The canada Urdu association held its annual Jashn-e-azadi Mushaira

The Canada Urdu Association held its annual Jashn-e-Azadi Mushaira and award giving ceremony online this evening. This programme celebrates the independence days of Pakistan and India by holding Jashn-e-Azadi Mushaira every year. Today’s, was a special programme which included presentation of lifetime achievement awards and Rafiq-e-Urdu award (In memory of Late. Mohammed Rafiq).

Honourable Consul General of Pakistan in Vancouver for Western Canada, Mr. Janbaz Khan, was the chief guest. The programme was hosted by Dr. Raminder Kang. National anthems of Pakistan, India and Canada were played. The president of CUA, Mrs. Huma Shoaib, in her speech, welcomed the guests and told them about The Canada Urdu Association’s achievements and activities. In his speech, Mr. Janbaz Khan congratulated on celebrating the independence-day of the two countries and commended the efforts of CUA. He also shared his research on Urdu language. Omar Memon, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Gateway Urdu based in USA, and with whom CUA has a collaboration, spoke about the working of his organization. He praised the efforts of CUA in promoting Urdu language in North America. He was the prime sponsor of the lifetime achievement awards.

Later, lifetime award distribution ceremony took place. Mr. Mohammed Shoaib Inam presented the awards to Mr. Abdul Hafeez Qadri, Mr. Kulwant Singh Parmar Nadeem and Mr. Shams Jilani. Mrs. Naghmi Raza presented the awards to Mrs. Alam Ara Siddiqui, Mrs. Surinder Kaur Sahota and Mrs. Avtar Kaur Rehency. Mr. Asad Syed presented the awards to Mr. Krishen Bector and Mr. Gurcharan Singh Gill Mansoor.

A special and prestigious award, Rafiq-eUrdu Award, was presented by Mr. Shahzad Nazir Khan to Mr. Naseer Pirzada of The Miracle Newspaper. At this, Mr. Pirzada thanked the CUA for honouring him with the Rafiq-e-Urdu award. He also sang few verses from a national song of Pakistan. The Canada Urdu Association congratulates all the recipients of the awards.

After the ceremony, Dr. Raminder Kang, then hosted the mushaira. Today’s poets included Dr. Nadia Khan from Edmonton, AB,

Dr. Maissom Abbasi from Waterloo, ON, Mr. Abdul Hafeez Qadri, Mrs. Qamar Waheed, Mr. Dashmesh Gill Feroze from Abbotsford, BC, Mrs. Alam Ara Siddiqui, Mr. Hardev Sodhi Ashk, Ms. Vidya Bala sang a ghazal of Faiz Ahmed Faiz in her beautiful voice, Mrs. Huma Shoaib, Mrs. Bilqees Qamar Sabzwari, Mr. Usman Ashraf from Newfoundland and Mr. Riaz Niazi from Chicago, USA. The poets recited their best verses of their poetry. The programme came to an end around 9:00 PM.

The Canada Urdu Association thanks the consul general of Pakistan in Vancouver, Mr. Janbaz Khan, for attending the programme. It thanks all the respected poets who took part in today’s mushaira. CUA also thanks all board members and the organizers for putting up such a great programme. Special thanks go out to Aamir Muneer for creating graphic designs and handling the entire programme on Zoom and YouTube channel. More on Pg 26 in Urdu Text