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The history of Mushaira–Kavi Sammelan in Washington D.C.
Annual bilingual gathering in Washington DC traces its roots to a 2008 effort to celebrate Urdu and Hindi poetry together.
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Pranavi Sharma - Sun, 16, Nov 2025
- 01:59 EST
- 11
The Mushaira–Kavi Sammelan. / Zafar Iqbal
The Mushaira–Kavi Sammelan, launched in 2008 as the first jointly organized Urdu and Hindi poetry program marking the subcontinent’s Independence Day in the Washington region, returned this year as part of the Aligarh Alumni Association (AAA) of Metro Washington’s 50th anniversary.
Conceived by Drs. A. Abdullah and Renuka Misra and writer Zafar Iqbal in partnership with AAA-DC and GOPIO-Metro, it has grown into a steady fixture honoring the Ganga–Jamuni heritage shared across South Asia.
An event was also held in September. AAA-DC and GOPIO hosted the annual Mushaira–Kavi Sammelan on Sept. 6 at the Montgomery County Auditorium, drawing Indian and Pakistani community members to celebrate their overlapping literary traditions.
The evening featured Urdu mushaira and Hindi kavi sammelan sessions, highlighting the blend of languages and cultural influences that shape northern India’s literary history. Iqbal, who coordinated the program, said the tradition began as an Independence Day observance and gradually evolved into an anticipated annual gathering. He noted that the Embassy of India has encouraged the effort as a means of strengthening cultural ties.
A key moment came in 2011, when the Embassy of India partnered with AAA-DC and GOPIO-Metro to host the first international bilingual poetry recital. The initiative, championed by the late Dr. Virandar Paul, then a minister at the embassy, broadened the scope of the event and helped establish it as a platform for cultural diplomacy. Embassy diplomats have participated regularly since.
By bringing poets from both Urdu and Hindi traditions onto a single stage, the Mushaira–Kavi Sammelan has worked to bridge linguistic and cultural divides. Audiences have included students, families, recent immigrants, longtime residents, and members of the diplomatic community, creating a space for interfaith and intergenerational exchange.
This year’s program opened the Golden Jubilee celebrations of AAA-DC. It was co-sponsored by community groups including the Association of Indian Muslims, the Hyderabad Association of the Washington Metro Area, the Montgomery Nawabs, the Global Beat Foundation, Bazm-e-Harf-o-Sukhan, and R K Biosciences. Earlier editions have received support from the National Council of Asian Indian Associations and the Indian Cultural Coordination Committee.
A steady feature of the event has been its support for diaspora literary talent, often showcasing new books by participating authors. Distinguished writers who have appeared over the years include Prof. Satyapal Anand, Prof. Asghar Wajahat, Dr. A. Abdullah, Dr. K. Mohan, Dr. Raj Kumar Qais, Anadi Naik, Dr. Astha Naval, Dhananjaya Kumar, Rashmi Sanan, Farah Kamran, Surinder Deol, Daler Deol Aashna, Dr. Salman Akhtar, and Prof. Gopichand Narang.
More than 90 poets from the Washington region, along with contributors from across the United States and Canada, have taken part since 2008, strengthening the program’s place in the area’s cultural life.
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