My Very First ALUP Post

[Naseer]

Dear ALUPers, tasliimaat

In July 2020, janaab-i-Raj Kumar SaaHib started an interesting thread with the title, "aek ALUPer ka duusre ALUPers se raabita" whose link is given below.

https://groups.google.com/g/alt.language.urdu.poetry/c/WZHF4smiB5E/m/DfX-uU0wCQAJ

Connected with this thought pattern, I would like to begin this thread on the subject of "My Very First ALUP Post". I would like our ALUP friends to tell us if possible the following things.

1. How did you become aware of ALUP?

2. What prompted you to make your very first post.

3. What was your very first post and when was it posted?

4. How were you received by the then stalwarts of the Group?

Sometimes it is not always possible to remember names and dates for 4. So, to jog your memory, here are links to two threads which may assist you in this matter. The information you require should be listed there, as a consequence for some kind soul's hard work!:-)

Past and Present Participants of ALUP

https://groups.google.com/g/alt.language.urdu.poetry/c/ogW2laicQGM/m/4TTqSa22BwAJ

Past and Present Participants of ALUP 2

https://groups.google.com/g/alt.language.urdu.poetry/c/Pzvf6G411kA/m/3OHx-YUwBwAJ

I came across ALUP by shear chance. I have had an interest in the Persian language for a time and whilst "surfing" the net, I came across this group. I saw that people like Afzal SaaHib, Raj Kumar SaaHib, Jamil SaaHib, Zafar SaaHib, Sarwar Sahib and a few others were talking about matters pertinent to Persian language and literature and I thought, "Eureka! I shall contact these people via email and ask them about all matters Persian that require resolution in mind."

My opportunity came up to make a post when a certain person named "ahmaq" started a thread entitled, "hello people". It occurred to me that this would be an ideal moment for another "ahmaq" to jump in. As it happend the subject matter (Transliteration of Urdu with Roman Alphabet) was close to my heart. So, I took the plunge on 31/03/2006 and made my entry with my very first post. If you read that post, you will notice that I must have been feeling very apprehensive and even scared to be among all these brilliant people!

hello people (31/03/2006)

https://groups.google.com/g/alt.language.urdu.poetry/c/poA_ReMkSlU/m/7mkA36bMl1IJ

https://groups.google.com/g/alt.language.urdu.poetry/c/19uwHjvZdjQ/m/J50mH5UDOz0J

The participants in this thread (the initial and the following) were ahmaq, Kali hawa, Black Wind (which I later found out was one of many carnations of Kala SaaHib!:-)), Zoya, Yogesh, Afzal A. Khan and UVR.

After having posted my initial post and then a number of posts in the follow up thread, I felt I was being totally ignored and unwanted! No one responded to my post and if it had not been for UVR SaaHib who welcomed me into ALUP, I might never have posted again. So, please blame UVR SaaHib for my entry into this group!:-)

With regard to Persian, I emailed a large number of people from ALUP and a number of them responded. It is quite possible the likes of Mirza Fuzuli SaaHib never got my email for one reason or another. However, I must add this much. The warmest response came from Mr Jamil Ahmad SaaHib to whom I am eternally grateful!

Naseer

[Afzal A. Khan]

MuHibbee,

First of all, let me indulge in my favourite pastime....

Citing a melodious song from some early film.

"Early" here is a relative term --- with specific reference
to Yours Truly. For others, the reference would perhaps mean
an old (or, perhaps) a very old film !!


****************


In or around 1958, a film was released in India. Its title was
"AaKHri Daao" (meaning "The Last Gambit").

It starred Nutan and Shekhar. Shekhar was a veteran actor who had
been acting in films since the early fifties. I believe his real
name was Indradaman Rastogi. He had acted opposite quite a few
leading ladies of that era, including Kamini Kaushal, who is still
with us, aged about 90 years. Let us wish her a still longer life,
with health and happiness......


****************


Shekhar should not be confused with another actor Chandrashekhar
who too is still with us, aged around 97 years or so. He can be
seen in movies like "Baradari", "Basant Bahar" and "Gateway of
India" etc.


****************


Shekhar had acted opposite Kamini Kaushal in the 1952 film "Aas"
and also in "Bank Manager", released in 1959. The latter was a
flop.

The story goes that Shekhar had some some sort of a liaison with
Kamini Kaushal and rumour mills suggested that it was a sort of
"karobaari 'ishq".


****************


Financially ruined when "Bank Manager" flopped at the Box Office,
Shekhar is reported to have migrated to Canada.

Some reports claim that he is now living with some relative/s in
New York. I think he would in his nineties now. Let us wish him too
a much longer (and healthy) life.

