Bhopal(Madhya Pradesh): The country’s atmosphere has changed a bit. Creative people like poets now have to think twice before putting pen to paper, said shayar Azhar Iqbal. They have to make sure that their writings do not kick up a controversy, he added.
Iqbal, who is a nephew of famed cine actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, was in the city on Friday to participate in an event.
He told the Free Press that in the past too, the country has witnessed similar phases. “Time never stands still. It changes. This too will pass,” he said.
Azhar said that he frequently performs at IITs and other top institutions of higher learning. “Youths are my main audience,” he said. He said that he was heartened to note that the youngsters today were much more appreciative of good poetry than was the case earlier. “I have also noticed that there is a shift from religious poetry to romantic poetry, as far as public preferences go. Today’s youth love poetry by the likes of Mir Taqi Mir, Shakeel Badayuni, Dushyant Kumar and Sahir Ludhianvi,” he said.
He said that another recent development was the gradual dissociation of language with religion. “Our politicians had put religious stamps on languages, especially Hindi and Urdu. But now the people no longer brand languages. They have come to realize that languages are taking our traditions forward. They are bringing people together, not dividing them. That is very good,” he said.
About how social media has impacted poetry and other creative fields, he said that it has given a great reach to lesser known but talented poets, actors and others. “Earlier, a group of poets and shayars was dominant. Only they were invited to kavi sammelans and mushairas and only they had access to the audience. But social media has changed everything,” he said.
Azhar, who works as a senior manager with an NBFC, said that he had developed interest in poetry due to the atmosphere at his home. “My childhood was spent listening to stories and poems,” said he adding “ I am also inspired by my Mamu Nawazuddin Siddiqui .”
