JAMMU / NARNAUL, Nov 1: The Manumukt ‘Manav’ Memorial Trust organised a grand virtual Global Haryanvi Poetry Conference to mark the 60th Haryana Day, bringing together 20 poets from four continents and seven countries to celebrate the richness of Haryanvi language, literature and culture.
The two-hour conference witnessed participation from poets representing India, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark and the United States, who presented their compositions in Haryanvi, highlighting the state’s traditions, cultural identity, social values and rural life.
The programme began with a prayer song presented by Dr. Sunil Bhardwaj, Industry Extension Officer, Narnaul. The conference was organised under the guidance of Chief Trustee Dr. Ramniwas ‘Manav’ and the direction of Dr. Pankaj Gaur.
Dr. Keshavdev Sharma, Director of the Brajbhasha Sahitya Academy, Mathura, who attended as the chief guest, described Haryanvi as a language of the masses that beautifully reflects the fragrance of Haryana’s soil and the sweetness of its culture. He emphasised that regional languages play an important role in preserving cultural traditions and connecting people with their roots.
In his presidential address, Dr. Manoj Bharat, State President of the All India Sahitya Parishad, Bhiwani, appreciated the Trust’s efforts towards promoting Haryanvi language and literature. He observed that the development of regional literature was essential for protecting and strengthening Haryanvi cultural identity. Special guest Rajpal Yadav, former Director General of Coal India Limited, Gurugram, also highlighted the importance of preserving one’s mother tongue and urged every resident of Haryana to take pride in their linguistic and cultural heritage.
The poetry session featured several renowned poets from across the world. Rohit Kumar Happy from Auckland presented ‘Haryana Ka Maan Badhavain’, while Dr. Bhavna Kunwar from Sydney recited ‘Mitti Ki Mhaek’. Awadhesh Rana from Abu Dhabi presented ‘Choudhary Saheb’, Dr. Ritu Nanan Pandey from the Netherlands recited ‘Anokha Haryana’, and Pooja Anil from Madrid presented ‘Eighty Years’.
Other international participants included Savita Jakhar from Copenhagen, Dr. Kamla Singh from San Diego and Ompati Grewal from California, who presented poems celebrating Haryana’s identity, glorious history and childhood traditions.
Indian poets also enriched the conference with their compositions. Sanjay Pathak from Alwar presented ‘Manas Heena Ho Gaya’, Rajpal Yadav ‘Raj’ from Gurugram recited ‘Biraan Ki Dharti’, while Balbir Singh Verma from Sirsa presented ‘Balak Main Haryana’. Dr. Manoj Bharat recited Haryanvi couplets, while Dr. V.M. Bechain, Dr. Priyanka Saurabh, Dr. Satyawan Saurabh, Dr. Jitendra Bhardwaj, Dr. Pankaj Gaur and Dr. Krishna Arya also presented their compositions on different aspects of Haryanvi society and culture.
Earlier, Chief Trustee Dr. Ramniwas ‘Manav’ spoke about the nature, development and present status of the Haryanvi language and presented his own couplets, reflecting on changing times and the importance of preserving cultural traditions.
The conference also witnessed the participation of several distinguished personalities, including Dr. S. Anukriti from Washington DC, Prageet Kunar from Sydney, Surendra Haryanvi from Barcelona and Harmahendra Yadav from Toronto. Several academicians, writers, poets and trustees from different parts of India also attended the event.
The conference concluded on a celebratory note, with poets using literature as a medium to strengthen cultural connections across geographical boundaries. The event highlighted the importance of mother tongues in preserving regional identity and demonstrated how poetry can bring together people from different countries through a shared love for language and heritage.