Nutan (Shekhar's co-star in this film "AaKHri Daao") also began her
acting career in 1952. Unfortunately, she passed away in 1990, due
to cancer.


****************


And now, for the song from that film "AAKHri Daao".


Hum'safar saath apna chhoR chale
Rishte naate woh saare chhoR chale

Raasta saaf tha to chalte rahe
Saath hanste rahe, machalte rahe

MoR aaya to mooNh ko moR chale

Sapne Toote paRe haiN raahoN men
Dard ki dhool hai nigaahoN men

Dil pe qadmoN ke naqsh chhoR chale

Jab unheN hum se pyaar hi na raha
RoyeN kya, intezaar bhi na raha

Hum bhi daaman ko ab nichoR chale



Music Director was Madan Mohan. And the lyricist was
Majrooh Sultanpuri.


****************


For the relavance of all this "rigmarole" to ALUP and your
poser, let me say that this exemplifies what has happened to
our former colleagues......

Jab tak ho saka, saath nibaaha --- aur phir chal diye.



****************


As to your specific query about ALUPers' first post, I
cannot remember it at all. In all probability, it was in the
late nineties.

Let me also clarify that the first Newsgroups that I participated
in were not (repeat NOT) related to Urdu poetry at all. I recall
participating in the sports group "rec.sport.cricket". And also
two other NGs pertaining to films and film music ---> RAMLI and
RMIM.



****************


But I do recall one of your very early posts where you had (so
generously) referred to me in very laudatory terms. That post
carried the words "out there" too, IIRC.

And I also recollect feeling hugely embarrassed. Because I felt
(quite genuinely) that I hardly deserved such plaudits.



This is a quite long and rambling response, no doubt, and I am sure
you will feel very disappointed.



Afzal

[Naseer]

muHtaram Afzal SaaHib, aadaab.

First of all, let me say that I meant to write "re-incarnation" but for some unknown reason I have written "carnation" when referring to one of many names that Kala SaaHib employed in this Newsgroup.

Secondly, has anyone ever asked you about the amount of time, relative to your age, you have spent in cinemas and on various newsgroups? This can not leave much time for anything else in your life!:-) This reminds me of a well known George Best (Irish footballer) quote. You may know that he was a big womanizer and an alcoholic. Once he was asked how he had spent all the money he had made as a football superstar. He replied, "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds, and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."!

Well Afzal SaaHib, if you can't remember your very first post in ALUP, I shall remind you. It was posted on 02/07/1998 with the title, "Ghalib's Ghazal". It's a solitary post in the thread. It was in response to Padmanabhan Srinagesh's post of 14/04/1998 where he had used the words "taar-o-rasan" instead of "daar-o-rasan".

https://groups.google.com/g/alt.language.urdu.poetry/c/Hxv1-JIkLyk/m/--kDImJ1qoQJ

(https://groups.google.com/g/alt.language.urdu.poetry/c/cTp1b5elJnA/m/QRhjcqNdoDMJ - Help with Faiz))

The second post was the next day, in the thread bearing the title, "Selection from Mir Taqi Mir".

https://groups.google.com/g/alt.language.urdu.poetry/c/WPzzNq-IV4Y/m/RADSiPduqqEJ

Now does this bring back any memories?

Naseer

[Afzal A. Khan]

Mukarramee,

As usual, I would go through the links furnished by you
(about my earliest ALUP posts) later........

But, let me first deal with your query about how much time
I devoted to other activities, besides watching movies etc.


****************


So, let me tell you a historical fact about the Great MuGHal,
i.e. Akbar-e-A'zam......

It is related in contemporary texts that he would go to bed
around 12 midnight --- and get up around 3 am. In other words,
he slept for just three hours !

And, of course, you won't expect the Emperor to spend the rest
of the remaining time (before dawn broke) to remain in solitary
isolation.

Is liye, is ke b'ad, shaamat bechaare un ke "muqarrabeen" ki
aati thi.

They would be summoned. Poor MiaN Tansen would have to sing
different raags (as appropriate for that particular time) e.g.
Sohni and Bhairavi etc. Mulla Do~pyaazah and Birbal would
compete with each other to keep the Emperor amused.

And so forth.


****************


BTW, I have seen the place where Mian Tansen used to sit and
sing......



****************


I was not fated to be an Emperor. So much for the changed
times. But I was blessed or afflicted (take your pick !) with
the same "malady" ! That is to say, I could make do with only
a few hours of sleep --- maybe not just three, but still less
than what other mortals needed !

I hope that answers your query.



Afzal