BIHAR forum holds poetry session

THE Indian Association for Bihar and Jharkhand (IABJ), a forum affiliated to the Indian Cultural Centre, has held a poetry session (mushaira) at the Metro City Restaurant, with a number of Qatar-based writers presenting their works.Among them was Amjad Ali Sarwar, who heads the Bazm e-Urdu, a literary forum of Urdu lovers from the sub-continent.Sarwar presented couplets of well-known Bihar poet Kaleem Aajiz. Others who presented their works included Aziz Rasheedi, Mohamed Mumtaz Rashed, Rasheed, Niyaz, Shaukat Ali Naaz, Aziz Nabeel, Iftekhar Raghib, Syed Fahimuddin, Ashafaque Qalaque, Zauar Hussain Zair, Ejaz Haider, Jamshed Ansari, Habeeb Hyderabadi and Saadat Ali Saadat.

Guest of honour Dr Ataur Rahman Nadvi recalled that Bihar was the first Indian state where Urdu was accorded the second language status.

While announcing IABJ’s future programmes, General Secretary Mohamed Faruque Ahamed said the forum would hold regular mushairas on the fourth Thursday of months which have five Thursdays.He also declared the body’s intention to strengthen co-operation with Urdu forums such as Bazm-e-Urdu, Haiq, Amuhq.Joint Secretary Aslam Pervez introduced the present IABJ office-bearers. The forum was founded in 1999.Ibrahim Khan Kamal was the chief guest at the function.IABJ Chief Shakeel Ahmed Kakvi chaired the meet. He said the forum is planning to shortly invite Kaleem Aajiz to Qatar.Mirza Hamid Ali proposed a vote of thanks. Tayeb Hussain Khan co-ordinated the mushaira.