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Ghalib Memorial Demanded in Agra
 Agra,
Dec 28 (IANS) Literary experts have demanded a fitting memorial to
Mirza Ghalib in the Taj Mahal city of Agra, his place of birth.
Speakers at a Mirza Ghalib birth anniversary programme here also
urged Uttar Pradesh Governor T.V. Rajeswar to set up a Mirza Ghalib
chair in Agra University to promote research and original writing in
Urdu language.
Mirza Asad Ullah
Khan 'Ghalib' is considered the Shakespeare of Urdu and was born in
1796 in Agra, once the capital of Mughal rulers. He died in Delhi in
1869, leaving behind a rich legacy of poetry that continues to
inspire poets.
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"The haveli where Ghalib was
born should be acquired by the state government and
converted into a fitting memorial to Mirza Ghalib," a
resolution passed at a meeting of the experts said. The
haveli is in Kala Mahal area, in the heart of the city. An
educational institution run by a trust currently uses it.
Speakers also said that government should open a research
academy at the site.
"Agra University should set up a Mirza Ghalib chair to
promote Urdu language," said Surendra Sharma, president of
the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society.
"When tourists from Pakistan and other countries ask us to
be taken to Ghalib's birth place, we are very embarrassed.
The central and state governments should jointly build a
fitting memorial and a library in Agra where Urdu poetry
lovers can spend time and enlighten themselves," said
Sandeep Arora, president of the hotel and restaurant
association here. |
Mirza Ghalib's
Ishq Mujhko Nahin,
Vehshat Hi Sahi*
(You say) It is
not love, it is madness
My madness may be
The cause of your fame
Sever not my relationship with you
If nothing then be my enemy
What is the meaning of notoriety
In meeting me
If not in public court meet me alone
I am not my own enemy
So what if the stranger is in love with you
Whatever you are,
It is due to your own being
If this not known then it is ignorance
Life though fleets like a lightening flash
Yet it is abundant Time to be in love
I do not want debate
On the sustenance of love
Be it not love but another dilemma
Give something O biased One
At least the sanction to cry and plea
I will perpetuate the rituals
Even if cruelty be your habit
Teasing and cajoling
The beloved cannot leave 'Asad'
Even if there is no union
And only the desire remains
* Translation by Rajender
Krishan |
As a language Urdu
evolved and was nurtured in the courts of successive rulers in Agra.
It was here that the genius of many an Urdu poet flourished and
found creative expression. Urdu is passing through a dismal phase
though young 'shairs' of the city are hopeful that the rich language
of nuances will find new patrons and blossom once again.
The city still has some 25 poets but they were focusing more on 'mushairas'
than on writing. Israr Akbarabadi and Suhail Lakhnavi are well known
contemporary poets.
One reason why the language failed to grow was that the poets were
not spending time reading and doing enough homework, some experts
said. Only four or five books have been published, says a critic. It
was not so once upon a time. Then, the city of the Taj enchanted and
mesmerized Urdu poets.
Agra gave Urdu literature a new identity. It was Agra where Urdu
poetry flourished and found roots. It was in Agra that the three
great 'shairs' were born: Mirza Ghalib, Mir Taqi Mir and Nazeer
Akbarabadi. It was Urdu poetry that bridged the communication gap
and joined the hearts of peoples beyond the borders. Today the city
appears to have lost its heritage and its rich past.
Agra, also called Akbarabad, has been known in history as a city of
romance, love, bhakti and culture, not only for the world-famous
monuments but also for its rich literary traditions both in Urdu and
Braj Bhasha.
The Urdu literary stream combines both the spiritual love and
physical love. The Sufi saints idolized both. According to 'shair'
Asgar Akbarabadi, the poetry of Agra laid great stress on communal
harmony.
The poetic tradition started with Chandra Bhan in the court of
Shahjahan, writing as Mir Bakshi. Born in 1772, Mir Taqi Mir was the
son of Mohammed Ali, a Sufi saint. In the company of these learned
spiritual seekers Mir wrote poetry embodying love for humanity and
spiritualism.
Ghalib gave Urdu poetry a new definition, direction and identity.
It was, however, Nazeer Akbarabadi who gave Agra a new identity
through his poetry. Also called people's poet, Nazeer wrote about
ordinary things that touched the core of hearts of both Muslims and
Hindus. He was obsessed with his love for the Taj Mahal.
The story goes that once he decided to leave Agra for greener
pastures at the invitation of the Nawab of Hyderabad but returned
home after walking some distance when he lost sight of the Taj.
With the partition in 1947, the wounds became deeper though the
poets of Agra tried hard to heal them through their creative
outbursts. A long list of poets of Agra left for Pakistan. They
included Seemav Akbarabadi and Saba Akbarabadi. Seemav Akbarabadi
launched an Urdu magazine "Shair" in 1929. Subsequently it was
published from Pakistan before coming back to Mumbai from where it
is still brought out.
The city of Taj inherits the best of two worlds - the Muslim and the
Hindu, blending the two together in a harmonious mould now called
Indian. If Agra today ranks as one of the more peaceful cities of
India, the credit to a large extent goes to its well entrenched
tradition of Sulah Kul.
Akbar practiced Din-e-Ilahi, a highly eclectic faith that combined
the best of all religions. Dara Shikoh, the elder brother of
Aurangzeb, furthered the process of eclecticism, writing and
translating from Sanskrit. His library at Moti Ganj has
unfortunately become a mandi, thanks to local authorities.
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