How this tea shop playing crucial role in keeping Urdu alive, shayari kicking
In Muslim-dominated Okhla, Urdu is on the verge of extinction with even posters in the language difficult to find. But all is not lost as a small tea shop in Abul Fazal Enclave is playing a crucial role in keeping Urdu alive and shayari kicking.
Urdu poets throng Guddu’s tea shop in AFE Charminar mosque lane and talk about the revival of the dying language and sharing shayari over a cup of karak chai, says Khan Rizwan, an award-winning poet.
As you enter the small shop, you can see some literary Urdu magazines hanging over the head of people who are sitting. And for some language lovers it is a moment to grab one among them and read a few lines.
This shop is a busy place and you will find local residents sipping tea all around the day but it is known to attract poets, who come here twice a day or once in a week to talk about the language, said Khan.
Hamid Ali Akhtar said for the last 15 years he has been visiting this shop. “Literary figures from across the country come here to sip tea. Some literary figures are regular visitors to this shop. We not only discuss about Urdu language but also on national and international issues,” he said.
“The tea shop is the biggest attraction for local residents to bond as well. Those who live in the area as tenants or are unable to invite friends to their homes often meet each other at this tea shop to reminisce about the old days over a cup of tea,” said another resident, Nasim Ur Rehman, who is also a regular visitor to the shop.
