Sabaq-e-Urdu: Literary magazine revives Shab-e-Khoon era

It was a pleasant surprise to see Sabaq-e-Urdu, a new literary magazine, hitting the stands. The monthly revives the memories of SR Faruqi’s Shab Khoon.

In fact, when I initially flipped the pages, the printing and fonts gave me a feeling that I was reading Shab Khoon. Editor Danish Allahabadi and his companion Riyaz Ahmad must be congratulated for the publication.

Apart from the usual treat of ghazals and nazms, Mohammad Zakariya Virk’s three exhaustive articles about role of Muslims in Europe’s renaissance, eminent Muslim scientists of yore and 42 historials of Al-Andalus are hallmark of the issue.

Majaz’ nazm Aawara has a universal appeal and Mohammd Salim has put an effort in translation. Though I personally prefer KC Kanda’s ‘What to do O aching heart, What to do O frenzy wild’ for ‘Aye gham-e-dil kya karuuN, aye vahshat-e-dil kyaa karuuN’.

Sabaq-e-Urdu has its head office in Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh and is printed at Allahabad. Faruqi is the patron of the magazine. The magazine costs a mere Rs 25.

Send a cheque or draft to Sabaq-e-Urdu at Sabaq-e-Urdu, Gopiganj, Bhadohi (UP) 221303. The annual subscription is Rs 250 for twelve issues of the magazine.

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Renowned poet Abdullah Kamaal is no more

Leading Urdu poet Abdullah Kamal [pronounciation Kamaal] is no more. He passed away in Mumbai recently. He died of cardiac arrest.

Kamal was amongst the last generation of Urdu poets in India that not only had absolute command over Urdu diction but also made full use of the legacy of Urdu poetry from Wali to Meer and Ghalib to Nasir Kazmi.

Abdullah Kamal was 62. He had been associated with different magazines and had two collections of poetry to his name. He was living in Mumbra for a few years and avoided attending events due to his illness.

Tributes were paid to him at a condolence meet in Kurla. The speakers rued that litterateurs are passing away and there are hardly any new poets seen that can fill this void.

Kamaal’s demise didn’t get mention in papers as well as on websites. An esteemed visitor to this blog, Mr Humayun, had drawn my attention towards the fact. I intend to write about him at my other blog.

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