Qaisar Bagh Ki Aakhri Shaam: Chand Ash'aar Aur Tehzeeb-e-Awadh

Lucknow ke Qaisar Bagh mein jab shaam dhalti hai, toh purani imaraton ke surkhi-choone se bane mehraab ajeeb si udaasi odh lete hain.

Gomti ke kinare thehri hui hawa mein ab bhi kisi purane dastaangoi ki aawaz sunai deti hai—jahan alfaz ko motiyon ki tarah taraasha jaata tha.

Chand Ash'aar Tehzeeb-e-Awadh Ke Naam

Purani haveliyon ke dar pe ab woh noor nahi,
Magar kisi ki nigahon mein ab ghuroor nahi.
Woh jo kehte the humein zawaal-e-tehzeeb ka dukh,
Unhi ke shahar mein adab ka koi dastoor nahi.

Ittar-e-gulab ki khushboo toh hawa mein hai lekin,
Woh mehmaan-nawazi ka silsila kahan dhoondein?
Har koi daud raha hai naye zamane mein,
Woh purani shaam ka thehraav hum kahan dhoondein?

Waqt ne sab kuch badal diya, bas ek cheez reh gayi:
Chowk ke mod par mitti ke kullhad mein banti hui zafrani chai, aur dehleez par thehri hui woh muskaan jo bina bole kehti hai—pehle aap.

Adab sirf zabaan se nahi, balke doosre ke wajood ka ehtaram karne se banta hai.