Mohammed Saifuddin – Yahind News
Riyadh – Urdu, Hindi poets and prose writers from different parts of Saudi Arabia captivated the audiences with their renderings at the Indian embassy auditorium in Riyadh. They performed at the “Mushaira and Kavi Sammelan” organized by the Embassy of India in association with Hindustani Bazme Urdu and Bazme Urdu Toastmasters Club.
The Mushaira and Kavi Sammelan was held under the yearlong celebration of India’s independence themed as “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”.
The chief guest Second Secretary, Embassy of India, Riyadh Moin Akhter inaugurated the event by lighting the traditional lamp. Addressing the gathering he appreciated the Urdu lovers who came to the event despite rain and chilling weather. He praised Hindustani Bazme Urdu and Bazme Urdu Toastmasters Club for organizing a memorable event comprising prose and poetry sessions.
The poetry session (Mushaira and Kavi Sammelan) was presided over by an eminent poet Zafar Mahmood Zafar. Anchor of the poetry session K N Wasif sprinkled laughter with his funny punches from time to time. While the hilarious couplets by humorous poet Saleem Hasrat from Dammam amused the audience.
The other poets who enthralled the audience included Dr. Afroz Alam from Jeddah and Iqbal Aslam from Jubail. The galaxy of host poets from Riyadh included Hindi poets Dr. Sayeed Mohiuddin Muheet, Zia Arshi and Sayeed Akhtar Azmi who enthralled the audience with geets and kavitas. Urdu poets who mesmerized the audience by their ashaar and ghazals were Ayub Tishna, Aslam Noor, Mansoor Qasmi, Faizul Hassan Arfi, Tahir Bilal, Sohail Iqbal, Altaf Shahryar and presiding poet Zafar Mahamood Zafar.
The event was held in two parts of prose and poetry. In the prose session eminent story writer Tanveer Timmapuri read his story “Wo Lamhey” depicting the difficulties faced by Indian expatriates living away from families. The audience burst into laughter when the eminent columnist, journalist and humorist K N Wasif rendered witty and bone tickling sketch on his imaginary meeting with Mirza Ghalib in Asian populated area of Riyadh popularly known as Hara, titled “Mirza Ghalib Hara Mein”.
President Hindustani Bazme Urdu (HBU) Taqiuddin Mir Fazal welcomed the gathering and highlighted the activities of his organization. He said HBU is known for organizing Urdu elocution competitions at Indian schools in Riyadh. This has been stopped from last few years. Taqiuddin announced that the elocution competitions will be revived shortly. The first session was eloquently anchored by Omar Khan, an alumnus of International Indian School Riyadh. He disclosed that he got attracted to Urdu in his school days when HBU organized elocution competitions.
The poetry session of Saudi based Indian poets is arranged by the Embassy of India in its premises after a long time. Twenty-five years ago, on the occasion of 50th Independence Day of India Hinustani Bazme Urdu organized the Mushaira. The legacy is now repeated the current office bearers of HBU along with Bazme Urdu Toastmasters Club (BUTMC).
Treasurer BUTMC Eng. Mohammed Mubeen anchored the session of bouquet and shawls presentation while Past President Mirza Zaheer Baig supervised and coordinated.
President BUTMC Mohammed Saifuddin delivered vote of thanks.
Indian expats rekindle their love for Urdu as they came and enjoyed the compositions of various poets despite chilling weather.
The event was sponsored by Masa Specialized Construction Co., Alkabeer Foods, Architect Abdur Raouf Ateeq, Syed N Masood and Mirza Zaheer Baig.
– YaHind.Com