mobileImg 2016 WHAT TO EXPECT ABOUT SCHEDULE PARTICIPANTS GALLERY PRESS SPONSORS VENUE ARCHIVE 2015

12th - 14th February, 2016View Schedule
IGNCA, DelhiView on map
ENTRY FREERegistration mandatory

JeR 2016

what to expect this year?

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

This is a platform to deliberate upon certain significant aspects related to Urdu literature and culture. Iconic literary figures from India and Pakistan and celebrities from film and TV will get together to discuss Urdu and its richness. Eminent scholars will be a part of the centenary celebrations of major authors -- Ismat Chugtai, Rajinder Singh Bedi, and Akhtarul Iman.

FOOD FESTIVAL

Treat yourself and friends with delectable Awadhi, Kashmiri, Hyderabadi, Mughlai , Sindhi and Banjaara cuisines curated to suit your taste. A spread of choicest street food of Dilli will be the attraction of the festival. All this is brought to you in association with Delhi Food Walks. Don’t miss the twenty varieties of hot tea that will keep you warm in this Delhi weather.

URDU BAZAAR

The artefacts of Delhi and Kashmir will be brought together in a nostalgic ambience of Old Delhi at the Urdu Bazaar. Just explore and buy stunning varieties of shawls, Itr, Clay products, and lots of handicraft items selected from a wide range of exhibits representing our cultural heritage. Exhibitions of books brought by Hindi, English, and Urdu publishers will be a major attraction of the bazaar.

CALLIGRAPHY CORNER

We continue with calligraphy corner this year as well. Experts hand will be there to put your names in the finest calligraphy in Persian script—all for free. A Calligraphy master class by Qamar Dagar is scheduled for Februray 14 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. This would just be the place for the art enthusiasts. An exhibition of paintings and wood calligraphy would also be the parts of the festival.

QAWWALI

DASTANGOI

DRAMAS & PLAYS

GRAND MUSHAIRA

CHILDREN'S CORNER

This year, we are introducing “Children’s Corner” on Saturday, February 13. This would be a day full of activities for children. You may witness the fine art of storytelling, dastangoi, doodling, face-making, and also watch performances by special children. All these are meant exclusively for children in the age bracket of 10-16 years. This corner aims at entertaining, educating, and enriching your children in myriad ways. This is being brought to you in association with Pratham Books.

AND LOTS MORE

JeR 2016

what to expect this year?

    ABOUT

    the festival


    REGISTER

    Entry

    Free for all

    Register now!

    Venue

    Venue

    IGNCA - NEW DELHI

    Indira Gandhi National Centre For The Arts

    DATES

    Dates

    12th - 14th February, 2016

    11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

    A Jashn, a celebration, a tribute. Rekhta Foundation presents Jashn-e-Rekhta, a unique festival celebrating Urdu’s inimitable beauty, its soul-stirring cadence and its lyrical splendor.

    Jashn-e-Rekhta, a first of its kind Urdu festival held in India, made its debut in 2015 and attracted over 15000 Urdu lovers from across India and the sub-continent. Over 60 poets, artists, novelists, litterateurs, journalists, lyricists from India and Pakistan participated in the festival, to take the audience on a journey of exploration of Urdu and its many-splendored facets.

    The second edition is being held in the heart of New Delhi at the IGNCA [ Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts] , the hub of art and culture. Scheduled from 12th - 14th February 2016, the festival will celebrate the quintessential spirit of Urdu, its inclusive ethos, creative richness and linguistic heritage. For three mesmeric days, some of the Urdu’s finest poets, authors and artists will come together to bring alive Urdu’s lyrical beauty and resonating eloquence through live performances, panel discussions and interactive sessions.

    The Jashn aspires to engage, enlighten and entertain audiences from diverse backgrounds, both Urdu and non-Urdu speaking, in a vibrant, participative and festive ambience.

