ISLAMABAD, Feb 8: Poetry reflects the pain and pleasures of the age and so the Mushaira arranged by the Old Ravians Association (ORA) here over the weekend was burdened with the sad goings on in the country and elsewhere in the world. Some 30 poets participated in the Mushaira and the verses they recited were mostly laments.

Peerzada Qasim, poet, philosopher and vice-chancellor of Karachi University, who presided over the Mushaira, charmed the audience with his three Ghazals which obliquely referred to the need for human value in a disjointed world. ORA president Sayeed Mehdi expressed his appreciation by joining his prayerful line Main aap kay dard ki sada hoon, mujhay doa'on main yad rakhye (I voice your pain, do remember me in your prayers).

Similarly, what Iftikhar Arif, the chief guest, recited could be called love poetry, he too noted a change in the mood of the new generation of admirers of poetry. “They appreciate more the recital of every day incidents than love poetry,” he told Dawn after the poetry session.

Other poets too presented intense reactions to what was going on inside and outside the country. One got a glimpse of the agony of people from the recital of Shakeel Haidar who found the trader who used to sell shimmering garments now selling shrouds and Dr Jawad’s social satire talking of a bottle of juice present in the house but not a drop of water. Sarmad Sehbai brought his own wit to describe the dark path beyond by reciting Koi rasta naheen hai aur safar rakh'e gaya hoon.

Popular poet and policeman Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema was much appreciated for his poetic banter about the ways in which member of his profession conducted themselves: Ma'asir ki afsari ka kiya jah'o jalal hai; Magar bakri ne paihen rak'khi hai cheetay ki khal hai.

Anwar Masud’s lament Ab say grammar ka yehi qanoon hona chahi'ye, and Shahid Sarfaraz’s Main to ghazal suna'oon ga is hi daur ki were regarded by the audience as poignant comment on the current events.

Naushi Gilani cried over the madness in Swat: Lar'kion ko jala'nay main der kitni lagti hai, and Izharul Haq rued that such savagery goes unwept in society by reciting his Namak zard aankh'on main tha, per num na'hien tha.

Durdana Shahwar, Mahmuda Ghazia, Saima Ali, and Talat Naureen Abbas, to name a few, also received good cheer from the audience. On the occasion, the Nazir Ahmad Shield for acknowledging excellence in poetry was presented posthumously to Ahmad Faraz and Munir Niazi.