'Jashn-e-Sahar' celebrates Urdu poet Kanwar Mohinder Singh Bedi

India Islamic Cultural Centre recently celebrated 'Jashn-e-Sahar' to honour the life and legacy of Urdu poet, Kanwar Mohinder Singh Bedi 'Sahar'. The event was hosted by Kanwar Mohinder Singh Bedi Literary Trust. Paying tribute to the poet, the Governor of Kerala, Arif Muhammad Khan, who was the Chief Guest at the event called him "a man with a big heart who felt compassion for everyone."

Remembering the multifaceted personality with whom he spent his younger days, the Governor said he was an inspiration for generations who, through his poetry, spread the message of love and Indo-Pak peace.

The grandson of the poet, Ashwajit Singh shared, "He was very empathetic. His poetry reflects the combination of love and patriotism between people and nations. Poetry for him was larger than life and an integral part of his being."

The poet was a bureaucrat by profession and his works invoked the idea of love, peace and Hindu-Muslim harmony in the backdrop of the Partition. His poetry is considered to belong to the same trans-religious and transnational tradition as that of other well-known poets like Qateel Shefai, Ahmad Faraz, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Kaifi Azmi among others. He also started the famous 'Bharat Kesari' wrestling competition. The evening commenced with a panel discussion that explored the significance of Kanwar Mohinder Singh Bedi's poetry and belief in today's political, social and cultural contexts. The panellists included Supreme Court Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Vice Chancellor of Jamia Milia Islamia Professor Najma Akhtar, Urdu poet Kamna Prasad and Vir Chakra Awardee Major R.S. Bedi (Retd.). This was followed by a book release 'Jashn -e-Sahar' showcasing a collection of his poems in both Urdu and Hindi.

This was followed by ghazal renditions by Minu Bakshi, Dr. Harsh Mahajan and Dr. Yash Gulati. Dancer Shivani Verma performed on songs penned by the poet and sung by Mohammed Rafi and Mehdi Hassan.