Exploring Virasat – The Enduring Legacy of Ghazals and Influential Poets

Virasat – The Legacy of Legends

By Shishir Parkhie

Virasat album cover – ghazals composed and sung by Shishir Parkhie

Past resonates through present in many ways — through thoughts, dreams, and memories. Passing moments leave footprints on the sands of time, and the world of poetry is no exception. The words of legendary Urdu poets, long gone, continue to echo — still fresh, still powerful.

Virasat – The Legacy of Legends, released by Times Music in 2020, is my humble tribute to those timeless poets.It is an effort to musically rekindle the poetic brilliance of master wordsmiths whose verses are celebrated in literary circles but have rarely reached audiences through music.

After my 2008 album Ahteraam – A Tribute to Legendary Poets (T-Series), which featured the iconic names of Ghalib, Meer, Momin, Daagh, Zafar, Ibrahim Zauq, and Amir Meenai, I felt a desire to explore other great poets — those whose works are rich in language, depth, and feeling, but not yet familiar to ghazal audiences in sung form.

🎼 About the Album

• Singer & Composer: Shishir Parkhie

• Lyrics: Various classical Urdu poets (see track list)

• Music Arrangement & Programming: Shailesh Dani

• Recording Studio: Dhwani Digital Studio

• Label: Times Music

• Released in: 2020

📜 Track List – The Poets and Their Ghazals in Virasat

1. Piya Baaj Pyala – Quli Qutub Shah (1580–1611)

2. Jaan Hum Tujhpe – Imam Bakhsh Nasikh (1772–1838)

3. Dard-e-Dil Paas-e-Wafa – Brij Narayan Chakbast (1882–1926)

4. Hai Dil-e-Naakaam-e-Aashiq – Asghar Gondvi (1884–1936)

5. Chaman Mein Subh Ye – Khwaja Meer 'Dard' (1721–1785)

6. Wahan Pahunch Ke – Aasi Ghazipuri (1834–1917)

7. Baithe Hue Dete Hain – Nooh Narvi (1879–1962)

Each of these ghazals has been composed and sung by me, keeping the soul of the poetry intact while presenting it in a contemporary musical format.

💭 Why Virasat?

These verses were chosen not for popularity, but for their depth, elegance, and literary value. In many cases, they had never been presented in musical form before. I felt it was important to bring these voices into today’s listening spaces — while staying faithful to their original spirit.

This album is not just about music. It is about preserving and celebrating a literary tradition — a heritage (virasat) that belongs to all of us who cherish the beauty of language and expression.

🔜 Coming Soon on the Blog:

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing individual blog posts on each of these ghazals — exploring:

• The life and legacy of the poet

• The essence of the ghazal’s verses

• The process of composing and performing it

• A listening link for you to experience it directly

🎧 Listen to Virasat – The Legacy of Legends:

Available now on Spotify, Jio Saavn, Apple Music and all major music platforms.Let these timeless words and melodies bring you closer to the soul of Urdu poetry — a legacy worth preserving.