Noted Urdu poet Firaq Gorakhpuri once left a mushaira when he saw actress Meena Kumari also attending it arguing that "mushairas are the arenas of poets" only.
It was in the winter of 1959-60, when Firaq, whose real name was Raghupati Sahay, was invited to a mushaira here. As he entered the venue, he was accorded a standing ovation, and the proceedings started with great enthusiasm. After about an hour or so, pandemonium broke out in the audience as it was announced that Meena Kumari had entered the venue.
People rushed towards her to have a glimpse, leaving the poets bewildered and annoyed.
A livid Firaq decided to leave the function and was persuaded in vain by the organisers.
Meena Kumari also felt embarrassed and repeatedly begged Firaq to stay with the plea, "Sir, I have come to listen to you."
Firaq promptly replied, "Mushaira has become mujra (nautch revelries). I do not belong to such a gathering," and left. A day later he said, "I was not turned off by her (Meena). It was the behaviour of the organisers and the audience which insulted us."
His argument was, "Mushaira is a poetic symposium; the only actors here are the poets, and there is a hierarchy in the system, which is observed by all."
This incident is mentioned in "Firaq Gorakhpuri: The Poet of Pain & Ecstasy," a biography of the late poet by nephew Ajai Mansingh. The biography is based on Mansingh's personal experiences with Firaq as much his family.
