ASAD - 56

Originally posted on rec.music.indian.misc in 1995

Once in a Mehfil in Bombay, stalwarts like Sahir, Kaifi Aazmi, JaaN Nissar AKHtar, were present. Another famous Shayar, Raghupati Sahai, began reading out his GHazal ...

maut ek geet raat gaati thi
zindagi jhoom jhoom jaati thi

Sardar Jafery didn't like this Sher at all, and said loudly -- "gustaKhi maaf ho, hame aap sher sunaaiye, bakwaas mat kijiye"!

There was no way, a hot tempered person like Raghupati Sahai could have taken this. He immediately retorted -- "maiN to Sher hi suna raha huN, bakwaas to aap kar rahe haiN" !

After that he honoured the Mehfil with a long discourse on Philosophy of Life and Death! There are indeed many Shers by him on this topic.

maut ka bhi ilaaj ho shaayad
zindagi ka koi ilaaj nahiN

Raghupati Sahai has also given the world, a sentimental definition of GHazal. When a hunter and his killer dogs are trying to catch a deer, and when the deer gets trapped in the trees, from where it cannot escape, then at that time it cries with a voice full of sorrow and helplessness. Such a tune is called a GHazal!

Now, now, don't tell me, you haven't heard this name before. Raghupati Sahai is one of the most famous of contemporary Shayars, a lot of his GHazals have been sung and he has been awarded the 2 most prestigious literary awards - the Sahitya Academy Award and the Jnanpith Award!!

Perhaps you are right :-). Because he is better known to the world by his 'taKHallus' - Firaq Gorakhpuri !!!

Again, 2 more articles on this great and interesting personality will follow in coming days.

- Abhay.
ASAD _also_ stands for "A Sher A Day" !