The 17th Annual Mushaira–Kavi Sammelan was held on September 6, 2025, at the Montgomery County Executive Building Auditorium in Rockville, Maryland. Jointly organized by GOPIO-Metro Washington and the Aligarh Alumni Association (AAA-DC), the evening celebrated South Asia’s shared cultural traditions through Urdu and Hindi poetry. The event was co-sponsored by several community and cultural groups, including AIM, HAWMA, MONA, GBF, BHS, and RR K Biosciences.
Origins and Growth
Program Coordinator Dr. Zafar Iqbal welcomed attendees by reflecting on the gathering’s beginnings in 2008. Originally created to honor Yaum-e-Azadi (South Asia’s Independence Day), the Mushaira–Kavi Sammelan has grown into a major annual celebration of the subcontinent’s Ganga–Jamuni cultural heritage.
A landmark moment came in 2011 when the Embassy of India partnered with organizers to host the first international bilingual poetry recitation in Washington, DC—an initiative inspired by diplomat Dr. Virandar Paul. This recognition firmly positioned the event as an instrument of cultural diplomacy.
This year, Vivek Chaudhary, First Secretary at the Embassy of India, praised the program as an inspiring and meaningful contribution to literary life.
Literary Showcases
The Mushaira–Kavi Sammelan has long been a platform for poets and authors in the diaspora, with past editions featuring acclaimed voices such as Prof. Satyapal Anand, Prof. Asghar Wajahat, Dr. Abdullah, Raj Kumar Qais, Dr. Astha Naval, and Prof. Gopichand Narang.
The 2025 edition brought together an impressive lineup of poets including A. Abdullah, Astha Naval, Harish Naval, Madhu Maheshwari, Mohammed Akbar, Nisha Narayan, Vinita Tiwari, Vishakha Thaker, and Yusuf Rahat, among many others.
Program Highlights
The session was chaired by Dr. Harish Naval, a celebrated satirist and Yuva Jnanpith Prize laureate, who offered engaging literary reflections. Mohammed Akbar introduced poets with elegance, adding verses of his own, while Dr. Mohammad Haziq served as master of ceremonies. Dr. Salman Rashid concluded the evening with a heartfelt vote of thanks.
Tributes were also paid to late literary figures including Prof. Satyapal Anand, Aziz Qureshi, Rakesh Khandelwal, Prof. C.M. Naim, and Prof. Tahsin Siddiqi for their lasting contributions to Urdu and Hindi literature.
Guests and Cultural Significance
Representatives from partner organizations and the Embassy of India were in attendance, with recognition given to community leaders such as Dr. Renuka Misra, Mr. Kaleem Kawaja, Ms. Nuzaira Azam, and Dr. Arif Mahmood for their continued support.
More than a literary gathering, the Mushaira–Kavi Sammelan strengthens interfaith understanding, bridges generational divides, and celebrates the living cultural traditions of South Asia. By bringing poets of Urdu and Hindi together, the event underscores the shared linguistic and poetic heritage that continues to inspire audiences across the diaspora.
