Urdu Academy of North America holds mega literary event
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
The Urdu Academy of North America held a mega literary event which included a mushaera in honor of the visiting poetess from Pakistan, Ghazala Tabassum Khakwani; presentation of an afsana (short story) by Dr. Maheen Mausoof Adamson, a maqala by Prof. Lubna Manzar and Gul Haye Ranga Rang where our Urdu enthusiasts presented poetry of their choice.
The literary event was held on October 20, 2019 at the Pakistan American Community Center, Milpitas, CA.
A mini mushaera was held to honor visiting poetess from Pakistan, Ghazala Tabassum Khakwani.
Arshad Rashid, a senior member of the Urdu Academy, introduced poetess Ghazala and spoke about her work.
The local poets participating in the mushaera included: Salman Siddiq, Arshad Rashid, Kausar Syed, Lubna Manzar, Hamid Kamal Narvi, Khalid Iqbal and Vasmi Abdi Tanweer.
Ghazala Tabassum Khakwani thrilled the audience with her poems and ghazals.
Urdu Prose Session
Urdu prose session followed the mushaera. Two writers participated in this session.
Dr. Maheen Mausoof Adamson presented her afsana – Nazar-o-Niaz Ke Lavazmaat - in very impressive unique style drawing wide applause.
Dr. Maheen Mausoof Adamson is the senior scientific research director for Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. She is also the clinical associate professor of Neurosurgery and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. Adamson completed her undergraduate degrees in neurobiology and women studies at the University of California, Irvine. She completed her Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Southern California and a postdoctoral fellowship in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford School of Medicine.
Prof. Lubna Manzar her maqala based on human psychology. The title of the Maqala was “Shaoor Aur Asre Shoor” which captivated the audience.
Lubna Manzar is en established poetess and writer. Her poetry collection Sooraj Aur Samandar (Sun & Sea) was published in Karachi in 2016. Lubna earned two Master degrees (in Urdu and Linguistics) from Karachi University. In 1990 she earned MA Urdu with distinction and got Jigar Muradabari Gold Medal.
The third session - Gul Haye Ranga Rang
The Urdu Academy of North America held a colorful Gul Haye Ranga Rang literary event after the prose session.
Zeeshan Abbasi was MC for this colorful event where participants recited the poetry of their own choice.
The Participants in this event included: Abdus Sattar Ghazli, Htem Rani, Moiz Khan, Zeba Rizvi, Banu Vijapura, Roohi Hussain, Tasadduq Hussain Attari and Anjum Khan.
