Karachi: The annual global Mushaira of “Sakinan-e-Shahar – e- Quaid” has now become a hallmark of Karachi. Such a grand mushaira is not held in any other city of Pakistan, in which the audiences exceeds ten thousand. The plant planted by Azhar Abbas Hashmi (Deceased) 35 years ago has now taken the form of a Tanwar tree. The list of the founding fathers of Sakinan-e-Shahr-e-Quaid is quite long, but a large number are no longer among us, may Allah blessed them.
I am refraining from naming them for fear of mischief. There is no such important poet in the world of literature, who was not invited to the international mushaira.
I remember very well that up to the first ten or twelve international mushairas, these poets who were also holding the status of teachers, stopped. For example, Raghib Moradabadi, Sahak Ali Shaar, Umid Fazli, Shabnam Romani, Professor Sahar Ansari, Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Naseer Tarabi, Shahida Hassan and Naqash Kazmi. Although these poets were seniors, according to the long-standing tradition of mushairas, they used to start the gathering with their words, but today’s qatars determine their own place.
In earlier performances, white sheets were spread on the stage and pillows were arranged for the poets, now chairs are used for sitting of poets and dignitaries. Due to this facility, young poets also become “Sahib-e-Krisi”. Now clapping has taken the place of applause.
This is also a way of paying tribute to poets. However, the continuation of mushairas is keeping its cultural traditions alive. Maintaining the continuity of the international mushairas of “Sakinan-e-Shahar-e-Quaid” is a historical achievement of Mahmood Ahmad Khan.
As soon as the invitation for the Global Mushaira was posted on Facebook and other Social Media platforms, the oppositions started pouring in.
The opponents used very rude and offensive words. did not answer, how strange it is that poets who are not invited to Mushaira start opposing the organizers, choosing a few poets from such a big city is really a wise move. Administrators also have certain constraints and preferences, what is the point of celibacy.
The members of the management committee are Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Senator Mahmood Ahmed Khan, Abdul Haseeb Khan, Wasiq Naeem, Professor Ijaz Ahmad Farooqui, Jamal Azhar, Nadeem Zafar Siddiqui, Khalid Shamsi, Sheikh Rashid Alam, Faheem Ahmed Siddiqui, Syed Tarab Shah, and Zafar Bhopali and Tauqeer Ahmed Khan is a welcome addition to the team.
Undoubtedly, Mahmood Ahmed Khan’s role and services from the preparations to the holding of the Mushaira are worthy of praise, but the services of his colleagues, who worked by his side till the last moment, cannot be ignored. It has its own importance.
The international Mushaira of “Sakinan-e-Shahar-e-Quaid” held on April 20, 2024 was important in many ways, there was no highway in the city where the banner of the international Mushaira was not displayed. A campaign was carried out in a very organized manner for the success of this contest. Apart from TV channels and newspapers, social media also played a significant role in this regard. The amount of praise for good management is low. A spacious Pindal was built in the open space at the expo center and the stage was not very high to consider the audience distance whose sitting on floor. Carpets and floor cushions were waiting for the guests in thepindal. Chairs were installed for people who find it uncomfortable to sit on the ground, the Expo Center premises that day looked like a new town.
The famous publishing houses of Karachi had set up book stalls, on which the crowd of people was testifying that Karachi is a city of writers and readers. The rush of the people at the tea and food stalls continued till the last hour. There was also a reasonable arrangement for the parking of vehicles, and no complaints were raised. Containerized toilets for ladies and gentlemen were also provided. On one side of the path that was made to enter the venue, there are pictures of the founders of “Sakinan-e-Shahar-e-Quaid” and on the other side, pictures of poets who participated in this international Mushaira in past was amicably portrayed. The number of audiences was enviable. Heads were seen everywhere. The festival was in full swing. The atmosphere of the venue was glowing with the happy atmosphere and the movement of smiling faces. During the mushaira, I was very happy to see people sitting in groups. Undoubtedly, this international mushaira has created a new history.
The Mushaira was presided over by the highly respected Urdu poet Iftikhar Arif while the Governor of Sindh, Kamran Khan Tesori attended as the chief guest. Dr. Ambareen Haseeb Ambar, Wajih Sani and Agha Shirazi were the host of mushaira.
