RIYADH — A Mushaira (poetry event) is our cultural and traditional heritage, an event where poets and poetry lovers gather to display their works and to enjoy poetry in its sublime form respectively. It epitomizes an entire culture and provides a sophisticated platform for the poets and the audience. Halqa-e-Fikr-O-Funn organized a mushaira in the honor of a prominent visiting poet from Pakistan Ahmed Muslim Alavi here recently. The mushaira was presided by the Community Welfare Attaché of Pakistan Embassy Capt. (R) Syed Hammad Abid, and poetess Dr. Hina Ambreen Tariq gracefully conducted the proceedings of the mushaira with her customary elan. The mushaira was held in the gracious presence of poetry lovers and several Pakistani community heads. They enjoyed the quality of poetry and appreciated the standard and styles of the poets. Those who participated in the mushaira included Abdul Razzaq Tabassum, Muhammad Sabir, Sajida Chaudhary, Dr. Hina Ambreen Tariq, Waqar Naseem Wamiq and Ahmed Muslim Alavi. Earlier, the program formally began with the recitation of verses from the holy Qur'an by Dr. Mahmoud Ahmed Bajwa followed by a presentation of Naat by Dr. Saeed Ahmed Waince. In his welcome address Wamiq, general secretary of Halqa-e-Fikr-O-Funn, welcomed the guests and presented an introduction of Halqa. "Halqa-e-Fikr-O-Funn was established about 30 years ago in Al-Khobar. Poet and writer Anjum Dar was the founder president and it then later expanded to various parts of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, noted prolific writers and poets are the part of Halqa such as Prof. Wasil Usmani, Dr. Ghaffar Hussaini, Samina Raja, Shabnam Manarvi, Tariq Mahmood Tariq, Tahir Jameel, Mohammad Ali Siddique, Tahira Ghazal, Musafir Loudhi, Dr. Pervez Ahmed and various are still serving the Urdu poetry and literature under its banner such as Khalid Umer Malik, Younas Qazi, Aftab Turabi, Azra Naqvi, Ashfaq Badauni, Prof. Iqbal Nawaz, Prof. Hussain Sahar, Shahnaz Muzammil and Javid Akhter Javid. Senior member of Halqa-e-Fikr-O-Funn, Dr. Muhammad Riaz Chaudhary presented a bouquet to Ahmed Muslim Alavi the chief guest of the occasion. "It is our noble tradition to welcome all those affiliated with poetry, education and literature. I welcome you all to this Mehfil-e-Mushaira," Riaz said. Dr. Hina presented an introduction of the guest poet prior to the mushaira. "Ahmed Muslim Alavi belongs to a renowned literary family of Luckhnow that later migrated and settled in Karachi. He is well known in the poetry circles and famous for his romantic poetry, his two books of poetry are published and he enjoys a large number of his readership," she said. "I am a poet of love, my poetry sprawls in only one direction and that is love. Romanticism is the best mood a poet can ever have and I am blessed with such a beautiful mood," Alavi said. "I am thankful to Halqa-e-Fikr-O-Funn, Wamiq and the wonderful hosts Dr. Tariq Aziz and Dr. Hina for organizing such a wonderful mushaira," Alavi added. Community Welfare Attaché Capt. (R) Syed Hammad Abid applauded the efforts of Halqa-e-Fikr-O-Funn for promoting the literary activities. "A message of love, peace and tolerance instead of hatred and violence should go to the world, and it's the need of the hour. Poets and writers are the key source to spread this unified message, I congratulate Halqa-e-Fikr-O-Funn for arranging such a meaningful event," he said. In his vote of thanks the host of the evening Dr. Tariq Aziz thanked the poets and the audience for attending the mushaira. "Halqa-e-Fikr-O-Funn believes in bridging the gaps through poetry and literature, we will continue to put every effort for promoting the message of love and tolerance through literary activities," he concluded.
