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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 | The Indian Eye 18

GOPIO-Metro Washington celebrates Indian

Independence Day with poetry session

The Embassy of India in Washington, a longstanding supporter of the event since its inception in 2011,

co-hosted the inaugural bilingual poetry recitation in collaboration with AAA-DC and GOPIO-Metro

OUR BUREAU
Washington
OPIO-Metro Washington
hosted the 16th Annual Inde-
Gpendence Day bilingual poet-
ry session (Mushaira-Kavi Sammelan)
on Sunday, August 25, 2024, at the
Central Library in Arlington, Virgin-
ia, inaugurated by Dr. A. Abdullah.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Abdullah
emphasized the significance of cele-
brating the independence of the entire
Subcontinent, while reflecting on the
challenges that have persisted over
time. He noted, “Organizing such
literary and cultural activities is like Speakers at the Annual Program
lighting small candles in our hearts,
helping us appreciate our shared her-
itage, our Sanjhi Virasat. This appre-
ciation and mutual respect are what
make us human. True freedom lies in
liberating ourselves from prejudices.”
The Mushaira and Kavi Sam-
melan were chaired by retired Indian
Administrative Services (IAS) officer
Dr. Ashok Narayan, currently visiting
the USA. The event featured captivat-
ing performances by poets including
Abdullah Abdullah, Ashok Narayan,
Azfar Hasan, Farah Kamran, Jameel
Usman, Madhu Maheshwari, Mo-
hammed Akbar, and others.
Ms. Neha Singh, the First Secre- AAA-DC and GOPIO-Metro. A group photo at the gathering
tary of Press and Culture at the Indian Over the years, the event has pro-
Embassy, attended the event along vided a platform for numerous poets
with representatives from various and authors to share their works, in-
community and literary organizations. cluding luminaries like Professor Sa-
GOPIO-Metro Washington has tyapal Anand, Professor Asghar Waja-
been organizing this yearly event in hat, and Dr. K. Mohan, among others.
collaboration with the Aligarh Alum- This year, Farah Kamran’s book
ni Association-Washington, DC. This Surkh Shaam Ka Diya was released,
year’s event saw active participation with the acclaimed Urdu poet and
from several organizations, including short-story writer Jameel Usman,
the Association of Indian Muslims who traveled from New Jersey, offer-
of America (AIM), the Hyderabad ing an eloquent introduction to her
Association of Washington Metro poetic journey. Renowned journalist,
Area (HAWMA), the Montgomery novelist, and short-story writer Nu- Audiences at the program
Nawabs (MONA), and the American zaira Azam presided over the session,
Society of Science, Engineering, and highlighting Kamran’s perseverance,
Technology (ASSET). dedication, and literary contribu- away last year, honoring their signifi- ciety, a subsidiary of AAA-DC. Con-
The Embassy of India in Wash- tions. cant contributions to the literary com- dolences were also extended to the
ington, a longstanding supporter of A special tribute was paid to the munity. Additionally, homage was late Professor Ahmad Shahid Khan, a
the event since its inception in 2011, late senior poets of the Metropolitan offered to the late Talat Shamim, wife retired AMU professor and father of
co-hosted the inaugural bilingual po- Washington area, Rakesh Khandelw- of Dr. Abdullah Shamim, a former ac- AAA-DC Treasurer-elect Dr. Salman
etry recitation in collaboration with al and Gulshan Madhur, who passed tive member of the Urdu Literary So- Shahid.

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