Gulzar responds to Javed Akhtar's poem on speaking up in 'dark times': You are not alone

Gulzar responded to Javed Akhtar’s new poem, which he had performed for the first time at the 53rd Shankar-Shad Mushaira. Javed Akhtar had recently performed a new poem for the first time in public at Urdu poetry festival, Shankar-Shad Mushaira, held in New Delhi on 16 March. “Jo baat kehte darte hain sab, tu woh baat likh/Itni andheri thhi na kabhi pehle raat, likh,” which translates to “To speak of that which everyone is fearful, of that you must write/The night was never so dark ever before, write!” Gulzar responded with a short poem, which acknowledges and show solidarity to what Akhtar spoke about, writes Scroll.in. Javed Akhtar ke Naam Jadu, bayaan tumhara, aur pukaar sunii hai Tum “ekla” nahi, hum ne woh lalkaar sunii hai Boli lagi thhii kal, ke singhasan bikau thhe Nilaam hoti kal, sar-e-bazar sunii thhi Tum ne bhi khoon-e-dil mein duboii hain ungliyan Hum ne qalam ki pehle bhi jhankar sunii hai The poem translates from Urdu by Rakshanda Jalil reads: For Javed Akhtar Jadu, we have heard your call You are not alone, we have heeded that challenge A price was set yesterday, several thrones were up for sale We heard an auction take place in the market yesterday You too have dipped your fingers in your heart’s blood We have heard the clangour of the pen earlier too