Urdu Gulban holds poetry session in honor of Indian poet

JEDDAH: Urdu Gulban, a Jeddah-based literary group, organized a poetry session to honor Indian poet Nafeesa Sultana, who is in the Kingdom to perform Umrah. She hails from Bhopal.

The event was held at Shahdab Hotel, and though the news about her presence in the city was released only two days before the program took place, a large number of Urdu poetry lovers turned out at the event.

The event began with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Obaid Bajhao and presentation of a “naat.” It was presided by Aslam Afghani, president of the Urdu Toastmasters Club.

The guest of honor and Sultana’s husband, Majeedullah Siddique, were welcomed on stage along with other prominent personalities, including the well- known literary and social figure Hasan Bayazeed and journalist Sameera Aziz.

In his welcoming speech, Mahtab Qadr, founder of Urdu Gulban, thanked the guest and participants.

Sultana and her husband lauded the organizers for hosting the session. She said that although she hails from a literary background, her husband has played a major role in helping her with her career. She said her grandfather, Ghulamullah Fasoon Bhopali, was regarded as a well-known poet in his circle. Bhopali was also a close friend of renowned poet Josh Malihabadi. Sultana received a memento from Sameera Aziz. The participating poets rendered their latest “kalam,” and received praise from the select audience.

During the session, Bayazeed shared his thoughts about the Urdu poetry sessions of the 1980s in the city.