Metro-Washington Aligarh Alumni Association Holds Mushaira-Kavi Sammelan
By Mohammed Akbar and Jaweed Mohammed
“Urdu and Hindi are twin sisters who grew up in different families,” said Dr A. Abdullah while addressing literary enthusiasts who had assembled to attend the annual Mushaira-Kavi Sammelan to celebrate the Independence Day of Pakistan and India. He apprised the audience of the history of the two languages and how politically motivated people divided the language into Hindi and Urdu with different scripts. It is sad that now these languages have been given religion. “Your presence here is a testament to the fact that we love our heritage,” he added.
The Aligarh Alumni Association-Metro DC (AAA-DC), in association with the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin-Metro DC (GOPIO-DC), hosted a successful Mushaira/Kavi Sammelan on Sunday, 21st August 2022. This annual event has been a part of the Washingtonians’ literary life for the last several years. AAA-DC and GOPIO-DC bring local Urdu and Hindi poets under one roof to promote a sense of brotherhood in the best traditions of Sanjhi Virasat and help maintain the Ganga-Jamuni culture. It was encouraging to see the support of three community organizations - Association of Indian Muslims, the Center for Pluralism, and the Hyderabad Association of Washington Metro Area - in organizing the event.
Dr Renuka Misra welcomed the audience on behalf of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) and said that we have been doing a combined program of Mushaira-Kavi Sammelan since its inception 14 years ago.
Despite rain and oppressive heat, and religious observance limitations, a large number of literary enthusiasts came to attend the event held at the spacious auditorium of the Arlington Central Library, Arlington, VA. The objective of this annual program is to provide a forum where diverse people—transcending political, religious, regional, and geographical boundaries—can assemble under one umbrella and appreciate the Ganga-Jamuni culture of the Subcontinent. These programs also encourage and promote the talents of local poets and writers by way of releasing their recently published books. Several poets and authors in the past have launched their books through this program. They include Professor Satyapal Anand, Professor Asghar Wajahat, Dr A. Abdullah, Dr K. Mohan, Mr Raj Kumar Qais, Mr Anadi Naik, Dr Astha Naval, Mr Dhananjaya Kumar, Mrs Rashmi Sanan, Ms Daler Deol Aashna, and Mr Surender Deol.
The following poets participated in this year’s program: A. Abdullah, Aziz Quraishi, Gulshan Madhur, Khaja Fareeduddin Sadiq, Madhu Maheshwari, Mohammed Akbar, Mohammed Jaweed, Preethi Govindaraj, Razi Raziuddin, Sarwar Iqbal, Sukesh Chopra, Uday Kamath, Vinita Tiwari, Vishakha Thaker, and Yusuf Rahat.
Below a sampling of the poetry presented at the program:
Jaweed Mohammed , the Nazim of the Mushaira, started the poetry session by reciting a few lines of satirical verses:
Milne aane se aur bulaane se rahe, Apne maraasim ke abh fasaane se rahe!
Faqat ilhaam par tamaam umr guzaare kaise, Aap khul kar to kuch bataane se rahe!
Mohammed Akbar writes both in Urdu and Deccani. He recited a few humorous lines expressing the impact of Corona on our lives:
Halet e corona ne ye bura haal kar diya, Begum ki qurbat ne hamein pamaal kar diya
Khole jo raaz dil ke samajh ke unhein rafeeq, Badqismati ne hamara jeena muhaal kar diya
Vinita Tiwari has multidimensional interests ranging from arts, dance, singing, and poetry. She has recently published a collection of her poems “Dil Se Dil Tak.” She addressed the theme of peace and pluralism.
Chalo Hindu, Musalaman, Sikh, Eesai sab rahen mil kar, Buno mat mazhazi jaala ki azaadi ka utsau hai
Ghareebi door ho, sab ke liyae ho kaam karne ko, Koee nat chuno aala ki azaadi ka utsau hai
Sukhesh Chopra started her poetic career very late. However, with full vigor and intensity, she achieved popularity quickly.
Kitne vismritiyon mein doobe, Kitnon ko akaash mila, Rang mahal mein beete kitne, Kitnon ki vanvaas mila
Preeti Govindraj is a multitalented artist who is a painter, dancer, and poet. Although Malayalam is her mother tongue, she became a perfectionist in the Urdu, Hindi, and English languages.
