtle. Justifying the undying conscience. Values. Knowledge. And, dares to stay true. True to own. True to the world. And, to the words. With a dream in eyes it exists. In you. In me. In all. The sprite that never shies away. The spirit that never dies!