Abdul Rahman M. Baig and Khaled Shahbaaz Saudi Gazette
HYDERABAD — The Khak-e-Taiba (Dust of Madina) Trust organized a grand All-India Mushaira (poetry session) in the Telangana State's capital city recently. Ceremonially inaugurated with the lighting of the lamp, the program quickly gathered steam as cogent poetry session. Poetry in all forms filled the air to the ecstasy and joy of the connoiseurs. From satirical take on current affairs to poetry of witticism, criticism and patriotism the various peotries held the audience captive as the lofty amphitheater of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan brimmed with attendance even at 2.30 a.m. in the morning. With several poets — their work unique and holding a niche in their own arenas — even the nearly 8-hour long session seemed short. The reverberating thunderous applauses was ceaseless and well-deserved. The enthusiasts, who had thronged the arena, had a whale of a time. Speaking on the sidelines of the function the Chief Guest and Telangana's Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali voiced his support for the promotion of Urdu language, and urged the gathering to teach their offspring Urdu on par with other languages. Observing the societal cause the trust has been working for, India's first Muslim Deputy Chief Minister assured to offer the trust land to set up schools, employment training centers and educational institutions for social, educational and cultural upliftment of below-poverty-line families catered by the trust. “The government is planning to set up an ‘NRI Cell' in Jeddah for the convenience of the Indian community in the port city,” he added. The trust which started with just an ambulance service for free 24 years ago, now has embroidery training centers, vocational education institutions and schools for the underprivileged in many parts of the state. Eminent poets from the nook and corner of the country including Hasan Kazmi, Kaleem Samar, Rehana Nawab, A.M.Turaaz, Kashish Warsi, Dr. Khaled Nayyar, Raees Qasmi, Nikhat Amrohi, Nadeem Shad, Rana Tabassum, Irfan Pratapgarhi and others delivered their poetry to thunderous applauses. Some notable couplets from the evening include: Remembering the late President of India Dr. Abdul Kalam, a poet cascaded this beautiful couplet: Agar Khwaab Ki Khwahish Hai To Jaagna Seekho Yun Aankh Moondh Ke Sone Se Kuch Nahin Hoga (If you wish to dream, learn to be awake, sleeping with shut eyes won't help) Bachi Hai Ek Hi Soorath Shajar Bachaane Ke Har Ek Shaaq Ko Talwaar Kardiya Jaye.... (The only way left to save the tree is to turn every branch of it into a sword...) Ashfaq Asifi: Zindagi Ki Iss Qadar Jaankari Chahiye Hai Khushi Se Dosti Toh Gham Se Yaari Chahiye.. (Information on life is needed as such that if happiness is friend, sadness is in friendship too) Kashish Warsi: Zehreelay Saanp In Dinon Khamoosh Hai Magar Ye Sonchna Ghalat Hai Ke Fitraat Badal Gayi Iss Bar Iss Se Mil Ke Yahi Sochte Rahe Lehjaa Badal Gaya Ya Sama'at Badal Gayi (Poisonous snakes are mum these days but it's wrong to perceive their habits have changed This meeting kept me thinking whether the intonation has changed or the hearing..!) Dr. Khaled Nayyar: Hum ne iss Mulk Ki Taqdeer Sanwaari Hai Hum Dehshat Ke Gunahgaar Nahi Hosakte (We have ameliorated the fate of this country; we cannot be the sinners of terrorism) Hasan Kazmi: Phool Chunne Mein Kaante Milay Ungliyoun Mein Chubhan Rehgayi Muddataun Se Hai Paredes Mein Sirf Yaad e Watan Rehgayi (Found thorns while picking flowers, Pricking Sensation Remained Living abroad since years Only memories of homeland are left) Habeeb Hashmi: Hairath Hai Kisi Ke Haath Mein Pathar Nahin Hai Aur Sheher Mein Koi Sar Mehfooz Bhi Nahin Hai (Surprising that no one has a stone in hand yet no head in the city is safe) The evening was presided over by KTT Chairman Syed Azmathulah (IAS - Retd.) under the presidency of Managing Trustee Ghulam Yazdani. Member of State Legislative Assembly Jaffar Hussain Meraj also spoke. Telangana Minorities Welfare Director Prof. M.A Shukoor Ahmed, Dr. Mohammed Haseebullah, Dr. Syed Fazil Hussain Parvez, Mahmood Suhail Quadri, Babar uz Zaman, Anwar Sharfuddin, Shameem Kausar, and KTT Trustee Aijaz Ahmed Khan and Khaleeq ur Rahman were also present on this occasion. Co-organizer of the program Syed Khaja Viqaruddin welcomed the guests while Aslam Farshori moderated the program. Earlier, convener Azeemuddin Qureshi also spoke. The program began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran.
