Meg Index | June 2001 Index

Date: 25-Jun-2001
Poet: Pirzada Qasim


Dr. Pizada Qasim looks every inch the distinguished scholar 
that he is. Pro-Vice Chancellor of Karachi University, he is 
a man of sciences, working in the field of neuro-sciences. And 
yet he is a name to be reckoned with in the world of Urdu 
poetry. 

He is a man fond of books. He is also an art scholar. Whenever 
he is invited for mushairas, he spends all his spare time 
touring museums and browsing through bookstores searching for 
books on myriad subjects.


Here is one of his new ghazals that he recited at the Houston 
mushaira. 


yaad kyaa dast-e-hunar hai ki sa.Nvarataa gayaa mai.n
us ko sochaa to use yaad hii karataa gayaa mai.n

[hunar = skill]

is ko tahaziib-e-junuu.N kahiye ki mujh se pahale
jaise bikhare hai.n sabhii log bikharataa gayaa mai.n

naqsh kitane the ki maaduum hue sil_silaavaar
aur har naqsh ke pahaluu se ubharataa gayaa mai.n

[maaduum = extinct] 

ek tasviir banaa_ii thii mukammal na hu_ii
ek hii rang lahuu rang thaa bharataa gayaa mai.n

[mukammal = complete]

harf-e-ikraar hii kahataa rahaa beKhaufii se
yaanii inkaar ke aashob se Darataa gayaa mai.n

[beKhaufii = without fear; aashob = disturbance]

apane andar ke talaatum ne rakkhaa hai aabaad
Khud hii ikraar kiyaa Khud hii mukarataa gayaa mai.n

[talaatum = upsurge of waves in water/flood]

har nafas ba.Dhataa gayaa us kii tamannaa kaa Kharosh
lamhaa lamhaa isii vahashat me.n nikharataa gayaa mai.n

[Kharosh = wail/plaintive cry]

zindagii kuu-e-malaamat hai ko_ii kyaa Thahare
apanii hii vazaa kaa mai.n huu.N so Thaharataa gayaa mai.n

[malaamat = rebuke/reproach]

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Moderator's Note:

Good news for those who were unable to attend the mushaira 
in Houston or the other towns and cities that the poets have 
visited since then. The video tape of the Houston mushaira
will be available soon.