Participants during Gulf Urdu Conference and Mushaira.
Doha: Bazme Sadaf International (BSI) organised a first-of-its-kind Gulf Urdu Conference and Mushaira (poetry symposium) on February 5 and 6.
The online event was mainly facilitated by the Kuwait Chapter of BSI and watched by thousands via Facebook Live.
The theme of the first day’s international seminar was to highlight the achievements of various organisations active in GCC countries for the promotion of Urdu language and literature and recognise the individual writers and poets from each GCC nation.
The event was inaugurated by BSI Chairman, Shahabuddin Ahmad.
He highlighted the need for joining hands and collaborations for the promotion of Urdu language and literature.
It was presided by renowned scholar and critic Professor Safdar Imam Quadri ,Director BSI from India and accomplished poet and BSI program director Ahmad Ashfaque was the chief guest.
Mahtab Qadar (KSA), Arif Anwarul Haq (Oman) and Ahmad Adil (Bahrain) were guests of honour on the occasion.
Shahabuddin Ahmad, Chairman of BSI
Ayesha Sheikh Aashi of Dubai conducted the programme smoothly.
Scholars who presented papers included Dr Wasiul Haq Wasi and Waquar Ahmad from Qatar, Athar Abbasi and Nayeem Jawaid (KSA), Gauhar Naqvi and Tufail Ahmad (Oman), Izaharul Haq and Riaz Shahid (Bahrain), Ehyaul Islam and Shadab Ulfat (UAE) and Shahjahan Jafri and Badar Seemab from Kuwait.
Professor Safdar Imam Quadri,Director BSI hailed the contribution of writers of the gulf region and hoped the event would be a milestone in getting their vast body of work recognised in the Urdu speaking world dominated by the writers of the subcontinent.
Chairman BSI, Ahmad also announced holding an in-person Khaleej Urdu Conference in Doha in November if the Pandemic situation improved.
Day 2 of the event brought renowned Urdu poets of GCC countries on a distinct virtual stage.
This poetry symposium (Mushaira) was presided by senior Abu Dhabi based poet Zahoorul Islam Jawaid.
Prof Safdar Imam Quadri was the chief guest, and two medical doctors who are also distinguished Urdu poets,
Dr Sarwat Zahra (Dubai) and Dr Nadeem Zafar Jilani Danish (President BSI Qatar chapter) attended the event.
Masood Hassas (President BSI Kuwait chapter) compered the mushaira in a unique style where he introduced every poet with self-composed verses.
Almost 30 distinguished poets recited their selected poetry in the mushaira.
Dr. Sarwat Zahra termed it a unique initiative and thanked BSI for bringing so many writers under one roof.
Dr Nadeem Zafar Jilani expressed hope that this is just the beginning of a new era of cultural exchange and more such events will be organised in the future as per BSI vision & mission.
Prof Quadri summarised and presented the gems from the evening and rated the poetry presented in the event as of a very high standard.
Zahoorul Islam Jawaid in his presidential address lauded the effort of BSI in organising such a wonderful programme.
He stressed on the need for more such events so that writers from GCC region and their work could get recognition.
Chairman BSI, Shahabuddin Ahmad thanked all the participants especially the BSI Kuwait chapter team for this path-breaking event.
He affirmed that the success of the event and positive feedback from all had energised him to do more to promote Urdu across the globe.
