During its long history as the capital of several empires, Delhi — a city built, destroyed, and rebuilt many times — has numerous gripping stories, some melancholic and disturbing, others inspiring and exhilarating. From Lal Kot (present-day Mahrauli) in south to Shahjahanabad (today’s Old Delhi) in north, and from Lutyens’ Delhi in centre to now all-around expanding Delhi-NCR, this capital city stands testimony to its varied history.
And when these stories — from kings, nawabs and nobles to poets, sufis and faqirs — are packed with Urdu couplets about Delhi, then they sound more captivating.
My newly-released book, The Fascinating Tales of Urdu & its Courtyard — Dilli, weaves in some engrossing anecdotes from the city's past along with an interesting journey of Urdu, which was born and brought up here. The book was released by Dr Rohma Javed Rashid, Assistant Professor, department of history, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. She said, "This book is packaged in such a way to make it appealing to everyone — be it a student or working professional, housewife or a senior citizen."
From early Sultanate Delhi to New Delhi today, the book traces the journey of Urdu and discusses both Urdu poetry as well as prose in context of Delhi's culturally rich history.
Delhi has a splendid legacy of Urdu poets — from Hatim, Dard, Sauda, Mir and Mushafi to Zauq, Ghalib, Zafar, Momin, Shefta and Daagh — who saw both the splendour and ravages of the time. The book also gives readers an exposure to Urdu prose and letters which are an important part of Delhi’s history. For the benefit of those who are not well-versed in Urdu, the author has written the extracts in Roman script (English) and has explained the meanings of difficult Urdu words too.
Besides history, readers will get a taste of Urdu prose and poetry, stories and anecdotes as well as fiction and linguistics in this book and that too in just 160 pages. Today, people spend more time on mobile, social media and television and give very little time to reading. That is why an attempt has been made to give the information in an interesting manner in a slim volume to make it appealing to everyone.
Almost all the famous couplets about Delhi are covered in The Fascinating Tales of Urdu & its Courtyard — Dilli under different chapters. The couplets written on Urdu zabaan are also included in a separate chapter.
It is published by Al Hasanat Books (Daryaganj, New Delhi). To order the book contact at 9870477658. The book is priced ₹350 (plus Rs 100 for courier).
Besides Urdu ghazals and nazms, Aayie Dil Se Shayaraana Ho Jayen has also my English poetry, making it perhaps, the first book to have both Urdu and English poetry.
Happy readers of my book Aayie Dil Se Shayaraana Ho Jayen have sent their pics and feedback. Besides Urdu ghazals and nazms, Aayie Dil Se Shayaraana Ho Jayen has also my English poetry, making it perhaps, the first book to have both Urdu and English poetry. My first poetry book Jazba-e-Mohabbat is also a bilingual (Urdu & English) book with meaning of difficult Urdu words given on every page. To order these books, email at elahi.raza82@gmail.com
Pics from top: Presenting a copy of my book to Dr Syed Mumtazuddin & Dr Mushtaq Abedin (Muzaffarpur). Mr Samir Hasan (Muzaffarpur); Mr S S Jawaid Yusuf (advocate & driftwood artist; Gaya); Mr Zohaib Hassan & Mr Jamal Hassan (Patna); Mr Angez (KSA); Mr Wasimul Haque Najmi (Muzaffarpur) ; Mrs Shaban Khan (Lucknow); Mr Noman Chishti (Deoria); Mr Tabrez (New Delhi)
After Prophet Muhammad migrated to Medina (in 622), and built a mosque there, he established the practice of azaan. Some of his companions suggested blowing a horn, some ringing a bell, and some lighting a fire as the method of calling people to the mosque for the prayers. But, under divine inspiration, the Prophet decided on the human voice, and chose Bilal (just freed from slavery), for making the call. His voice couldn’t be as loud and couldn’t go as far as the mechanically produced sound of a bell or a horn. Yet, the Prophet chose the low-decibel human voice over the high-decibel sound of bell or horn.
Azaan is an essential and integral part of Islam but its recitation through loud-speakers or other sound-amplifying devices cannot be said to be an integral part of the religion.
In today's world with everyone having watch and mobile, the practice of using loudspeaker from mosques is neither mandatory nor required.
Almost a decade back, I had opined that the mosques in our country should stop using loudspeaker for azaan on their own before people of other communities start raising objections. Now, it is being created as an 'issue' to disturb communal harmony in the country.
The counterview, however, is that if few minutes azaan is contributing to noise pollution and disturbance, then what about loud bhajans and chants of shlokas from mandirs; 2-3 days continuous blaring of geet on loudspeakers during chaat puja, high decibel sound in processions on occasions like Ganesh Chaturthi, Ramnavmi and Navratri etc. Are not these contributing to noise pollution?
Well, I'll not comment on other religions' rituals and processions, but will again say Muslims should take lead in asking the management of mosques not to use loudspeakers for azaan. The Holy Quran encourages us and impresses upon us our duty by saying:You are the best community that has ever been raised for mankind; you enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid what is wrong, and you believe in Allah. Had the people of earlier revelations believed, it would have been for their own good. Few of them are believers, while most of them evildoers. (surah 3 Al-i-Imran; ayah 110).
Religion is not what one formally or ritualistically practices but how one deals with others. It is, therefore, not sufficient to be pious without performing deeds which demonstrate one's beliefs. And, it applies to all religions.
Over the years, some good names of Indian cities and railway stations have been changed, but strangely not much thought has been given to rename these below mentioned railway stations.
From KUTTA to BILLI; from SALI to SAHELI; from LONDA to ODHANIA CHACHA, here are some hilarious names of Indian railway stations:
1. Sali (comes under Jaipur railway division)
2. Bibinagar (in Bhavanigarh, Telengana)
3. Baap (in Jodhpur division)
4. Saheli (in Hoshangabad district under Nagpur railway division)
5. Nana (in Sirohi Pindwara, Rajasthan)
6. Odhania Chacha (in Jodhpur railway division)
7. Londa (in Belagavi district, northern Karnataka)
Details of my books - two on Journalism & two on poetry:
1. How to Become Good Journalist (available on flipkart/Amazon)
2. Nuances of Journalistic Writings (email at elahi.raza82@gmail.com; Price: Rs 180 + courier charge)
3. Jazba-e-Mohabbat (email at elahi.raza82@gmail.com OR contact M R Publications, 10 Metropole market 2724-25, First floor, Kucha Chelan, Daryaganj, New Delhi (#8368305471. Price: Rs 150 + courier charge. Language: English & Urdu.)
4. Aayie Dil Se Shayaraana Ho Jayen (email at elahi.raza82@gmail.com OR alhasanatbooks@rediffmail.com Price: Rs 295 + courier charge. Language: English & Urdu.)
US-based renowned scientist Janab Dr Syed Shahabuddin sb (pic below) with my book Aayie Dil Se Shayaraana Ho Jayen.
Poetry lover Janab Ammar Yasir sb (Asansol) (pic below)reading Aayie Dil Se Shayaraana Ho Jayen.
