KARACHI: Young poets delighted the audience at the concluding ceremony of the two-day event held at The Second Floor on Sunday to celebrate the launch of its bookstore. Titled, ‘Urdu ki Nayee Avazain’, a mushaira of emerging Urdu poets was organised where young poets, Urooj Zehra, Asad Alvi, Arif Ishtiaq, Hira Saeed and Shaheer Salal, recited poems in tarranum and were the stars of the evening.

The project is part of T2F’s revival of Urdu poetry initiative. Speaking about the project, T2F director Ellia Khan said the project was aimed to introduce young and emerging poets in the city.

The verses were about different topics such as unrequited love, heartbreak, feminism and coming of age. Introduced by hosts Neel Ahmed and Hidayat Sahir, the poets, some as young as 17, read out their verses in front of literary stars such as Afzal Ahmed Saeed and Tanveer Anjum, who presided over the event.

Shaheer Salal read out his poetry about accepting new cultures and the internal journey of an individual. Reading out from a piece of paper initially, his poetry went, ‘Yeh dyaar-i-ghair se ayi hai par, yeh saqafatein toh meri nahin, jo buzurg mujh ko dila gaye mujhe us rida ki talaash hai.’

Asad Alvi read out a qat’a about unrequited love and abandonment: ‘Hamare tumhare beech ek deewar hai, inhein ooncha karain ge nafraton se. Hum toh barbaad huay chhorain, aap ka kya hua mohabbat main?’

Similarly, young women such as Urooj Zehra, read out her poetry about friendship, animosity and love.

Hidayat Sahir and Neel Ahmed followed it up with poetry of their own about the increase of TV news channels and leaving behind ethics. Neel’s poetry delved into the designated roles for women and breaking stereotypes.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2017

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...