By Ayub Khan,
Mississauga, Ontario : It was an evening to reckon with as hundreds of Hyderabadis turned out for an cultural event on July 11, 2009, in this suburb of Toronto. The Mehfil-e-Hyderabad, organized by a diverse group of Hyderabadi Canadians, started off as a pitch in the virtual community called CharminarConnection and soon caught the imagination. The dramatic turnout for the event despite its low publicity reveals
that the good old method of word of mouth communication is still relevant in this day and age of instant communication.
The event catered to all tastes and had something in store for everyone including informative orations on the culture and glory of Hyderabad in chaste Urdu, poetry, humor, and music by the ‘Avengers’ group and others. The musical part of the event featuring ghazals, classical, and contemporary genres was tastefully conducted by long time Torontonians and event organizers Mr. Zaki Ahsan and Mr. Rafat Alam.
Bashir Beg, Siddiq Burney, and Razul Jabbar with Kader Khan
The main highlight of the function was the speech by bollywood actor-writer Kader Khan who had more than one connection to Hyderabad. He said that the he has always received immense love and affection from the people of Hyderabad. One of the first awards he ever received was from a screen writers guild in Hyderabad. He reminisced about his association with the late actor and former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao, who through him offered the use of his studios in Hyderabad to the Hindi film industry.
Kader Khan, who has received two degrees in Arabic language from Hyderabad’s Osmania University, voiced his support for the construction of a community center of the Hyderabadi community in the Greater Toronto Area. The idea of a community center was first mooted by Mr. Bashir Beg, one of the main organizers of the event.
Kader Khan, who is now developing instructional courses in the Arabic, Urdu, Islamic studies, drama, and theater, under the aegis of the KK Foundation, bemoaned the loss of healthy values from the society. He said his primary purpose now is reintroduce the values which strengthen the bonds of family and community. In an emotional speech, interrupted frequently by applause, Kader Khan said that he will take the responsibility for conducting classes in the above mentioned fields once the idea of the center turns into reality.
A section of the audience
Bashir Beg, a retired officer from the CRPF & a well known personality, said the success of the event shows that Hyderabadis living in Canada still haven’t lost the love for the beloved city. He provided interesting anecdotes relating to the culture of Hyderabad where respect for the elders and affection towards the young were considered sacrosanct. He hoped that the community center, once built, will go to great lengths in preserving not only Hyderabadi culture but also providing a host of other services to the community.
Siddiq Burney, one of the early Hyderabadis in Canada, in a prolific speech provided a glimpse of Hyderabad’s history and its institutions. Taqi Ansari in a power point presentation opened the window on the glory of the city for the younger generation. Mohammed Azeemuddin presented a humorous sketch titled Gandipeth Ka Pani.
The evening was ably conducted by Hyder Syed and was supported by a dedicated group of volunteers. The attendees, some of whom came from as far as Montreal, Ottawa, Detroit, and New York, called for the organizing of similar events with more regularity.