JEDDAH — Gulf Urdu Council (GUC), a newly formed common platform of various Indian and Pakistani poets, writers, intellectuals and literary figures living in the Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia, held a beautiful and memorable poetry evening in the history of the last 50 years of mushaira (poetry symposium) in Jeddah at Refan party hall in Al-Rehab District recently. Dr. Prof. Peerzada Qasim Siddiqui, famous poet, educationist and former vice chancellor of University of Karachi, Pakistan, presided over the function. Director of national council for promoting Urdu language in India Prof. Irteza Kareem was special guest and noted poet from New York (USA) Khalid Irfan was the guest of honor. On stage other poets included Nadeem Mahir and Sabih Bukhari from Qatar, Dr. Ashfaq Nasir (Abha), Sohail Saqib (Dammam), Nasir Burni (Yanbu), Naeem Bazaid Puri, Ather Nafees Abbasi, Faisal Tufail. Altaf Shehryar, Ahmed Attaullah Farooqui and host Mehtab Qadar were from Jeddah. The mushaira event was a golden evening for Urdu lovers as poet after poet regaled them with their penmanship that touched on the subtle and the sublime. In addition some poets lent heir sonorous voice to their poetic lines when rending ghazals to transport the audiences to exalted realms. The beautifully decorated hall filled with the thunderous applause as the poets took them on a wistful varied journey. They applauded and praised from their hearts on glorious couplets which were read out by the poets. The program began with recitation of verses from the Holy Qur'an by Qari Hafiz Mohammed Noor. Mohammed Nawaz Junjua rendered a naat. Bader Ansari, GUC member, welcomed all guests and conducted the first part of the evening. Mehtab Qadar, secretary GUC, felicitated all the participating poets and thanked GUC members, sponsors and Urdu lovers for their cooperation and support to bring an old dream of establishing GUC into a reality. Before start of the mushaira, the organizers presented memorial awards in recognition of the services of senior and famous literary personalities. Mustafa Ahmed Qidwai award was received by Dr. Peerzada Qasim from Ahmeduddin Owaisi. The mushaira was inaugurated with the traditional lighting of the candle by Tahseemul Haq Haqqi, vice consular community at the Consulate General Pakistani and Ahmeduddin Owaisi, president, Bazm-e-Ittehad. Saudi Arabia. Mir Firasat Ali Khusro from Riyadh conducted the Mushaira in his usual fascinating style. Dr. Peerzada Qasim Siddiqui's following poetry that had the audience offering hearty acclamation and calls of encouragement. "khun se jab jala diya ek diya bujha hua phir mujhe de diya gaya ek diya bujha hua ek hi dastan-e-shab ek hi silsila to hai ek diya jala hua ek diya bujha hua mahfil-e-rang-o-nur ki phir mujhe yad a gai phir mujhe yad a gaya ek diya bujha hua mujh ko nishat se fuzun rasm-e-wafa aziz hai mera rafiq-e-shab raha ek diya bujha hua dard ki kainat main mujh se bhi raushani rahi waise meri bisat kya ek diya bujha hua sab meri raushani-e-jan harf-e-sukhan main dhal gai aur main jaise rah gaya ek diya bujha hua Ab Harf-E-Tamanna Ko Samaat Na Milegi Bechoge Agar Khwab To Qimat Na Milegi Naeem Bazaid Puri: Tum Jisay itna qareeb rag-e-Jan liktay ho Naam likhtay ho na kuch uska nishan likhtay ho Khalid Irfan's couplet that drew people's applause was: Mian-e-hind wa Pakistan aik sarhad ka gaghra hay Wagarna es emarat kay minaray aik jasay hein Karachi ka kitchen ho ya wo Daccan ki rasoi ho Namak ka farq hay baigan bhagharay aik say hein.
