Delhiites get acquainted with legendary poets

Delhi audience got an opportunity to hear Ghazals of legendary poets on the occasion of World Music Day, in a memorable Ghazal program which revisited the persona and times of three legendary poets from Delhi itself.

The evening intrigued and enchanted the audience from the first, as the lights faded and a powerful sonorous voice sang aloud Ghalib's words in the darkness.

The evening titled 'Rooh-e-Ghazal' was hosted by the NGO Sakshi-Siet. An amalgam of poetry and music, the event by Composer-Singer Shakeel Ahmed was preceded by a narrative by Professor Khalid Alvi, Archana Garodia Gupta, Neelima Tripathi and Dr Mridula Tandon at the India Habitat Center.

The program centered on the three residents of Delhi – Masters of Ghazal – whose art made the Ghazal immortal throughout the subcontinent in the 18th and 19th Centuries.

Lighting of traditional shamaa started the evening, followed by a short segment of a pithy and interesting anecdotal narrative about the life and times of the poets, by Professor Khalid Alvi, Archana Goradia Gupta, Neelima Tripathi and Dr. Mridula Tandon.

The audience was then regaled by singer and composer Shakeel Ahmed, to a Ghazal concert.

On this occasion, Dr Mridula Tandon said that these arts are a living heritage of our society.

We need to bring the art of appreciating our music and literature back to the mainstream audience to ensure that they flourish and enrich society.

"The opportunity to know about these Legendary personalities, their admirable work and times, is unique and inspiring. Since the 18th century, Urdu poetry became a way for people to communicate with each other about the social and political woes of the time," Dr Tondon further added.