Urdu society honours Indian ghazal singer

The Doha-based India Urdu Society (IUS) recently honoured noted Indian ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas at a function hosted by Azim Abbas, IUS chairman, at Radisson Blu.Kerala legislator Abdul Samad Samdani was the guest of honour at the function, which was conducted by Usha Ravi Shankar. The event was also attended by deputy chief of mission at the Indian embassy P Sasi Kumar, second secretary Suman Sharma, Indian Cultural Centre president Tarun Basu, Indian Community Benevolent Forum president Karim Abdullah and prominent members of the Indian community.“Shair-e-Khaleej” Jaleel Nizami, Urdu poet and IUS president, and Atiq Anzar, vice-president of IUS, regaled the audience with their poetry.Udhas, a recipient of India’s Padma Shri award, was honoured for his contribution to the Urdu language through his ghazals. The singer, who has agreed to become one of the IUS patrons, rendered one of his favourite ghazals.Samdani, a former MP, was also honoured for his doctoral thesis on the life and works of Allama Iqbal, prominent Urdu and Persian poet, philosopher and thinker. He also spoke at the function and recited his couplets in Urdu.Abbas, who is also president of the Indian Business and Professional Network, said the IUS aims to promote the Urdu language and literature in Doha by organising poetic gatherings and workshops for Urdu learners.BELOW: Abdul Samad Samdani speaking at the function.