Picture of the Day: Walling in or walling out?

Posted on August 2, 2006
Filed Under >Adil Najam, Humor, Photo of the Day, Poetry, Urdu
9 Comments
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Adil Najam

Saw this picture in The Daily Times (2 August, 2006) from Lahore, about how a thru-way street has been turned into a dead-end for no apparent reason.

I was reminded of this amusing couplet by humorous Urdu poet Anwar Masood (not to be confused with Anwar Maqsood):

Ajab deewar ik daikhi hai maiN nay aaj rastay may
na kuch deewar kay aagay, na kuch deewar kay peechay

Anwar Masood is, of course, best known for his classic Punjabi humorous poetry; including such all-time greats as Baniyan, Tou ki jaanay bholi-aye majj-aye, Doodth tay Lassi, Aj ki pakaiye, etc. Moreover he has a fascinating way of reciting his poetry, particularly his Punjabi poetry (listen to him here).

I want to write about these and about Anwar Masood himself, but that will have to wait for another time. For now, let me leave you with a couple of other ashaar from the same mazahiya ghazal:

Taaqub ya police karti hai, ya azra-hay majboori
koee Gulzar phirta hai kissi Gulnar kay peechay

Hawaa-kha-haan-ay sarkari tou bus phirtay he rehtay haiN
Koee sarkar kay aagay, koee sarkar kay peechay

Maybe an ATP reader can offer a good translation!

9 responses to “Picture of the Day: Walling in or walling out?”

  1. urfan says:

    hi
    nead a latest of poetry of anwar massod witch is on ( jhanat may election)

  2. Roshan Malik says:

    Adil:
    The poem is “Ambri” and the aggressive kid is Akram.

    I liked this couplet from another poem:

    Sochta hoon keh bujhaa doon kamray ka diyaa
    Apnay sayay ko bhee kion saath jagaoon apnay.

  3. Adil Najam says:

    @sabizak
    Thsi post does NOT count as one on Amwar Masood… I have been planning a big one ON him and ON his poetry…. but maybe I will wait for you to do that post on yoru blog…. and maybe even cross post here ;-)

  4. Adil Najam says:

    Naveed… I agree entirely…. I have know AM for long and am a big fan… esepcially of his serious work which does not get to be taken seriously because everyone wants him to read out baniyan

    Actually, I know he feels badly about it too…..

    he has this absolutely wonderful poem, whose title I forget, in Punjabi where he tells the story of this kid who comes to school late and the teachers asks why… and then the kid tells explains about another kid in school who is aggressive with his mother and yet his mother is sending him these wonderful parathas…. I know I have not done justice to the poem in this description, but those who have heard it will know just how very very powerful it is…..

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