Bashir Badr made ghazal the language of the common man:Kumar Vishwas says, ‘wherever he stood, mushaira became grand from that very spot’

The famous poet Bashir Badr, who brought Urdu poetry to the common people’s language, passed away on Thursday at 12:35 PM at his home in Bhopal. The 91-year-old Bashir had been ill for a long time and had also lost his memory. He was laid to rest in the evening at Bada Baag cemetery. Bashir, who was honored with Padma Shri and Sahitya Akademi Award, had written approximately 700 ghazals and nazms, and over 4,000 couplets. Bashir Sahab’s house was burned down in the 1987 Meerut riots. In these, years of accumulated wealth, degrees, books, and memories were reduced to ashes. After this, he came and settled in Bhopal. In the shock of this incident, he wrote the poetry – “People break down while building one home, You have no mercy in burning down settlements.” Poets and writers from across the country and state have expressed grief over the demise of Bashir Badr. Speaking to Dainik Bhaskar, Kumar Vishwas said that I say this about very few people that they changed the language. Bashir Badr Sahab was among the selected few individuals. He didn’t just write ghazals; he took the ghazal out of the drawing room and made it the language of the common man. He said that my relationship with Bashir Sahab spanned more than three decades. Initially, I listened to him as an audience member, then I began sharing the stage with him as a fellow poet. We both had a connection to Meerut, so there was always a sense of belonging. Later, when he settled in Bhopal due to some unpleasant circumstances, the series of meetings and mushairas continued. I always saw him as a great man and a great poet. Wherever he stood, the mushaira would become grander from that very point. Bashir Badr was the Gautam Buddha of Indian ghazal. Just as Lord Buddha brought difficult spirituality to the common man by translating it into folk languages like Pali and Prakrit, similarly, Bashir Sahab expressed the greatest thoughts with such simplicity that they went straight into people’s hearts. There was no pretense in his poetry. There was no attempt to create spectacle, yet every couplet became a spectacle in itself. Go to Parliament-Legislative Assemblies, look in newspapers, listen to slogans on the streets – you will find Bashir Badr present everywhere. His couplet became the language of India-Pakistan relations Kumar Vishwas said, ‘Bashir Badr’s couplet- Whether hearts meet or not, keep shaking hands… became the language of India-Pakistan relations. When the heads of state of both countries shook hands, the next day, this very couplet would be printed in newspapers. This couplet was recited on countless occasions- “Ujale apni yaadon ke humare saath rehne do…
Na jaane kis gali me zindagi ki shaam ho jaye…” He said that I remember that a great actress like Meena Kumari had written it in her diary. Think about it, when a couplet comes out of books and becomes a part of life, what could be greater for a poet? Bashir Sahab was not only a good poet but also very well-educated. He had done his PhD. He had a professorial composure. When he spoke, it felt as if a very cultured person was presenting his knowledge very gracefully before you. Bashir Badr will always remain alive in his poetry Kumar Vishwas further said that I remember a mushaira at Bhopal Raj Bhavan. An argument had escalated between two great poets. The atmosphere could have turned bad. But the grace with which Bashir Sahab handled the situation was not just the mark of a great poet, but also of a great human being. His last years were not easy. The illness was painful. But I especially want to mention Dr. Rahat Badr here. The dedication and love with which he served Bashir Sahab was the pinnacle of love. Such examples are very rare in today’s times. I believe a poet truly dies when their verses leave people’s lives. This will never happen with Bashir Badr Sahab. They will live forever in their ash’aar (many verses). As long as people love, try to save relationships, learn to smile even after breaking up… Bashir Badr will remain alive. Your creation is incomplete, let me complete it… Prasar Bharati Chairman and famous poet Prasoon Joshi has shared a poem with Dainik Bhaskar, specially written for Bashir Badr… Adhoori hai teri rachna zara tu poora karne de Yahan ek chot rakhne de, wahan ek ghaav bharne de Yahin kagaz pe ye alfaaz saare sookh jayenge Zara sa fail jaane de, zara boonden bikharne de Abhi angoor mein hoon aur mujhe khamosh rehna hai Surahi mein zara sheeshon mein tu mujhko utarne de Kahan bujhne ka darr mujhko, main koi shama thode hoon Zara si zulf hoon mujhko tu jhonkon se sanwarne de Suni hain dhadkanein uski kai chupchaap kaanon se Yahi umeed hai shayad mujhe baahon mein marne de Sune tu baith kar mujhko nahi aisi tamanna hai Main hoon truck par likha ek sher, tu mujhko guzarne de