Institute Menezes Braganza in association
with Nari Shakti recently organised a Kavi Sammelan with prominent writers and
poets from across India. Dominated by women in the audience and the enthusiasm
of young writers and poets, the event was graced by Governor of Goa Mridula
Sinha, a prolific writer herself. The event was inaugurated in the presence of
Neena Naik, President of Nari Shakti Kendra, Panjim, Dr Madhu Pant, ex Director
of National Bal Bhavan, Sadguru Patil, President of Goa Union of Journalists,
Gorakh Mandrekar, General Secretary of Institute Menezes Braganza and Hindi
author Mahendra Benipuri.
In her speech, Mridula Sinha said that she
was happy to see women in the audience, especially young girls who were
learning Hindi, Konkani and Marathi as languages in their studies. “Literature
is very easy or very difficult. I read the works of Rambriksh Benipuri, the
father of Mahendra Benipuri. He had the gift of encapsulating the
characteristics of Bihar in just a paragraph; that shows the beauty of his
work. A writer should not go away from their roots as they have to write about
it to keep it alive for the future generations,” said Mridula Sinha.
Mahendra Benipuri’s father, Rambriksh
Benipuri, was a renowned writer and freedom fighter and the legacy of writing
has continued in the family through Mahendra. The third of four siblings,
Mahendra was in the company of his daughters, son and grandchildren for the
book release. Based on the theme’, ‘Matti’, which means the Earth, four essays
were read out by Avit Bagli, Sangam Bhosle, Amit Naik and Teja Arondekar
speaking about the essence of the Earth in our lives. Mahendra then released
his three Hindi books, ‘Mill ke Phatar’, ‘Mhuje Yaad Hai’ and ‘Do Natak –
Vijayta, Netra-dhan’.
As the evening was incomplete without the
recitation of poetry in the three languages, poems were recited by Dr Madhu
Pant, an ex Director of National Bal Bhavan, who writes especially for
children, environmental and social issues, Dr Shushil Gupt, an Associate
Professor, Venkateshwar College, Delhi University, Dr Manju Gupt, a retired
Vice Principal of Kamala Nehru College, Delhi University, who especially writes
poetry on nature, Vibha Devsare, a senior writer who writes on social issues
especially related to women and children, Asha Rani, who writes on issues
related to nature, and Kshipra Bharti, a budding writer and an educationist who
writes for Radio and Television.
Box
Kala Academy Goa will host ‘Kavya Hotra’, a
national level poets’ meet, setting a unique record in the field of Literature.
This event will be a 48-hour marathon presentation of poetry in all Indian
Languages and will be held from July 23 to 25, 2015, uninterrupted, beginning
at 12 noon on July 23 and concluding at 12 noon of July 25, with day and night
sessions. The event is being supported by various departments of Government of
Goa.
To make the event a success, Kala Academy
is expecting the participation of regional poets from various states of India
as well as national poets. Besides senior Goan poets, the event is open to
poets of the younger generation from schools, Higher Secondary schools,
colleges and the University too.
Those interested in participating can email
their application to kalaacademygoapoetsmeet@yahoo.co.in. The prescribed format
can be downloaded from Kala Academy website, www.kalaacademygoa.org or visit
the Kala Academy Office directly. The last date of submission is latest by July
13, 2015.
