JAMMU, Oct 1: A Hindi poetry symposium was organized here today by the Hindi Sahitya Mandal Jammu to mark ‘Hindi Month’. Bringing together around twenty emerging and senior poets, the event showcased contemporary themes.
Held on Wednesday evening at the local Art Centre auditorium, the symposium was presided over by Dr. Nirmal Vinod—a multilingual poet, lyricist, and former president of the Mandal—while Arvinder Singh Aman, former Additional Secretary of the Academy, attended as the special guest.
Extending a formal welcome to the guests, Mandal Vice-President Sunil Sharma conveyed Hindi Diwas greetings to everyone. He noted that the launch of a book dedicated to Prof. Rita Jitendra on September 10th had marked the Mandal’s first event in observance of Hindi Diwas.
On this occasion, Sharma announced a modification to the Mandal’s ‘Navlekhan Tej Puraskar’ (New Writing Award) scheme, stating that a decision is being made to extend the award to cover books by all Hindi writers from the Jammu region.
Emerging poets who participated in the symposium included Amayra Gupta, a student at Presentation Convent (reciting a poem on the characteristics of Hindi); Sita, a student at Cluster University (‘Soi Thi Main Kaali Raat Mein’); Suneha Sharma (‘Kavi Dharm’); Naresh Sharma, a research scholar from the Hindi Department (‘Barson Se Jalti Aag Thandi Pad Gayi’); Deepak Kaushal (‘Doosri Swatantrata’); Suman Sharma (‘Hind Se Main Hindi Hoon’); and Renu Sharma. They impressed the assembled literary figures with poetry readings that reflected contemporary concerns.
In addition to these emerging poets, well-known senior poets—Aruna Sharma, Uma Sharma (Yeh Chavanni Kahan Kho Gayi?), Veena Tandon (Bolna Mana Hai), Yogesh Sharma (reciting a poem and a ghazal), Sunil Sharma (ghazal), Rakesh Abrol (Upadravi Shabd), Vijay Saraf ‘Meenagi’ (Koyal Ki Awaaz), Shyam Juneja (Bade Dinon Ke Baad), Manjit Kamra (ghazal), and Baljit Raina (sung poem)—enriched the poetry symposium with their beautiful, incisive, and powerful compositions. Dr. Arvinder Singh Aman shared his thoughts and extended Hindi Diwas greetings to everyone.
Dr. Nirmal Vinod not only presented his own works—a ghazal and a song titled Sabki Sanjhi Vani Hindi (Hindi: The Shared Voice of All)—but also, in his presidential address, commended the organization’s officebearers for this symposium and for consistently conducting various literary events.
He expressed happiness that young writers had been specially invited to the gathering, providing a platform for their creative talent.
Concluding the event, Rakesh Abrol expressed gratitude to the chairperson, invited guests, Dr. Javed Rahi (incharge of the Art Centre), his colleagues, and the media personnel for their continued support.
The event was coordinated and executed by General Secretary Manto Datta Sharma, while the proceedings were skillfully anchored jointly by the organization’s newly appointed Publicity Secretary, Madhavi Sharma, and Literary Secretary, Uma Sharma.
In addition to the Mandal’s office-bearers, members, and distinguished guests, many litterateurs and intellectuals from the city attended this gathering.