A special screening of “Banaras: Ka'ba-e-Hindostan” showcasing Banaras through Ghalib's eye was organised on Monday at HMV, Jalandhar.
Produced and Directed by Delhi-based filmmaker and also the college alumni Binu Rajpoot, a whole new Banaras has been shown in the film through the eyes of the legendary Urdu poet. Ghalib's love for Banaras is found in his masnavi (persian poem) Charage-e-Dair, in the respect of its culture. During the occasion, an exhibition of sixty frames truly devoted to Mirza Galib was also staged depicting his life sketch.
"Ka’ba – e – Hindostan is based upon the journey of Ghalib to Banaras while he was on his way from Delhi to Calcutta in 1827 to petition the British for resumption of his royal pension. This film is based upon his Persian Masnavi “Charagh – e – dair” in which he openly declared his love and respect towards Banaras - the holy city of Hindus.
Ghalib was so impressed with Banaras cultural where he openly call it Ka’ba of Hindostan in his masnavi “Charagh – e – dair”.
Ghalib's ‘Charagh – e – dair’ masnavi (Persian poem) is, through the prism of Bananas, an ode to the spirit of secularism, plurality, co-existence of cultures that defines true spirit of India, says Beenu Rajput.
Even though proud of his Turkish ancestry, here was Ghalib, a liberal mystic, paying obeisance to Banaras, the holy city of the Hindus, in the most evocative and poetic manner.
This masnavi has 108 verses, similar to the 108 beads in a Hindu rosary. Background to this masnavi: Enraptured by the serene beauty of Banaras and the Ganges, this masnavi was written when Ghalib extended his originally one night plans to spend over a month in this holy city, says Beenu.