On most days,Bagh-e-Bedil near Mathura Road is nothing more than a tangled forest. But on Thursday,the dead poet who lies forgotten in a simple dargah in this park came back to life. Mirza Abdul-Qader Bedil,a 17th century Persian poet lived in India and died in Delhi,and his grave is one of the citys unknown landmarks. Qawwals Chand Nizami and group brought alive Bedils poetry at a special performance held at Bagh-e-Bedil as part of the ongoing International Festival of the Sacred Arts. Conceptualised by Sohail Hashmi,the event included three kalams of Bedil among other works,all delivered in an energetic,peppy rhythm. I had tears in my eyes when I was asked to prepare Bedils poetry for the festival. We specially learnt his Persian verses for this performance, Nizami told the crowd that had gathered at the poets grave. Diplomats and expats with camcorders,writers like Sadia Delvi,music lovers and a sizeable crowd of youngsters filled the dargah and spilled on to the park. I have never allowed a concert here because this dargah is for special people,it is not just another ordinary park. But,I was glad to allow this qawwali, said Hakim Md Abdul Fateh,a descendant of Bedil. The qawwals also performed a few pieces of Amir Khusro and ended on a high note with Bulle Shahs damadam mast kalandar. Bedil is revered in Central Asia,and we thought that if this mehfil were successful,we will have introduced this great poet to the families of qawwals and,through them,revive interest in Bedil, says Preminder Singh,organizer of the festival.
