Mehfil-e-Deccan Brings Poetry and Music to Life in Metro Washington
By Zafar Iqbal, PhD
The Hyderabad Association of Washington Metropolitan Area (HAWMA) is a community organization dedicated to serving people of Hyderabadi origin in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area. HAWMA is committed to preserving and promoting Hyderabad's rich cultural heritage, fostering social interaction and community support, and assisting members in need. For over 30 years, it has provided financial assistance to improve educational standards for underprivileged children in Hyderabad and surrounding areas. Additionally, HAWMA conducts workshops and seminars on educational and professional development.
On Saturday, June 1, 2024, the Association organized a memorable Mehfil-e-Deccan, celebrating the literary and cultural traditions of mushaira and music, at the Great Falls Library in Great Falls, Virginia. The event featured poets from the Metropolitan Washington area and drew Urdu enthusiasts and music lovers from Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia. Dr Moazzam Siddiqi, the former Director of South Asian Languages at Voice of America, also graced the occasion. He is widely regarded as a walking encyclopedia of Urdu and Persian.
The Association honored the late humorous Hyderabadi poets Gadbad Hyderabadi, Suleman Khateeb, Gilli Nalgondavi, and Ghause Mohiuddin Ahmed, also known as Khan Makhah Hyderabadi. Additionally, Abulhasan Naghmi and Syed Husain Imam were recognized posthumously for their decades of dedication to promoting Urdu in North America, particularly in the Metro Washington area.
The mushaira began with Nizamat by Tahseen Mirza, who invited Mohammed Akbar, a scientist at the National Institutes of Health, to the podium. Mohammed Akbar delivered humorous poetry that addressed social issues stemming from the COVID pandemic and offered satirical commentary on the current political situations in India and the US.
Yusuf Rahat, known for his dedication to fostering peace and friendship through poetry, shared his verses that promote shanti and brotherhood, reflecting his tireless efforts to spread these messages nationwide.
Jaweed Mohammed, a young and enthusiastic IT professional, captivated the audience with his satirical poetry on day-to-day life. Despite his short time in the mushaira scene, he has quickly become a staple in literary and poetic events.
Dr A. Abdullah, a mathematician by profession, has dedicated his life to promoting Urdu. He founded the Aligarh Alumni Associations in the US and Canada and is credited with initiating and promoting mushaira events in the Metropolitan Washington area. Now, mushairas are held all over North America following the tradition started in Washington. As a vibrant master of ceremonies (Nazim), he is in high demand. His poetry addresses social, political, and everyday issues. By public request, he recited his popular poetry.
Mr Abdur Rehman Siddiqi, a distinguished poet, has spent decades promoting Urdu in the United States. In the early 1990s, he started the first Pakistani Urdu newspaper in the USA, Urdu Link, introducing many poets and writers. He has published three books in the US, with his first poetry collection, Nala-e-Shabgeer, awarded Best First Urdu Diwan by Urdu Markaz International in 1994. Presiding over mushairas, he recited his poetry with tarannum upon public request.
The poetic session was followed by captivating performances of ghazals and songs by Nadeem Choudhry, Dilshad Hussain, Qazi Hamid, and Amra. Guests enjoyed sumptuous home-cooked snacks courtesy of HAWMA families.
HAWMA President Mir Zahid Ali welcomed participants and guests, while Secretary Syeda Reshma Zaki conducted the program. The event was organized with the help of Tahseen Mirza, Shifa Jowhar, Muhammad Imtiaz Ahmed, Mujahid Mujtaba, Durreshewar Anjum, and Javed Mujtaba.
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