Karwan-e-Urdu Qatar (KUQ) held its promised grand session of poetry, ‘Jashn-e-Munawar Rana’ recently to celebrate the renowned Indian poet’s work.
The man himself was present on the occasion and recited his popular poems and verses to an eager audience at the hall of DPS-MIS School in Al Wakrah.
Acknowledging his service to Urdu literature and poetry, Rana was presented with a Life Time Award for Urdu Poetry and INR100,000. More than a thousand poetry lovers in attendance gave a standing ovation to the celebrated poet when the award was given.
Dr Mohamed Aleem, the third secretary of Indian embassy in Qatar and the chief guest, along with Habib Hashmi, Azeem Abbas and Atiq Anzar (a local poet and president of KUQ) presented the award to Rana.
“This lifetime achievement award by KUQ is like an alternative of Sahitiya Akademi award for me. I always knew I will get my reward for taking the stand,” Rana told the audience on receiving the award, while referring to the Sahitiya Akademi Award which he along with many in India had returned.
Rana thanked the management of KUQ and the members of the community in Qatar for endowing him with the recognition. The KUQ management also launched its magazine, consisting of the works read by the poets at the poetic symposium after the awards ceremony.
The symposium featured a large number of literature buffs from India and Pakistan. The symposium featured members of different local literary community organisations such as Bazm-e-Urdu Qatar, Halqa-e-Adab Islami, Anjuman Muhiban-e-Urdu Hind, Guzargah-e-Khayal and Majlis Farogh-e-Urdu Adab.
KUQ is a newly established community organisation of Indian expatriates for the promotion of Urdu language.
KUQ general secretary Shahid Khan formally started the proceedings with his introductory words. Khan talked about the significance of mother tongue in life in his opening speech. He also welcomed the guests and all the invited poets on to the stage and gave a brief introduction to all of them.
KUQ communication secretary Rafiuddin Umri and joint secretary Dr Mohamed Aslam welcomed the participating poets on the stage and presented them with floral bouquets. Social activist Azeem Abbass’s mother and Jamia Milia Islamia professor Dr Humayun Akhtar Nazmi had come especially from India to attend programme.
Atiq Anzar thanked Rana for making it to the event despite being unwell.
Besides Rana, many other poets including Habib Hashmi, Mansoor Usmani, Johar Kanpuri, Shakeel Azmi, Suresh Asthana, Saif Babar, Mumtaz Naseem, Naeem Faraz, Atiq Anzar, Azeez Nabeel, Maqsood Anwar Maqsood, Dr Wasi Bastavi and Rashid Alam Rashid recited their poetry.
‘Jashn-e-Munawar Rana’ was sponsored by Salman Jewelry and Watches and Commercial Bank. The other sponsors included Doha Bank, Mega Mart, and HomesRus.
Prior to the grand symposium, KUQ had organised a poetic and literary symposium that was attended by renowned journalist and social activist Shadab Ahmed Khan and renowned Nepali religious scholar Moulana Shamim Ahmed Nadvi.
Nadvi, the chief guest, had flown especially from Nepal and gave a brief lecture on “the role of Madaris Arabia (Arabic religious institutions) in the development of Urdu.” In the quick talk, he explained all aspects of such institutions’ work and how they have contributed to the development of Urdu and its literature.
Madaris in South Asia have helped a great deal in spreading and publicising the Urdu language, besides bringing all Muslims together on the basis of language, said Nadvi.
He thanked the organisers and KUQ members for inviting him and pledged his support for the organisation in future as well.
The poetry session following his talk went late into the night. Fartash Syed, Ateeq Anzar, Shad Akolvi, Aziz Nabeel, Iftikhar Raghib, Ahmed Ishfaq, Mansoor Aazmi, Qaiser Masood, Wazir Ahmed Wazir, Rashid Alam Rashid and many other poets presented their work.
Munawar Rana recites his poetry.
