Bazme Sadaf International (BSI), a Urdu literary organisation, recently held its first face-to-face programme of 2021 to welcome the newly constituted working committee of its Doha chapter in the serene surroundings of the Sarab desert camp near Sealine beach.
Social activist and BSI chairman Shahabuddin Ahmad inaugurated the programme. Philanthropist and patron of BSI Dr Hassan Abdul Kareem Choughle presided over the function. Prof Syed Jawaid Zaidi, another patron of BSI, was the chief guest. Known Urdu poet Ahmed Ashfaque, who is also programme director for BSI and businessman Mohamed Shakeb Ahsan were guests of honour.
The programme started with recitation of Holy Qur’an by Saifur Rahman followed by a prayer (dua) for maghfirat of BSI chief patron Sabih Bukhari, who passed away recently. Shahabuddin, in his inaugural address, spoke about how BSI has a presence in at least 15 countries where its members are working selflessly to promote the Urdu language and literature. 
He said BSI has always used its network to help the society as was evident from the massive relief work it carried out in India during the lockdown. He welcomed the new team.
BSI outgoing president Imran Asad welcomed the new president Dr Nadeem Zafar Jilani by putting a customary shawl over his shoulders. 
Imran was presented with a bouquet for his elevation to the central committee of BSI as a general secretary international affairs. Dr Nadeem then introduced members of his new working and advisory committee. They all received a memento and certificate on behalf of BSI from the chief guest.
Dr Nadeem in his acceptance speech thanked the BSI central committee and the chairman for nominating him for the president of Doha chapter and outlined a proposal of activities that he would like to conduct from the platform in the year ahead. He emphasised the importance of introducing Urdu to the English medium students by working on literature in Urdu that attracts them. He said there is a shortage of storybooks with pictures and cartoons in Urdu and a dedicated team will work on this. He also announced starting of an online weekly Urdu learning class for children under the BSI Doha chapter.
He said: “We would hold a programme every two months that will comprise both prose and poetry in different Urdu literature genres and promote new writers.” He mentioned that in addition to the annual award ceremony of BSI, which is usually held in Doha, this year, there is a plan to hold a meet of friends of Urdu working across the GCC countries. Dr Nadeem also said that he would like to organise the Urdu debate and baitbazi (poetry recitation) competitions in schools of Doha.
There was also a release of two books on the occasion. The first book was a collection of short stories titled, Gohar-e-Qulzum by Doha-based teacher and fiction writer Farida Nisar Ansari. The second book was a poetry collection of senior poet Haroon Akseer from Malegaon, India.
The programme was followed by a mushaira by known poets of Doha including Farida Ansari, Raquim Azmi, Tahir Jameel, Waquar Ahmad (BSI vice president), Wasiul Haq Wasi (general secretary), Dr Nadeem Zafar Jilani, Danish, Maqsood Anwar Maqsood and Ahmed Mushtaque. Dr Nadeem conducted the mushaira.
Dr Jawaid Zaidi emphasised that parents should teach their children Urdu and offered all possible co-operation to BSI. In his presidential address, Hassan Abdul Kareem Choughle praised the work being done by BSI to promote the Urdu language and literature at the international level and wished the new team well. 
The programme ended with a vote of thanks followed by dinner.


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