Spreading love: Indian poets bring a message of peace to Pakistan

They termed the skirmishes at the border ‘political gimmicks’.

KARACHI:

As the tension along the Line of Control keeps brewing, Indian poets had something different to offer in Pakistan: peace.

The poets brought a message of ‘love and peace’ to Pakistan and termed the skirmishes at the border ‘political gimmicks’. Four poets, Khushbir Singh Shaad from Jalandhar, Ranjeet Chauhan from Delhi, Ameer Imam from Moradabad and Abhishek Shukla from Lucknow, were warmly received at a reception arranged in their honour at Karachi Press Club on Tuesday. The poets have come to take part in the ‘Urdu Aalmi Mushaira’, which is a part of the 7th Aalmi Urdu Conference that starts today (Thursday) at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi.

“Peace is always beautiful and we, poets, love beauty,” said Shaad, while reading a poem.  According to him, the tension between both the countries can only be eased through dialogue and frequent visits by the diplomats.



He said that the future of Urdu literature seems to be glowing all the more with each passing day in India because the younger generation takes keen interest in poetry and prose. During the programme, the four poets recited poetry on the theme of peace rather than romance or any other subject. “Don’t worry,” assured Shukla. “We will bring you a fresh and the latest collection of beautiful romantic poetry in the Urdu conference. But I want to initiate with the verses of peace.”

Pakistani poets-cum-journalists presented their poems in the brief 20-minute gathering, leaving the audience enthralled.  In the end, the office bearers of Karachi Press Club literary committee, led by Fazil Jameeli, presented ajraks and Sindhi caps to the visiting poets.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2014.