Sada-e-Watan Sydney
sadaewatan@gmail.com
Urdu International’s 12th Global Mushaira
in Sydney
(Report by Tehmina Rao & Photos by: Shahid Malik)
On Friday, 25th
June 2025,12th annual Global Mushaira organized by Urdu
International was another beautiful experience while maintaining the previous
vision - which was appreciated in wonderful words by the Sydney audience with a
taste for poetry. Former Australian Consul General Muhammad Azam said that the
way Urdu International has kept the traditions of Mushaira alive has resulted
in the emergence of the talents of Sydney poets. According to Dr. Asrar Khan,
the eternal beauty of the Urdu language had created a magical atmosphere by
dressing up in poetry. The Mushaira continued till midnight in the packed hall
of the Civic Theatre and the audience sat there appreciating the guest and
local poets till the end.
The poetry recital was
presided over by Dr. Ghazanfar Hashmi, a prominent poet and scholar from
Houston, USA, while Khushbir Singh Shaad, a poet from India, famous for his
poetry all over the world, was the special guest. Poet Nafs Anbalvi, also from
India, and senior poet Mosaddeq Lakhani, from Melbourne, were the special
guests.
At the beginning of
the Mushaira, Ashraf Shad said in his welcome address that Urdu International
Australia is maintaining the cultural tradition of Mushaira, and the main
reason for this is the audience who have been regularly attending these
Mushairas for thirty years and making them successful.
Farogh Zaidi, while
briefly presenting the report of Urdu International Australia for the past
eleven years, said that Urdu International has organized more than fifteen
international poetry festivals, and it had continued the series of online
international poetry festivals and fiction gatherings on Zoom even during the
COVID era. He said that Urdu International has also organized more than seventy
monthly literary sessions so far.
He invited the
audience with a taste for poetry and literature to join the organization. In
the poetry recital, Mr. Anwar Ghanchi was awarded the Om Krishna Rahat Award.
In addition to the guest poets, Australian poets who recited their poems
included:
Dr. Baqir Raza, Ashraf Shad, Dr. Shabbir Haider, Farogh Zaidi, Dr. Yasmin
Zaidi, Huma Mirza, Dr. Yasmeen Shad, Tehmina Rao, Farhat Iqbal, Naveed Ali
Khan, Rehan Alvi, Javed Nazar, Shuja Atif, Naseem Haider, Naila Huma, Dr. Adnan
Syed, Khawaja Hameed Salik and Dr. Kashif Butt were present, while Huma Mirza
and Yasmin Shad conducted the mushaira. The sponsors and guests of the mushaira
were presented with commemorative shields by Urdu International Australia and
all the guests were treated to a sumptuous meal.
Mr. Ashraf Shad
MC: Dr Yasmin Shad and Huma Mirza
Mr. Ghazanfar Hashmi and Mr. Rehan Alavi
Mr. Ashraf Shad and Syed Zafar Hussain
Ghazanfar Hashmi and Dr Shabbir Haider
Ashraf Shad, Khushbeer Singh Shaad &
Dr Shabbir Haider
Ashraf Shad, Tassadaq Lakhanie, Dr Shabbir Haider & Huma
Mirza
Mr. Ashraf Shad and Dr Shabbir Haider
Mr. Ashraf Shad, Azam Mohammad and Dr Shabbir Haider
Rao Insaf Ali Khan Receiving his award
President PAA Iqbal Chaudhry Receiving his award
Dr Khalid Rasheed Receiving his award
Tehmina Rao Receiving her award
Mohammad Ali Bokhari Receiving his award
Naila Huma Receiving her award
Ghazanfar Hashmi, Dr Shabbir Haider and Ashraf Shad
Syed Mohiudin, Shahid Malik and friend
Ashraf Shad and Dr Nafas Ambalvi
Leading Poet of USA Ghazanfar Hashmi
Ashraf Shad, Khushbeer Singh Shaad & Dr Shabbir Haider
Dr Baqar Raza and Tassadaq Lakhanie of Melbourne
Mr. Rehan Alavi of SBS and Tehmina Rao
Dr Yasmeen Shad and Huma Mirza
Shuja Atif and Javed Nazar
Syed Nasim Haider anf Farat Iqbal
Dr Yasmeen Zaidi and Farogh Zaidi
Dr Kashif Butt and Khawaja Hameed Salik
Dr Adnan Syed and Naveed Khan
Tehmina
Rao and Syed Zafar Hussain (Sada-e-Watan Sydney)
Syed Zafar Hussain, Ghazanfar Hashmi, Dr Yasmeen Shad and Mr.
Ashraf Shad
Zahid Rana, Latif Chaudhry, Insaf Khan & audience of
Mushaira
Azam Mohammad, Nizamul Haq Thanvi, Uzma Gillani and Tehmina Rao
