Art of writing ghazals dying due to lack of knowledge: Ghulam Ali

I believe there are still good poets, it is just that we don't have the people who can understand good poetry or know the difference between good and bad.


The art of writing ghazals is virtually dying due to the lack of proper knowledge of Urdu language, feels renowned Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali. Known for his mellifluous rendition of ghazals, Ali says the art form can be revived only through Urdu education (urdu ki taalim) and hard work.

"Very few good Urdu poets exist today, and there are even less ghazal writers," he told PTI. "If you want to sing, listen or write ghazals, you have to have knowledge about Urdu," said Ali, who performed in the capital last night. "Now people listen to ghazals which are very cheap in wording and have nothing to do with the classical patterns," he said adding that people listen to music without applying their brain. "Log akal se hat kar gaane sunte hai." He emphasized that the new generation singers and listeners should learn Urdu to do justice with the tradition of ghazal singing. "No one can progress without proper education. We also learnt the hard way," Ali said.

The ace singer said he was against mixing western music with the traditional ghazal form, as is done by some artistes. "For us music is life and for them it is a profession. We can even sing on with an empty stomach," he said. "However, if we get some good notes and styles then we should accept that. If that becomes a choice of people then every body would listen to it," Ali said adding "it happens so very rarely."

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