T-sentiment ‘takes over' mushaira

The mushaira held in memory of former Deputy Chief Minister K.V. Ranga Reddy on Sunday reflected the clamour for statehood.How can Urdu poets remain untouched by the Telangana sentiment? Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth and that is what it did the other day.

A mushaira sponsored on Sunday by Progressive Telangana Foundation in memory of former Deputy Chief Minister Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy was reflective of the strong Telangana sentiment. For a change, love and romance, the mainstay of mushairas, took a backseat. Most of the poets chose to give vent to the clamour for statehood for the region. As the sun went down, the open air auditorium at Lalita Kala Thoranam, came alive with T-shayari. The mushaira was inaugurated in the traditional style by lighting of the ‘shama'.

Young poet Saleem Abedi set the tone for the evening by reciting a Telangana Tarana.

Haq per nahin ghabrana Anjam hai dikhlana

Hai hud se guzarjana

Pana hai hamen pana

Hamara Telangana

(When the cause is right there's no need to be afraid. We have to go all out to gain Telangana)

Then a budding poet from Manchariyal, Khursheed Asar, electrified the audience with his verses.

Madam ko manayenge, Telangana layenge

Dena pada jaan to jaan bhi gawan denge

Andhra ke leadero, Andhra sambhalo tum

Apne Telangana ko khud hum hi sambhalenge

(Will persuade Soniaji to get Telangana, even if it means laying down lives. Andhra leaders take care of your region and we will manage Telangana).

The next poet, Shamsheer Kodangali of Mahbubnagar drew a lot of applause with his verses.

Kar rahe ho tum hukumat

Khali hai khazana

Tum karke barbad baithe Telangana

Tum deke Telangana, Kiran Chittoor chale jana

(You have emptied the coffers and destroyed Telangana. Now Kiran, hand over Telangana and leave for Chittoor).

Continuing in the same vein, another poet, Shafi Iqbal, further mesmerised the audience.

Tahzeeb wo sakhafat ka

Akhlaq wo murravat ka

Isaar wo shujaat ka

Markaz hai Telangana

(Telagana is the centre of culture, etiquette, valour and sacrifice).

The only woman poet, Latha Haya of Mumbai, regaled the audience with verses on different topics. She stole the mushaira with this couplet:

Wo zid wo shararat wo ladakpan chala gaya

Maa jab chali gayee mera bachpan chala gaya

(The mischief, stubbornness and childhood has gone when mother passed away).