Lucknow: Poetry and music filled the air as Sahityakar Sansad and Naman Prakashan organised a special programme titled “An Evening of Ghazals” during the ongoing Lucknow Book Fair. The literary gathering brought together poets, writers, and literature lovers for an evening dedicated to the beauty of Urdu poetry.
The programme began with a Vani Vandana presented by poet Anil Anwar. Guests at the event were welcomed and felicitated by Manoj Singh Chandel, Aawara Naveen, Munendra Shukla, Sudeep Upreti, and Pratishtha Shukla.
Presiding over the event, noted poet Ramprakash Bekhud captivated the audience with his couplet:
“Ghulamon ko kahan neend aayegi shahoon ke mahalon mein,
Agar so bhi gaye to raat bhar bistar uchhalega.”
The chief guest Kripashankar ‘Vishwas’ recited a powerful couplet:
“Rab ne bakhshi hain chiragon ki sifar, warna
Gairon ke liye khud ko jalata kaun hai.”
Several poets presented their ghazals, earning warm appreciation from the audience. Dr. Fida Hussain impressed listeners with his lines:
“Ek sach bol kar Fida tune,
Zindagi daav par laga di hai.”
Poet Sarwat Jamal recited:
“Jo mere haath mein maachis ki teeliyan hoti,
Phir apne shehar mein kya itni jhaadiyan hoti.”
Ghazal writer Jyoti Shekhar touched hearts with her couplet:
“Dost hain jo hamare rishte ko har tarah se nibah lete hain,
Humse koi khata jo ho jaye, apne sar pe gunah lete hain.”
Other poets including Rachna Mishra, Pratibha Srivastava, Waqar Barabankvi, Harshit Mishra, and Arvind Jha also recited their ghazals, drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The event concluded with organiser Naveen Shukla presenting a thought-provoking couplet:
“Tum siyasi ho tumhein hogi zarurat iski,
Mujhse ye Hindu–Muslim nahi hone ka.”
The ghazal evening added a soulful literary dimension to the Lucknow Book Fair, celebrating poetic expression and reinforcing the timeless charm of Urdu poetry among readers and poetry enthusiasts.
