The Hindu : New Delhi News : Keeping Mirza Ghalib's memory alive in his city

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 27, 2006
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Keeping Mirza Ghalib's memory alive in his city

Staff Reporter

Country's big cultural names join hands to felicitate the legendary poet

PROCESSION: Kathak Dancer Uma Sharma (second from right) and Delhi Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf participating in a candle light procession on the occasion of Mirza Ghalib's 210th birth anniversary in the Walled City on Tuesday . — PHOTO: S HIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

NEW DELHI: It may have been a perfect winter day to sit in a warm room snuggled in a quilt, but a group of prominent citizens came out in the cold on Tuesday to celebrate one of the city's most famous poets Mirza Ghalib. Walking through the tiny by-lanes of the crowded Walled City to his `haveli' with candles, it was a chance to perhaps reclaim a bit of his glory.

Programme

The candle-light procession kicked off "Yaadgar-E-Ghalib-Andaz-E-Bayan", a programme to commemorate the legendary poet's birth anniversary. Just a small part of a gala event, this programme has the country big cultural names associated with it.

Legacy

Apart from felicitating Ghalib in his way, there will also now be a `permanent' place for him. "There is a park near Humanyun's Tomb, which will be named after Ghalib. Delhi is a very literate city and this is one way of continuing his legacy," said the director general of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Pavan K. Varma who was present at the candle-lit procession.

Choosing to roam the streets of Ghalib's Delhi instead of keeping the event restricted to `elite' circle, this "Yadgar" of Ghalib is really about celebrating him in the right spirit. There will be a dance ballet "Andaz-E-Bayaan" by the Uma Shankar and her troupe at the lawns of the Town Hall in Chandni Chowk on Wednesday. Really sticking to keeping his memory alive in his city, the festival is about bringing him `home' to ordinary people who loved him not only as a poet but also as a fellow Delhiite. There will also be a `mushaira' by the leading poets of the present times in the same venue. There will also be Ahmed Laraz and Zehra Nigah from Pakistan -- another testimony to common heritage -- who will participate in the programme on Wednesday.

His letters

And to finally pay tribute at his `mazhar', there will be a reading of his letters, qawwalis and ghazals at the Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah on Thursday.The Union Minister for Science and Technology and Member of Parliament Chandni Chowk Kapil Sibal and Delhi Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf were also present for the candlelight procession.

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