Kaun mustakbil ki soche, Haath ho jabh haath mein, Roz ka waada hua tha, Hai faqat shab haath mein
Uday Kamath participated in this Mushaira Kavi Sammelan for the first time and made a big impression on the audience with his excellent poetry.
Baar-haa masluub ’maykash’ ko kare ahl-e-KHirad Aur kahe phir tuu masiha hote hote rah gayaa
Abdullah Abdullah is a well-known personality recognized for the promotion of Ganga-Jamuni culture in North America for over four decades. He revealed his success story by reciting the following:
Sadiyoun pahle apne purkhe jungle veeranoun mein rahte, Sanmpoun aur khoonqwar darindaroun se bach bach kar Ya laD laD kar zinda rahne ke sare gun seekh gaye Aaj ki duniya mein hum ne bhi sachcha jhuta saath nibhakar, dhoka dekar, dhoka khaakar Apne aur beganoun se ya qurbat ya doori rakh kar zinda rahna seekh liya
Razi Raziuddin is a scientist who is passionate about Urdu and other forms of literature:
Ramooz e Sahar hai ya shab ke dhalne ka ishara hai Hai lagta paas kyun aksar jo door hota kinara hai
Na jab tak paas tha us ne kabhi mud kar nahi dekha Shaher se door ja pahuncha to ab us ne pukara hai
Gulshan Madhur is one of the most veteran Hindi poets from our community. He has many books to his credit and has been participating in our events for a long time.
Aie mere bichde desh main tujh mein naheen hoon par too mujh mein hai Basa hi naheen racha basa mera wo sara vyateeth jo tujh se juda hai
Teri dharti per beete pa, din, mahine, saal wo sari sudhiyan goonjti khilkhilahatein mauj aansoo Ulajhte gudgudaate romance sapne todthi mayusiyaan aur bhi itna hi kuch
Vishakha Thaker is a senior scientist working at the NIH and has been lately focusing her energies on the protection of the community from Corona. She is equally serious in her poetry and has been a regular participant in this forum. She recited a few lines expressing her inner feelings:
Tub kamre ke kone mein Chupchaap khaDa eik sannaTa Jaise mujh se kahne laga Ki mein to hoon tere paas
Mein na chuppi main sanjokar Rakhkhe hain tumhare hi apno ke Unginat ehsaas Agar sun sako to main suna dooN.
Khaja Fareeduddin Sadiq —a poet from Hyderabad was visiting the USA. He agreed to participate in the event. Dr Sadiq is a record holder of many academic degrees and the author of about 47 books.
Ajeeb shauqs tha kya kya talaash karta tha, Andheri raat mein saya talaash karta tha
Woh apne ladke ke munh maange daam pane ko, baDe gharane mein Rishta talaash karta tha
Madhu Maheshwari --an experienced Hindi teacher--has been a regular participant in these bilingual poetry sessions:
Hath mein cheni uTha Chala tha vo vaqt ko tarashne Suna hai aaj vo phir ghar lahuluhan aya hai
Shach ek qadam chala khanjar tan Gaye hava men Udhar meeTha jhut ithlata salamiyan leta gaya
Yusuf Rahat is a well-known poet who mostly focuses on the theme of unity and brotherhood. His poem was addressed to writers in general, informing them of the huge responsibility that rested on their shoulders towards their readers in general and towards fellow human beings in particular. The poem was entitled: Qalam. Sacchai ka Alam.
Aziz Qureshi is a very senior member of the Metro-Washington literary circles. He has published many books of poetry in Urdu. He also has published books in his professional field of law and jurisprudence.
Voh jo gulshan mein hai Gulshan ki fiza jaanta hai Kaun duniya mein hai, duniya ke siva jaanta hai
Jis pe guzri vahi jaane koee kiya jaanta hai Jaisi guzar rahi hai mere dil pe Khuda jaanta hai
Sarwar Iqbal served as Sadar-e-Mushaira. He has been an active participant in radio and television programs for over 50 years in Karachi, Pakistan. Based on his poetry, a book, Maskan e Mahtaab, has been published recently.
Jo hans raha tha hamari shakista haali per, udaye phirti hai gardish e zamana use
Who hum ko dekh ke ruq badal gaya Sarwar, to kya pukarna usko to kya bulana use
