Nasir Kazmi (1925-1972) is one of the pioneers of modern Urdu ghazal. Hislyricism, sensitivity and political awareness make him both a romantic and arebel of sorts. His melancholic, brooding tone bears testimony not only to thechanging contours of...
Nasir Kazmi (1925-1972) is one of the pioneers of modern Urdu ghazal. Hislyricism, sensitivity and political awareness make him both a romantic and arebel of sorts. His melancholic, brooding tone bears testimony not only to thechanging contours of human attitude, but also to the riotous times he lived in,like the Partition. His imagery of loss, nostalgia and fleeting love has stirred anemotional chord in a million hearts. Nearly half of this anthology has been set tomusic and there is hardly an eminent singer of the subcontinent who has notlent their voice to his ghazals. Nasir was a night bird; he would stalk the streetsof Lahore till late midnight. That is why the title.It is me in the night one o’clockListening to the lonely road talk