In Agra, Ghalib is a fading memory

On his 215th birth anniversary, Urdu literature's famous 
personality seems forgotten in his birthplace

Agra:

As his immortal poems and couplets continue to draw aficionados of Urdu literature to Mirza Ghalib even 215 years after he was born, the bard's beginnings in Agra are being sadly ignored.

The city of the Taj Mahal celebrated the poet's 215th birth anniversary yesterday but the haveli (mansion) in Agra where Ghalib was born is now a junior college for girls. The people of the Kala Mahal locality of inner Agra where the mansion is located have no knowledge that the great poet was born there.

"The whole world may revere Ghalib and hold him in awe and admiration but the locals seem to have no regard for him," lamented television personality Kartar Singh, who is from Agra.

For the past two weeks, Singh had been practising hard to present Ghalib's choicest ghazals (lyrical compositions) at a programme to mark the day.

For years, admirers of Ghalib and lovers of Urdu shayari (poetry) have demanded a fitting memorial to the poet in Agra, but the culture departments in Lucknow and New Delhi have not responded.

"When foreign tourists ask to be taken to Ghalib's birthplace, we feel apologetic and embarrassed," said Sandip Arora, former president of the Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association.

"The central and state governments should jointly build a fitting memorial and a library in Agra where Urdu poetry lovers can spend time and enlighten themselves," he said.

Mirza Asadullah Khan "Ghalib" was born in Agra in 1797. He moved to Delhi where his poetic talent blossomed and found new expression at the time of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, himself a poet of no mean standing.

"Surely, Agra should have a fitting memorial and the Agra University should establish a Mirza Ghalib Chair for research into Urdu literature," said Surendra Sharma, president of Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society which yesterday celebrated Ghalib's birthday with the lyrics and poetry programme Jashn-e-Ghalib.

Syed Jaffrey, director of the Mirza Ghalib Academy in Agra, said: "Agra has given so much to Urdu culture. It should have a decent memorial for the poet.

source: http://www.GulfNews.com / by IANS /  December 28th, 2011