Urdu Acadmy
on YouTube

Picture Gallery

Books & Articles on Urdu Literature

Awan-e-Urdu Florida holds musical literary evening

A group photo taken at the literary-cum-musical evening of Awan-e-Urdu held in Orlando on July 7, 2012. See more pictures of the grand evening.

By Abdus Sattar Ghazali

I am a regular participant of the Urdu Academy of North America  literary program which is held every month at the Silicon Valley's popular Chandni Restaurant which has now become a hub of South Asian cultural and social events.

This month I missed the program because of my visit to Orlando. However, I believe I did not miss much.  I was happy to know that in Orlando too the Urdu enthusiasts have established an organization to promote the cause of the language. The organization, known as Awan-e-Urdu, also holds literary programs every month. I was invited to attend Awan-e-Urdu's monthly literary-cum-musical evening which was held on July 7. The event attracted Urdu enthusiasts from Orlando and nearby towns.

The literary evening had two sessions. The first session was devoted to a Mushaera. Three saheb-e-deewan poets, Zulfiqar Agha, Dr. Arif Zaheer Siddiqui and Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed thrilled the audience with their poetry recitations.

Zulfiqar Agha recites his poetry

Dr. Arif Zaheer Siddiqui presents his ghazal

Awan-e-Urdu President Ahmad Tanhaa (left) with poet Sheikh Ijaz

Zulfiqar Agha's  poetry collection, "Awaz-e Pazeb-e Hina, was published in 2009; Dr. Arif Zaheer Siddiqui published his first poetry collection, "Mohabbat Kee Dunya Meri Sha'eri, in 2005; and Sheikh Ijaz Ahmad published his first poetry collection ," Durr-e-Ijaz," in 2008. Ajaz Malik amused the audience with his presentation of Naat in his melodious voice. Zulfiqar Agha also presented a hamd-cum-naat composition.

Musical renditions

It is said that music is the medicine of the mind and poetry is the music of the soul. Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life and poetry is said to be all that is worth remembering in life. To borrow Laura Simoes, what poetry and music do to the mind must only be experienced, and such experience is complacent to not only transcend entertainment, rather acquiesce the listener to substantiate a state of wholeness … in mind and body.

Perhaps this correlation between Music and Poetry, prompted the Awan-e-Urdu leadership to hold a unique music-cum-literary event as the second part of the literary evening was devoted to musical renditions by popular local artists.

At the outset, Orlando's popular singer, Mrs. Gulnaz Mukhtar, thrilled the audience with her melodious voice. She presented a number of old filmi songs to draw wide applause. She was followed by Usman Sidat who captivated the audience with his singing style of Mehdi Hasan. His presentations refreshed the memories of the great sub-continent singer Mehdi Hasan who left us  recently for the eternal abode.

Dr. Arif Zaheer Siddiqui and Sarfraz Habibi also amused the audience with their singing skills.

Chief guest of the evening, Latif Kasu, stirred the audience with his presentations of geets and ghazals. Besides singing, Latif Kasu is also a talented poet. He amazed the audience by singing his own ghazals.

Nadim Faruqui, the host of the event, is not only an excellent singer but also a fantabulous harmonium player. He presented songs in his own compositions. Nadim Faruqui was joined on tabla by an experienced tabla player, Riaz.

 Ahmed Faruqui, son of Nadim Faruqui stole the show with his concert style presentations. He captivated the audience with a number of popular songs.

Ahmed Tanhaa, President of the Awan-e-Urdu, concluded the colorful evening with thanking the hosts, Mr Nadim Faruqui and Mrs Farah Faruqui, for providing a sumptuous dinner.

Continued on page two