A Literary Function in Gaithersburg, Maryland
By Zafar Iqbal

Dr S. Anand, Dr Shoeb Kidwai and Dr Zafar Iqbal

“Dr. Anand has diverted from customary rules and also adapted new techniques in his poetry.  These are the hallmarks of a great poet, according to Professor Majnoon Gorakhpuri," said Dr. A. Abdullah while introducing Professor Satyapal Anand at a literary function in Gaithersburg, Maryland on August 2, 2008. More than 200 people attended the event organized by the Aligarh Alumni Association of Metropolitan Washington (AAA) to honor and felicitate Professor Satyapal Anand for his contribution to Urdu literature as a poet, critic, and short-story writer. 
"Dr. Anand is also recognized for his contribution to Hindi, Punjabi and English literature," added Dr. Abdullah. 
Mohammad Anwar paid a tribute by reciting a poem praising Dr. Anand's contribution to literature. A display of Dr. Anand's books in Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, and English was also arranged.   
Mr. Sanjay Sinha, Minister for Community Affairs, Embassy of India presented a plaque to Dr. Anand on behalf of the association.  Dr. Anand thanked Mr. Sinha and the association for bestowing the honor to him.  He also recited a few poems in Urdu and Hindi. 
Earlier, welcoming the guests and audience, AAA Secretary Dr. Zafar Iqbal said that the association was very pleased to have the opportunity of arranging a bi-lingual (Urdu and Hindi) poetry recitation session during the celebration of the Independence Day of the Subcontinent. He emphasized the role of writers and poets in the independence movement of the Subcontinent as well as in the promotion of communal harmony.  
Mr. Umesh Agnihotri, a retired Door Darshan and Voice of America broadcaster, talked about the affinities between Urdu and Hindi languages. "Languages unite people, but unfortunately politicians bring religion in between to divide communities," he said.  He further remarked that it was not fair to judge any language by the number of its speakers.  Citing Rahi Masoom Raza's remark, "A mother of ten children is not a better mother than the one with two children." 
Dr. Razi Raziuddin, a research scientist by profession, elaborated the role of Urdu in propagating culture in the Subcontinent. Quoting contributions of Muslim and non-Muslim poets and writers, he emphasized that Urdu language was above all religious and geographical boundaries. 
The first session of the function concluded with presidential remarks by Professor Shoeb Kidwai. 
Dr. Anand presided over the second session devoted to poetry recitation and conducted by Dr. Raziuddin. The following poet recited their compositions:  A. Abdullah, Abulhasan Naghmi, Azhar Zaman, Aziz Qureshi, Baqar Zaidi, Mohammad Anwar, Noor Memon, Qamar Kazmi, Razi Raziuddin, Sadiq Bajwa, Satyapal Anand, Shoeb Kidwai, Zaheer Parvez,  Astha Naval, Dhannajay Kumar, Gulshan Madhur, Madhu Maheshwari, Narendra Tandon, Rakesh Khandelwal, Rekha Mitra, Satyapal Anand, Suman Shukla, and Vishakha Thaker.
Selection from some poets: 
Sadiq Bajwa:           Jo aziz-e-jaaN hai mukjh ko mere zabt ka yaara    Mere hosle ki shamein koi phir bujha na jae
N. Tandon:           Besood jiye jaate haiN, kuchh bhi nahiN haasil     NazreiN hain ufaq par, soojhe nahiN manzil
Baqar Zaidi:          Dil par karte haiN, dimaghoN par asar karte nahiN    Hum ajab log haiN, zehnoN par asar karte nahiN
Dhananje Kumar:                Jaise ghoongat meiN ek chehra hai  Har kamre meiN ek karma hai
Rekha Mitra:        Jism se rooh alag mat karna   Warna jaan nikal jae gi
Qamar Kazmi:      Khair ab chain se haiN shaher-e-khirad ke baasi     Baad merey to faseel aur uthai na gaee
A. Abdullah:          Waqt ke tapte sahraoN meiN door se jitni nadiyaN dekhi  Paas aakar maloom hua who saari reyt ki lahreiN thin
Razi Raziuddin:   Zindagi hai ki azaaboN aur suraboN ka rijaal     Apne kaadhoN pe uthae huey jazboN ki mashaal
R. Khandelwal:    Aap ki lekhni ne jinheiN chhoo liya, shabd woh umr bhar khilkhilate rahey
                           Geet ho, nazm ho, yaa ho chahe ghazal, aap ke bahao ka rang paate rahey
Zaheer Parvez:   Hum sab ki dua yeh hai logo, hum sab ki kaamna hai logo
                           Desh ka har fard sukhi aur shaad rahe, is gulshan mein sada mausam-e-bahar rahe
Suman Shukla:    Umr jalvoo Mein Basar ho ye Jaroorie to nahien,   Her shabey gham ki kahar ho ye jaroorie to nahien!  
                            Neend to dard ke bistar pe bhi aa sakati hai       unki aagoosh mein sar ho ye jaroorie to nahien!
V. Thaker              Saal Pedon kee tarah khade ho gaye  umra patton kee taraha jhar gayee
 Astha Naval:        Kitni asaani se kah diya  Bas eik cheez maangooN ga to do gi
                             Kabhi phi naraz na hone ka waada de do    aur khud baar baar ghalti karne ki ijazat le li
A. Naghmi:            Taasubaat ke saudagaroN se koi kahe   Ki unke din bhi ziyada nahiN haiN yaad rahe
                             GuloN meiN rang bhare baad-e-nau bahar chale  Chale bhi jao ki gulshan ka karobar chale
Shoeb Kidwai:      Qafla hai, rahbar his nahiN   Jism hai, lekin sar hi nahiN
Satyapal Anand:  Bhare poore meley meiN gae the kis ke sahare bhool gae       Kis ki ungli mutthi meiN thi, hum bechaare bhool gae
                          Jeevan ki jab shaam hue, to socha ghar bhi ho aaeN              Kitne din joban ke the aur kahaN guzaree bhool gae
                           PaR gae apni jaan ke laale, kaise sapere the hum bhi            Ek nagin ko gale lagaya , mantar saare bhool gae.

 

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