September 4th 2025.
In the bustling city of Mumbai, there has been a recent controversy surrounding the postponement of a mushaira, a traditional Urdu poetry gathering, featuring renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar. This decision came after some Muslim groups protested against Akhtar's participation, causing the West Bengal Urdu Academy to delay the event. However, Akhtar, who is known for his outspokenness against fundamentalism in both Hindu and Muslim communities, did not shy away from sharing his thoughts on the matter.
In a recent post on social media, Akhtar shared a thought-provoking couplet by an anonymous poet which seemed to reflect his own feelings on the situation. The couplet, loosely translated, expressed the idea that despite being misunderstood by both believers and non-believers, Akhtar is a subject that is difficult to comprehend. He further added that if someone were truly interested in understanding him, it wouldn't be such a daunting task.
The mushaira, which was originally scheduled for September 1st in Kolkata, has now been postponed for a future date due to "compelling reasons" according to the academy's secretary. However, no official reason was given for the postponement. This decision has caused quite a stir, with some Muslim organizations claiming that Akhtar's comments have hurt the religious sentiments of the community.
One of the organizations, Jamiat-e-Ulema, expressed their disappointment and suggested that the academy should invite someone else who has not made controversial comments. Similarly, Mufti Shamail Nadvi of the Wahyain Foundation acknowledged Akhtar's talent but stated that his recent remarks have caused hurt among the Muslim community. As a minority institution, the West Bengal Urdu Academy should have been more careful in selecting guests to protect the values and sentiments of the Muslim community.
However, amidst all the controversy, left student organizations have extended an open invitation to Akhtar to speak on the role of Urdu in Hindi cinema in Delhi. It seems that while some may disagree with Akhtar's views, there are still those who appreciate his contributions to the arts and are willing to give him a platform to share his thoughts. As for the rescheduled mushaira, it is unclear if Akhtar will still be invited to participate.
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