DAMMAM: Indian Social Forum, Eastern Province Branch, recently organized an international mushaira (Urdu poetry event).
The event was well attended and featured poetry from 10 poets from Indian and Saudi Arabia.
Two Urdu poets from India were Rahat Indori and Iqbal Ashar. Others from Saudi Arabia included Altaf Sheryar and Afsar Barabanki from Jeddah; Shiraz Mehdi, Zia-ur-Rahman and Saleem Hasrat from Alkhobar/Dammam; Baqar Naqvi, Sajjad Syed and Khaled Siddique from Jubail; and Satlaj Rahat.
Zia-ur-Rahman started the program by welcoming guests. The chief guest was Hifz-ur-Rahman, second secretary (Political, Information and Culture) at the Indian Embassy.
Other guests were Abdul Salam A. Al-Jandal, Alkhobar police deputy, Khalid Mathligedu, executive chief of SABIC Industries, and Shiraz Shah, marketing director for M/S Saudi Master Bakers.
Khalid congratulated the Indian Social Forum for organizing the event and expressed his happiness in being associating with it. He said in an age where there is a greater interaction between continents, there is competition to learn English, which is used internationally.
Al-Jandal congratulated the Indian community for its excellent work done in the Kingdom.
Hifz-ur-Rahman from the Indian Embassy congratulated members of the forum for their community welfare work and arranging such an event in the honor of Urdu.
The gathering exceeded over 800. Later, the program was addressed by Abdul Waheed, president AP/Telangana region of the Indian Social Forum. He thanked the chief guests for patronizing the event.
Mohammed Saleem, executive member of ISF, said the forum is the NRI wing of the largest Muslim-based Social Democratic Party of India.
The party was launched in 2009 in Delhi after a need of political platform was felt in order to ensure the welfare of marginalized minorities who have long been neglected and terrorized by the mainstream political parties.
The party has gained a considerable support from the masses and has its presence in 13 states.
Mansoor Shah, vice-president of AP/Telangana region, then discussed the achievements of the Social Democratic Party in India by highlighting the recognition the party has gained from its work in Bangalore Municipality where its members handle health portfolios.
Lastly, Waseem Rabbani, president of the Central Committee of the ISF, thanked the chief guests, the sponsors of the event and the volunteers of their excellent work.
He stressed that Urdu is not just a language of one community of India but it is its heart and soul.
The poets then recited poetry, which was well received by the audience.
Contributing poets were Shiraz Mahdi, Zia-ur-Rahman, Atlaf Sheryar and Baqer Alig.
Saleem Hasrat give a lighter touch to the event with his poetry, which rendered a lighter touch to the event.
The audience was enthralled by the poetry of the two main guests, Rahat Indori and Iqbal Ashar.
International mushaira in Dammam a big hit with expats
International mushaira in Dammam a big hit with expats
