Urdu Academy of North America Hosts Jashn-e-Saleem Kausar
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
The Urdu Academy of North America hosted Jashn-e-SaleemKausar, a popular Urdu poet from Pakistan. The event was held at the Chandni Restaurant, Newark CA, on June 17, 2018.
It was the first literary event of the Urdu Academy during the year 2018 and in about eight months. The Urdu Academy management pledged to resume its regular literary programs.
As usual, a number of Urdu enthusiasts read the poetry of SaleemKausar: Tasadduq Hussain Attari, Hatem Rani, Kausar Sayed, AbdusSattarGhazali, ShehzarBasir, ZeeshanAbbasi and AhmarShahwar. Poet Arshad Rashid was the MC of the event.
Poet Fayyaz Saeb spoke about his meeting with SaleemKausar in Lahore when the poet gave him permission to publish his books in the US.
TashieZaheer, President of the Urdu Academy, presented a maqala on the life and work of SaleemKausar.
Almas Shabwani sang two ghazals of SaleemKausar while Syed Sarwat also sang SaleemKausar'sghazals. He won wide applause with the presentation of SaleemKausar's popular ghazal: "MeiNKhayaalHouNKisiiAurKaa + SareAa'eenaMeraAks Hai PaseAa'eena Koi Aur Hai"
SaleemKausar was born in August 1947 in Panipat, India. After partition, his family moved to Pakistan and settled in Khanewal, Punjab, Pakistan. He got his primary and secondary education there. Soon after, he moved to Kabeerwala. In the year 1972, he shifted to Karachi city, where he has worked in several newspapers before joining Pakistan Television (PTV). He retired several years ago.
Kausar started his literary career from Kabeerwala, where he met with renowned and national poets and learnt and practiced Urdu poetry. He also attended literary gatherings. After moving to Karachi, he joined Urdu newspapers and wrote Qat’aas (quatrains), a form of Urdu poetry on a daily basis. He has written five collections of Urdu poetry. He became popular after his ghazal “Main khiyalhoonkisiaurka” was sung by various individuals in 1980. He has visited many countries to participate in mushairas, including Doha, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Middle East and India.
SaleemKausar's five published collections are: MuhabbatAikShajar Ha (1994), KhaliHaathon Mein Arz-O-Sama (1980), YehChiragh Hai Tau JalaRahai (1987), Zara MausamBadalnayDau (1991), and Duniya Meri Aarzoo Se Kam Hey (2007).
A salient feature of the program was a musical presentation. AsimWali Khan presented two renditions of SaleemKausar with music while he was also on the keyboard. Asim Khan is an excellent key player. At one time he had his own musical band.
Almas Shabwani delighted the audience with her melodious presentation of two ghazals of SaleemKausar.
Entrepreneur Syed Sarwat thrilled the guests with his singing of ghazals of SaleemKausar. He drew wide applause when he sang “Main khiyalhoonkisiaurka.”
Syed Arshad was on tabla with Ali Shahbudding on the keyboard.
The program ended with a vote of thanks for Syed Sarwat for patronizing the Urdu language in the Bay Area.
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