After the recitation of the Holy Quran and Naat, Mahmood Ahmad Khan, the chief organizer of “Sakinan-e-Shahr-e-Quaid” delivered the welcome speech and said that I am the trustee of the traditions of our elders, and it is my moral responsibility to carry forward their name and work. He said that it was my dream to continue the international mushaira of “Sakinan-e-Shahr-e-Quaid” which has become a reality. He succeeded in his mission. He said that I am thankful to Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tesuri Sahib that he believed in me this time as usual and is present among us today. I am also grateful to the government and non-government organizations that have given full support to the Mushaira. I am also grateful to those who have provided financial support. Poets are the soul of our festival, without them, this festival cannot be imagined, without the audience, no festival has its justification. I am grateful to the poets and the great audience for coming here and adding to the prestige of our gathering.
Chief Guest Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tesuri said in his address that Karachi is a civilized city, all its traditions are alive and this city was, is and will remain the cradle of knowledge and literature. Among the institutions and personalities who are blind to our cultural values, the role of “Sakna-e-Shahr Quaid” is not only worthy of praise but also worthy of emulation. Continuing a tradition is not uncommon I pay tribute to the chief organizer of “Sakna-e-Shahr Quaid” Mehmood Ahmad Khan and his colleagues for keeping alive the tradition of their forefathers. In this city, the celebration of the international fair is a source of promotion of Urdu language and knowledge and literature. It is a matter of honor for me that today I am sitting among the shining stars of the world of literature. Such a large number of audiance in the Mushaira indicates that our lost dignity is being restored, the listening taste of the youth is also impressive. I congratulate Mahmood Ahmad Khan and his entire team for organizing this successful Mushaira. On this occasion, the governor also recited the poems of various poets.
In addition to local poets, representative poets of all four provinces participated in this international festival. Poets from America, Canada, India, Germany, France and the Arab Emirates also recited the speech. At exactly 12 o’clock the National Anthem of Pakistan was played with respect and politeness. At that time, the national flags of Pakistan were being waved in the entire venue. This is a good tradition that should be imitated. Each poem was applauded, and the weaker lines were silenced. When Rajesh Reddy, a poet from India, was invited to deliver the poem, the venue was full of audience. He stood up from his seats and clapped for some time to express his happiness on his first visit to Pakistan.
It is usually seen that when the turn of senior poets comes, the venue is almost empty, this time the discerning audience remained till the end. Among the poets who recited the speech in this international festival Khalid Irfan & Farah Iqbal (America), Atif Tuqeer (Germani), Mehboob Khan Mehboob (America), Rajesh Reedy (India), Samreen Nadeem Samar (Qatar), Tabish Saidi (UAE), Iftikhar Arif & Shakeel Jazib (Islamabad), Dr. Khursheed Rizvi, Abbas Tabish, Wasi Shah, Rehman Faris (Lahore), Ahmed Hussain Mujahid (Balacot), Ahmed Ataullah (Azad Kashmir), Ahmed Solangi (Moro Sindh), Munir Momin (PasniGawadar), Azhar Farrugh (Bhawalpur), Waheed Noor (Turbat), Prof. Sehar Ansari, Dr. Peerzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Anwar Shaoor, Dr. Javeed Manzar, Javeed Saba, Ajmal Siraj, Iqbal Khawar, Rehana Rohi, AH Khanzada, Tuqeer Ahmed Khan, Nasira Zubairi, Nisar Ahmed Nisar, Muhammad Ali Gohar, Farrukh Izhar Sddiqui, Sabeen Saif, Shahista Mufti, Muzammil Athar, Dr. Mana Azeemi and Waleed Ahmed was included. Important personalities belonging to different walks of life participated in this international fair Among them, Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Commissioner Karachi, Western Hassan Naqvi, Mayor Baldia Uzma Karachi, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Dr. Farooq Sattar, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Kishore Zahra (MQM). Chairman KPT Syed Syedeen Raza Zaidi, Member National Assembly Mizra Ikhtiar Baig, Senator Nihal Hashmi, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, Senator Sarmad Ali, Ikhlaq Ahmed, Ehteshamul Haque (Chairman SZS Group), The namesakes of Hani, the living embodiment of the spirit of Hani Welfare Organization, are prominent. Usually, when political and official figures come to someone’s event, their fans form a circle around them, but this did not happen in this gathering, only the poets and their words were put forward.
