Film lyricist Gulzar awarded in Doha, Qatar

Doha - 11 Oct 2011: The Majlis-e-Farogh-e-Urdu, a Doha based promotion of Urdu literary forum presented its coveted 15thAlami Award to India`s noted poet, writer, film lyricist and director Sampooran Singh Kalra alias Gulzar who is known for his poetic sensibility and contribution to Urdu language at the Majlise Auditorium of Sheraton Hotel. This mushaira has been dedicated to the famous revolutionary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz whose centennial celebrations are being held throughout the world in 2011.

Instituted in 1996, the International Award for UrduLiterature, comprises of a gold and a cash award of Riyals 150,000 is given annuallyto Urdu creative writer, scholar for their contribution to promotion of Urdu languageand literature.

Moosa Zainal, Advisor to the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage was the chief guest. The program was presided over by Padma Bhushan, Ex-chairman Sahitya Academy of India and renowned writer, poet, scholar, Dr. Gopi Chand Narang.

Gulzar literary stole the show by presenting his select poetry. The packed Al Majlise Auditorium was reverberating with wah, wah and mukarram mukarram throughout the mushaira. His poem Kabbaddi which imagined the border between the two countries should be a line of the play and if a player come to other team`s court saying kabbaddi kadabdi kabaddi, the fellow opponent should not leave him to go back to his court, as he imagined a strong bonded love between people from across the borders, as anybody comes to India from Pakistan the people should greet each other and let himnot go to his own country and vice-versa.

The guest poetsfromIndiaincluded, Manzar Bhopali, F.S. Ijaz, Dr. Kalim Qaisar, Popular Meeruthi and Shabina Adib, and the poets from Pakistan Dr.Peerzada Qasim, Mohd Aslam Kausari, Wasi Shah, Dr. Manzoor Rizvi, Zahid Fakhri, Nadim Majid and Jahan Ara Tabassum. Canadabased Urdu scholar Dr. Taqi Abidi andQatarbased Farid Nadvi, Farzana Safdar (Qatar Radio) recited their couplets.

ThePakistanAmbassador Mohammed Sarfraz Khanzada and Charge D` Affairs Indian Embassy, Sanjiv Kohliwere present.

Bhatkallys News Service / Report: S. M. Syed Zakir, Correspondent,bhatkallys.com