ASAD - 43

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

In 1857 both the hometowns of Shayari, Delhi and Lakhnow, were virtually destroyed. Shayars had to migrate to other cities. As a result of this, both the styles of Shayari, Dehalvi and Lakhnawi, came together and a combined style, a synthesis immerged. This effect is most evident in the Shayari of one of my favourite Shayars Daag Dehalvi, who along with Amir Minai ["aahista aahista"] was a prominent Shayar of this era.

So at times, his Shers sound Lakhnawi cheapos like ...

shab-e-wisaal = milan ki raat
bazm = mehfil

shab-e-wisaal hai, roshan chiraag gul kar do
KHushi ki bazm me kya kaam jalane waaloN ka
- Daag Dehalvi

[ A few days back this Sher was wrongly credited to Momin by S. Bajwa ]

At other times he was superb and at his Dehalvi best. I will stick to his Dehalvi gems for the time being. Let's start with one of his best.

ranj = dukh
guftagu = baatcheet

ranj ki jab guftagu hone lagi
aap se tum, tum se tu hone lagi
- Daag Dehalvi

Barriers of formality start falling down when matters of common grievances are discussed. Nothing new, but what a way to say it !

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