Shankar Shad Mushaira 2024 witnesses a galaxy of star poets

The 55th edition of the Shankar Shad Mushaira, a poetry event held at the Modern School, Barakhamba Road, took place on February 24 (Saturday) with a galaxy of great poets gracing the occasion and leaving the audience in a daze.

There were nazms (string of verses) that drew applause and also some sher (verses) that were left entrenched in the minds of people.

The mushaira (poetry recitation programme) also witnessed some of the old works of the poets being recited on the demand of the public.

Javed Akhtar, Azhar Iqbal, Iqbal Ashhar, Quaisar Khalid, Kaleem Quaisar, Hussain Haidry, Nawaz Deobandi, Sheen Qaaf Nizam, Popular Meeruti, Shabeena Adeeb, Noman Shaque, Minu Bakshi, Irshad Kamil, and Nusrat Mehdi recited their ashaar (verses) and nazms.

While most recitations centered on love and the need to build bridges, some probing verses also questioned the authorities and those in power.

The mushaira, which has become a part of Delhi’s culture and folklore, managed to draw quite a decent crowd despite two other events related to Urdu going on in the Capital.

The event was sponsored by DCM Shriram Limited as always and Madhav Shriram, the chief patron and Director of DCM Shriram Industries Limited, was chuffed on seeing the response and the event.

Asked by Hussain Haidry later on what inspires him to continue holding the mushaira, Shriram said, “It is a legacy of my ancestors. I feel like I am honouring them by holding this.”

The mushaira, which was first held in the early 1950s, was the brainchild of Lala Shri Ram, also known as Sir Shri Ram, who was the founder of DCM (Delhi Cotton and General Mills) and belonged to Sita Ram Bazaar area of the walled city. He was also the founder of Lady Shri Ram College and Shri

His sons Bharat Ram and Charat Ram continued the legacy and it is now in the hands of Madhav Shriram.

Author-writer Rakshanda Jalil put together this year’s event along with her team.

Tags : Shankar Shad Mushaira, Poetry, Urdu, Javed Akhtar, Delhi, NCR