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IT WAS POETRY ALL OVER
Report of 7th Canberra International Urdu Poetry Festival organised by Urdu Literary Society of Canberra ( Bazm-i-Adab Canberra)
By: Mohammed Ali, Secretary Urdu Literary Society of Canberra (Bazm-i-Adab Canberra)
Exclusive to Sada-e-Watan Sydney

Floriade, the festival of flowers, heralds spring season in Canberra. It is that time of the year when "love is in the air every where" and, music and poetry become a frequent mode of one's expression. A good song or a good piece of poetry always knocks our inner doors and provides fuel for further intellectual passion. In case of poetry, the listener often sublimates into a different world - a world of his own - often very private.

Bazm-i-Adab Canberra had last year decided that its 2006 International Urdu Poetry Recitation (Mushaira) Festival should coincide with the Floriade festival. This decision meant that they needed to invite their overseas guest poets, through the assistance of Urdu Society Australia, to come to Canberra early September. And that is what they exactly did. Four top poets, three from India and one from Pakistan, were invited who arrived in Canberra on Saturday, 16 September to present their poetry to Urdu lovers that included people representing all regions of the Subcontinent. Bazm-i-Adab at this occasion did not forget to invite Australian Urdu poets from Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne.

The poetry evening started at 8.00 PM at Canberra University Auditorium and continued until 12.30 AM. The auditorium was tastefully decorated for the evening. The evening started with a welcome note from President of Bazm-i-Adab Canberra, Mrs Kahlida Yasmin Qureshi, followed by an expression of support from President, Urdu Society Australia, Sydney, Dr Shabbir Haider. This was followed by a brief speech by Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr Tanweer Khaskheli, in which he appreciated efforts of Bazm-i-Adab Canberra and Urdu Society of Australia in keeping the flame of Urdu alive in Australia. Mr Mohammed Ali was stage secretary for this session of the evening.

The second session (Mushaira section) started soon after and was presided by most senior Indian Urdu poet in Australia, Mr Om Krishan Rahat. A very prominent visiting poet from Pakistan, Mr Naqqash Kazmi who is also Secretary of Karachi Arts Council, Pakistan, was stage secretary (Nazim-e-Mushaira) for this session. In this 3 hours session, the poets who presented their latest works included Mr Mohammed Ali (Canberra), Mr Atiq Siddiqui (Canberra), Mr Jagdesh Johar (Sydney), Dr Shabbir Haider (Wollongong), Mr Saeed Khan (Sydney), Mr Rehan Alavi (SBS Urdu Program Producer, Sydney), Mr Arshad Saeed (Sydney), Mrs Andleeb Siddiqui (Melbourne), Mr Manzar Bhopali (India), Mrs Shyama Singh Saba (India), Mr Naqqash Kazmi (Pakistan) and humorous poet Mr Popular Meerathi (India). In the end, Mr Om Krishan Rahat presented his work, which was literally an extract of all of his life experiences - he is above 80.

The highlight of the evening was poetry of Indian poet Manzar Bhopali who pictured social problems of the Sub-continent in his poetry. Mrs. Shyama Saba presented a very touching account of changing values of our current society. Her poetry was a cry that keeps reverberating in one's conscious long after it is heard. Mr Naqqash Kazmi's ghazals were a blend of romance and current world politics and, all he was presenting was pulling every one to the prevailing circumstances. One of his couplet (shair) drew lot of attention and accolades.

Translation:

Whether it is a bruise or a deep cut or a (emotion less) kiss
every symbol of pain speaks for itself

Immediately after Naqqash finished his ghazals, Mr Popular Meerathi took it on himself to change the mood of the hall and kept on presenting his hilarious poetry in his very hilarious way for more than half an hour. In one of his poems, he presented the problem of large family size in his peculiar charming way.

Continuing its tradition of recognition of individual works of poets, this year Bazm-i-Adab presented recognition plaques to Om Krishan Rahat, Mrs Shyama Singh Saba, Mr Popular Meerathi and Mr Naqqash Kazmi. Mr Manzar Bhopali's contribution was recognised through a similar plaque last year. These plaques were presented to the recipients by Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr Tanweer Khaskheli.

Mr Mohammed Ali was presented a recognition plaque from Urdu Society of Australia , which he received from Mr Naqqash Kazmi. Accepting the plaque, Mr Ali said that the insignia was a symbol of recognition of contribution of all members of Bazm-i-Adab, who have been working hard for last seven years to promote Urdu language in Canberra.

Mr Jawed Butt, Vice President of Bazm Adab Canberra, thanked all at the end, in particular Canberra University Harmony Group, all sponsors for their support and the audience. He praised the joint efforts of Bazm Adab executive members namely Mr Arshad Hussain, Mr Iqbal Khan, Mr Omar Zubair, Mr Ahsan Sheikh, Mrs Erum Nadeem, Mrs Tayyaba Butt, Mrs Nasim Ali and Mrs Shehzadi Hussain to organise such a great evening. He also thanked, SBS Urdu Radio Service, in particular Mr Rehan Alavi and Mrs Yasmin Sayed for their assistance and support to Bazm Adab in the last seven years. Also was recognised the role and support of Oz Koala, a voluntary mail service of Canberra to publicise community events and promote awareness of current affairs. Mr Butt noted that the event, which was in its seventh year now, was drawing all sub-continental communities of Canberra closer. The Urdu language undeniably has that magic in it, he remarked.

A painful observation of the evening was poor turn out of audience on the day. Annual poetry Recitation (Mushaira) in Canberra is now in its 7th year. It is highly desirable that all Urdu lovers of Canberra come forward and support this event, which has become a symbol of harmony and unity in Canberra.

The following day in the morning members of Bazm-i-Adab Canberra, namely Mr Nadeem Sheikh and Mohammed Ali took visiting poets to Floriade and showed them other icons of Australia. When poets were visiting Canberra lake area they were greeted by a herd of Kangaroos - true icons of Australia. One of the poets remarked "it is my most important life experience".

     

                                                                       Manzar Bhopali                         Shyama Singh Saba               Mr Tanweer Khaskheli                    Saeed Khan

 

                                                     Manzar Bhopali: A thought provoking presentation                                         Mohammed Ali, Mr. Naqqash Kazmi and Nadeem Sheikh

 

                                     Om Krishin Rahat, Naqqash, Mohammed Ali, Rehan Alvi and Shabbir Haider                    Popular Meerathi presenting his humorous poetry

 

                                                            Another group with visiting poets                                                Naqqash Kazmi presented with Bazm-i-Adab Plaque by Mr Tanweer Khaskheli.
                                                                                                                                                                       Along with are Khalida Yasmin and Mohammed Ali

 

                                              Mohammed Ali receiving recognition plaque from Naqqash Kazmi                                                   Poets at Floriade

   

                                    Visiting poets with the reason of poetry - flowers (Canberra Floriade 2006)                     Visiting poets with mingling with locals at Floriade

Visiting poets with members of Bazm-i-Adab Canberra

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