Hussain Haidry Shares Naseeruddin Reciting 'Hindustani Musalmaan'

Shah recited the poem, written by Haidry, earlier this year for Indian Cultural Forum.

Hussain Haidry shares Naseeruddin Shah reciting 'Hindustani Musalmaan'

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Poet, writer and lyricist Hussain Haidry recently took to Twitter to share a video of veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah reciting his poem 'Hindustani Musalmaan'. Shah recited the poem for Indian Cultural Forum around 10 months back. "Naseeruddin Shah saahab reciting my poem, Hindustani Musalmaan, for @IWF_Writers", Haidry tweeted.

Haidry added, "It's my good fortune and a big honour. Infinitely grateful to Naseer Saahab".

Hussain Haidry's recitation of 'Hindustani Musalmaan' at a performing arts forum in Mumbai in 2017 became viral after the forum shared the video on their Facebook page. Newspapers carried stories about how the poem moved people to tears.

'Hindustani Musalmaan', which starts off by asking “Main kaisa musalmaan hoon bhai?” or “What kind of a Muslim am I?” and ends with “Main Hindustani Musalmaan hoon” or “I’m a Hindustani Muslim”, describes a Muslim as an amalgamation of various influences.

Speaking to Scroll.in about the poem in an earlier interview, Haidry had said, "It's not a protest. Every line in 'Hindustani Musalmaan' applies to me alone, not to Muslims as a whole".

Haidry added, "I’ve always been confused about my identity. I speak different languages at different times. I’ve worked in different cities and travelled to villages or small towns and all the places have shaped my personality. Yes, I identify as a Muslim, but my identity is not just that. ‘What kind of Muslim am I?’ is a question I’ve often put to myself. Why do I feel my identity is so fragmented? Perhaps because I’m a Hindustani? Hindustan is so diverse. It gives you so much in terms of experience and you soak all that in.’’