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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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