By Syed Hasan Zia Rizvi, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: The first ever Lucknow Literature Festival, held on March 23-24, became an occasion to showcase the culture of Awadh.
The first literary festival in the land of Munshi Premchand, Yashpal, Amrit Lal Nagar, Mirza Hadi Ruswa, Asrar-ul-Haq Majaz, Mir Anees, who gave us masterpieces and made epic contributions to literature, was organized by the Lucknow Society.
Despite the presence of such literary greats, Lucknow has not had a literary summit for a long time, even though the city has had a tradition of Kavi sammelans and Nashists. The Literary festival once again invokes the creative spirit of the city and brings together the several artists at one place.
The festival observed diverse spectrum of novelists, playwrights, poets, screenwriters, journalists, lyricists and bloggers which will usher in the revival of the city’s literary culture. It witnessed many great artists like veteran actor Naseeruddin shah, Filmmaker Muzaffar Ali, Dolly thakore, Tisca chopra, Tom alter, Prof. Roop rekha verma, Lyricist Neelesh mishra, Journalist Saeed Naqvi, Saba Naqvi etc.
Books were launched, contemporary and historical issues were discussed and debated threadbare. Some books launched at the fest were: A Leaf Turns Yellow by Muzaffar ali, In Good Faith by Saba Naqvi, Yaad Shehar by Neelesh Mishra, Talespin by Sanjay Chopra and Halahala Nip by Appu Pen.
“The festival is our endeavor to bring forth the lutf (flavor) of languages – English, Awadhi, Urdu and Hindi on a common platform. As an annual event, we hope to see it grow into a melting pot of idea’s and cultures where litterateurs come share and enjoy in the city of ada, andaaz<.i> and adab,” said the organizer Kanak Rekha Chauhan.
Mushaira at the lit-fest spell-bounded the audience with the beautiful recitations of some of the greatest poets of India, Munawwar Rana and Waseem Barelvi and eminent poet Gulzar Dehelvi participated in the programme.
Everyone seemed to sing in unison:
Aaj bhi kehta hai har sahib-e-nazar roshan khayaal,
Lakhnau ilm-o-adab main aap hi apni misaal!
(All enlighted souls acknowledge even this era,
Lucknow in itself is an exemplar in the world of knowledge and literature!)