Mushaira in the countryside with IPS as chief guest

Just when you would think that a Mushaira would not attract a lot of viewers I found out that thousands of people thronged to attend one in village Usia in UP's Ghazipur district. The gathering had around 20 poets who kept the audience awake and busy till early morning the next day.

An October evening when it's not that chilly makes for an ideal function like a Mushaira. Grandly titled 'All India Mushaira' the chief guest was M W Ansari, IPS who is ADG in Chhattisgarh police. The Zamania Circle Officer Kamal Kishore was also among the reciters.

According to a local report, chief guest Ansari said: "Both Hindi and Urdu are my language, but justice has not been done with Urdu. Both the languages must be supported and encouraged." 

The Mushaira was dedicated to late Haroon Rashid, who was the editor of Urdu daily Inquilab and was born in Usia. The posters proclaimed - 'Ek Shaam Haroon Rashid Ke Naam'.

Some memorable lines
 
"Insaniyat ka jazba dikhane lage hai log, bhookh se gash khakar girne waalo ko mirgi batakar joota soonghaane lage hai log" 

"Yeh mat samajhna ki tumse woh pyaar karte hain, haseen log hain aksar shikaar karte hain"