Venkat Raman
Urdu and Hindi poetry enthusiasts of the Indian Sub-Continent and of Fijian origin are set to meet in Auckland next week for an evening of ‘serious fun.’
Auckland based Urdu and Hindi Cultural Association of New Zealand is organising a ‘literary engagement’ on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at Fickling Convention Centre, located at 546 Mount Albert Road, Three Kings.
The Programme will commence at 6 pm and conclude with dinner.
Three Segments
There would be three segments, each bringing the finesse of the two languages. They would include Mushaira, Kavi Sammelan and Sham-e-Ghazal, although in literary terms, each of these overlap in creativity. Dignity, honour and love for the languages are the hallmarks of the annual event of the Urdu Hindi Association of New Zealand of which National Member of Parliament Kanwaljeet Singh Bakshi is the Patron.
The Mushaira section will be hosted by Ayub Khan with Syed Mujeeb Hyderabadi, Ghouse Majeed (Secretary and Event Manager of the Association) and Dr Yousuf Qureshi.
Preeta Vyas will host the Kavi Sammelan which has a long list of participants. Among them would be Chirayu Bhatt, Inderjeet Bajwa, Naresh Kumari, Nimi Bedi, Rohit Kumar, Sachin Kumar, Sangat Singh, Shiv Bhagirath and Somnath Gupta
Professor Suk Dev Madhur will lead the Sham-e-Ghazal segment with Arif Zia, Arvinder Vasudeva, Jyoti Virk Kara, Kanika Diesh, Nisar Mirza, Sandeep Singh, Daniel and Tracy as participants.
As well as Mr Bakshi, Members of Parliament Michael Wood, Melissa Lee, Dr Parmjeet Parmar, Deborah Russell, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, former MPs Chris Carter and Mahesh Bindra, Rashmi Sharma from India and Hon Consul of India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon are expected to attend the event.
Among the highlights of the Programme would be the release of ‘Dhanak,’ the official magazine of the Association.
About Urdu Hindi Association
Since its establishment in 2009, the Association has become an effective bridge between the past and the present, encouraging the learning, teaching and usage of Urdu and Hindi.
Auckland Mayor (then Leader of the Opposition) Phil Goff said at the launch, “Language is the greatest unifying force among people and a great source of cultural and social identity. While we are all partners in New Zealand’s progress and prosperity, we should also be conscious of our cultural tree, of which language is an important branch.”
Mr Majeed, who belongs to Hyderabad, said that the Association has been conducting Urdu and Hindi classes regularly to encourage people, youngsters in particular to learn these two languages.
“The Mushaira, Kavi Sammelan and Sham-E-Ghazal are among our regular events held every year,” he said.
Syed Mujeeb Hyderabad, who also hails from Hyderabad, said that Mushaira is a beloved part of the culture of North India and his Home City.
“Mushaira is greatly admired by participants and guests as a form of free-expression. It also enlists the participation of the audience,” he said.
Transcending barriers
Mr Majeed and Mr Hyderabadi said that the poetic nights transcend manmade barriers of religion, nationality and ethnicity, bringing together people keen to promote Urdu and Hindi as languages of respect and lore.
“It is a delight to see not only people who understand, converse and compose poems in chaste Urdu and Hindi but also those with a fleeting knowledge of the languages. There are many others including our New Zealanders of European and Maori origin who evince interest in our programmes. Their presence helps us in achieving our objective of living in peace and harmony,” they said.
Photo Caption:
- Event Organisers Ghouse Majeed and Syed Mujeeb Hyderabadi (Facebook Photo)
- Labour MP Michael Wood with (from left) Syed Mujeeb Hyderabadi, Preeta Vyas, Tahseen Sultana and Roopa Suchdev at the event held in October 2017
- Mahesh Bindra with Rashmi Sharma and Suman Kapoor at the Mushaira held on September 1, 2018
