Irfan Siddiqui’s ghazal on Gujarat Riots

Gujarat Riots have given a new metaphor to Urdu poetry. In fact, more than the Babri Masjid demolition, it is the riots in Gujarat that seem to have shaken poets. I keep track of mushairas and she’ri nashists in cities and small towns and for the last couple of years ghazal, nazm, ashaar, munaajat with reference of Gujarat have been written in abundance. However, the following ghazal is considered among the best.

haq fateh-yaab mere Khuda kyuN nahiiN hua

tuune kahaa tha, teraa kahaa kyuuN nahiin hua

—

jab hashr isii zamiin pe uThaye gaye to phir

barpa yahiiN pe roz-e-jazaa kyuuN nahiiN hua

—

voh sho’la saaz bhi isii bastii ke log the

unkii galii meN raqs-e-hawaa kyuuN nahiin hua

These are some of the ten couplet-long ghazal described by Mazhar Imam as ‘epitome of Irfan Siddiqui’s creativity and artistic energy’.

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