End of an Era in Urdu Shayari

About a week after the death of MATLAB’s Cleve Moler, another death rattled me and the world became that much more sadder. It was the death of the legendary poet Bashir Badr. He was a towering figure in the world of Urdu Shayari and mushaira (recitals), both literally and figuratively. His usage of (mostly) simple language, mastery of words & expressions was so exceptional that his recitals went deep within one’s self and raised emotions that one did not know one had!

Since he realized the seriousness of the onset of dementia in his later years, he voluntarily stopped attending poetry recitals. As his condition worsened, he even forgot his mushaira days. It was a saddening end of sorts but he will always be remembered for his showmanship and unique Shayari as he desired. Many obituaries and eulogies have appeared online since then. Let me share one from BBC Hindi.

One anecdote about his graduate days (that I had heard during my graduate days) has stayed with me even today because it seemed apocryphal but I wanted it to be so true. The article above more or less confirms it, so let me re-iterate it again here: During his M.A. studies, some of his Ghazals were part of the college syllabus (something he was proud of). During one viva exam, one examiner did not agree with his interpretation of a Sher; that Sher which was his own! 🤣

After the sad news of his demise, I decided to buy one more of his books (I already have one) and I got this one:

Let me share some Shers from this book (whose title means “Hope”) as an homage to this great personality and pure soul. First a Sher about Gods: [Do pardon my sketchy translations or read the relevant tab above.]

सब लोग अपने अपने खु़दाओं को लाये थे
इक हम ही ऐसे थे के हमारा खु़दा न था

Sab log apne apne Khudaaon ko laaye the
Ik ham hi aise the ke hamaara Khuda na tha

Everyone brought the Gods of their own
I was the only one with no God of my own

Next a few Shers from a Ghazal about passage & stillness of time, likes & dislikes, happiness & sadness:

उस का भी कुछ हक़ है आख़िर
उस ने मुझ से नफ़रत की है

Us ka bhi kuch haq hai aaKhir
Us ne mujh se naFarat ki hai

They also have some right after all
They do have pure hatred for me

जैसे सदियाँ बीत चुकी हों
फिर भी आधी रात अभी है

Jaise sadiyaan beet chuki hon
Phir bhi aadhi raat abhi hai

It’s like eons have passed
Still the mid-night is here

हम दोनों की खू़ब निभेगी
मैं भी दुखी हूँ वो भी दुखी है

Ham donon ki Khoob nibhegi
Main bhi dukhi hun wo bhi dukhi hai

Both of us will get along very well
I am also sad and you are sad too

अब ग़म से क्या नाता तोड़ें
ज़ालिम बचपन का साथी है

Ab Gham se kya naata toDein
Zaalim bachpan ka saathi hai

How do I break my ties with grief
That cruel one is a childhood friend

– बशीर बद्र (Bashir Badr)

Before my tears start streaming down and short-circuit my computer, let me leave you with a

45 minutes recital by Bashir Badr