By Alok Misra
WORCESTER, MA–The India Society of Worcester is organizing its staple annual Kavi Sammelan program in its continuing service to Indian community. The program on Saturday, May 14th at India Center, Shrewsbury, MA , features renowned humorist hasya-kavi Aashkaran Atal of Mumbai, satirist vyangkaar Surya Kumar Pandey of Lucknow, lyricist geetkar Ramesh Sharma of Chittorgarh, and poetess Archana Panda of California.
Starting at 6 PM, the India Center in Shrewsbury is set to thunder with laughter, humor, applause, and heart rending poetry with wholesome entertainment for three hours. As in prior years, the evening promises to be filled with brain storming fun and bursting laughter. The program details are available at www.iswonline.org. The Kavi Sammelan in Boston is part of a 22-city tour of the United States and Canada from April 15 to May 30. The marathon tour is conducted by the International Hindi Association of USA.
Aashkaran Atal is a film lyricist, writer, and director. He has penned dialogs and film scripts for ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’, ‘Vivaah’, ‘Namoona’, and ‘Sharma Gaye Cinema’. His humorous poems contain a deep and enchanting satire on day to day problems of life. One of his hasya poem ‘Kya Hamare Purvaj Bander The’ is taught in Chattisgarh state’s 11th grade curriculum.
Suryakumar Pandey is a leading satirist of eminence in India who has been participating in Kavi Sammelans and Mushairas for a long time. He is a highly celebrated Hindi poet of Hasya-Vyang who has performed in over 4000 Kavi Sammelans. His poetry has a mixture of engaging humor and penetrating satire. Popularly known as Pandey ji, he has authored 21 books.
Ramesh Sharma is a poet of human-relations and emotions who has enthralled poetry lovers for decades. His rendition is so impressive that leaves the audience spellbound willing to listen to him more. Ramesh Sharma is a master of expressing human emotions in words that touches audience’s heart. He is famous for the veracity and simplicity of his poems.
Archana is one of the most popular and leading Hindi poetess in USA. She is a brilliant and reflective poetess of Hindi Kavya-Manch. Her creative writings and compositions have touched the hearts of poetry lovers all across the globe via social media. She is well known for her melodious voice and songs of love. Shrangaar-Ras is her specialty.
Poetry is essentially an expression of feelings. Kavi Sammelan, a forum to narrate those poetic expressions, is a part of Indian culture throughout the Hindustani speaking world. It literally means a gathering of poets – in which the participants recite their poetry in front of an audience. The format is unique to Hindi and Urdu poetry.
Kavi Sammelan specifically dedicated to humor is Hasya Kavi Sammelan. As Raag is the central principal of Indian music. Ras is the central principle of Indian poetry. It signifies taste, essence, and sentiments. There are nine Ras, called Navras or nine sentiments. The prominent are: Bhakti Ras (devotion & calm), Veer Ras (patriotic & heroic euphoria), Shringaar Ras (love & romance), Hasya Ras (humor & satire), and Karun Ras (pathos & sorrow). There are several genres of Indian poetry based on lyrical verse-format and construction. Doha is a couplet, Muktak is a quatrain – the meaning of which is complete in itself. Ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain. A Chaupai is a quatrain verse of medieval Hindi poetry. Chhand is a quatrain used in the poetic tradition of North India.