    SCHEDULE

    mark your time


    Friday - 12th February Download Schedule

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]

    • 5:30PM

    • 6:00PM

    • 6:30PM

    • 7:00PM

    • 7:30PM

    • 8:00PM

    • 8:30PM

    • 9:00PM

    5:30 PM ONWARDS

    Registration open

    6:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    Inauguration

    MR. NAJEEB JUNG - Hon'ble Lt. Governor of Delhi

    javed Akhtar

    7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Kaifi Aur Main

    JAVED AKHTAR & SHABANA AZMI in a romantic saga

    Saturday - 13th February

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]

    Auditorium [Diwan-e-Khaas]

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]

    • 10:00AM

    • 10:30AM

    • 11:00AM

    • 11:30AM

    • 12:00PM

    • 12:30PM

    • 1:00PM

    • 1:30PM

    • 2:00PM

    • 2:30PM

    • 3:00PM

    • 3:30PM

    • 4:00PM

    • 4:30PM

    • 5:00PM

    • 5:30PM

    • 6:00PM

    • 6:30PM

    • 7:00PM

    • 7:30PM

    • 8:00PM

    • 8:30PM

    • 9:00PM

    10:00 AM ONWARDS

    Registration open

    javed Akhtar

    DISCUSSION

    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    Ye Kaisa Ishq Hai Urdu Zabaan Ka

    GULZAR in conversation with SUKRITA PAUL KUMAR

    DISCUSSION

    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    Ismat Chughtai: Riwayat Shikan Aurat ki Awaaz

    Ismat Chughtai: Voice of the Defiant Woman

    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Ghazal Gayaki

    Shakeel Ahmad
    12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

    Book Launch

    Auraq-e-Khizani by Ahmad Mushtaq

    Release by SHAMIM HANFI

    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Make faces with Ajit

    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

    Story time with Anis Azmi

    1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

    Book Launch

    "langar khana" by javed siddiqui

    Release by ASIF FARRUKHI

    1.30 PM - 2:00 PM

    Book Launch

    Ghazal Usne chhedi edited by farhat ehsas

    Release by GULZAR

    2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

    "Dharti ka kaal" by Joginder Paul

    Release by GULZAR

    1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

    Dastangoi: "Dastan Alice Ki"

    Ankit Chadha and Poonam Girdhani
    2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

    Recitation by Sakha Amin

    3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

    Musical rendition by Special Children

    Presented by Hosla Charitable Trust
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

    Khuli Nishist

    2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

    Book Launch

    "Guchha" by GULZAR
    Release by Gopi Chand Narang
    3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

    Book Launch

    "Tera Bayaan Ghalib" by Salim Arif

    Release by GULZAR

    3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

    Book Discussion

    "Zaiqay Frontier Ke" by Pushpa Kumari Bagai
    Anjali MalikDipa Singh BagaiKamna PrasadVinod Dua
    4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

    Book Discussion

    Khirman: Diwan-e-Muztar Khairabadi
    javed Akhtar
    5:00 PM - 5:30 PM

    Book Launch

    "Namak" by Subodh lal

    Release by JAVED AKHTAR

    DISCUSSION

    12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
    Zindagi ki Soorat-gari: TV par Urdu ke Rang

    Portraying Life on TV through Urdu

    DISCUSSION

    12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
    Ghalib: Mohabbat aur Baqa-e-Baaham ka Shayar

    Ghalib: The poet of love and co-existence

    Gopi Chand Narang in conversation with Farhat Ehsas

    MR. NAJEEB JUNG to recite GHALIB

    ANWAR

    RECITATION

    2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    Aaina-Khane Mein Lafz

    A dramatized recitation by ANWAR MAQSOOD

    Introduction by SHAHID RASSAM

    DISCUSSION

    2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    Nuqraii Ghantiyan Si Bajti Hain: Akhtarul Iman Ki Yaad

    Memories of Love and Longing: Remembering Akhtarul Iman

    javed Akhtar

    PLAY

    3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
    Ghalib ke Khat

    A play based on Ghalib's letters featuring TOM ALTER

    Written & directed by: M. SAYEED ALAM

    javed Akhtar

    DISCUSSION

    3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
    Manto ab tak Ham-Kalaam

    Manto Still Speaks to Us

    javed Akhtar

    MUSICAL RENDITION

    5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    Qawwali

    SABRI BROTHERS & GROUP

    javed Akhtar

    PERFORMANCE

    5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    Andaaz-e-Raqs

    A poetry-based dance performance by VIDHA LAL & ABHIMANYU LAL

    GRAND Mushaira 7:30 PM ONWARDS
    javed Akhtar

    7:30 PM ONWARDS
    Mughal-E-Azam Coloured version Duration: 3hr 17min

    FILM SCREENING

    Sunday - 14th February

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]

    Auditorium [Diwan-e-Khaas]

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]

    • 10:00AM

    • 10:30AM

    • 11:00AM

    • 11:30AM

    • 12:00PM

    • 12:30PM

    • 1:00PM

    • 1:30PM

    • 2:00PM

    • 2:30PM

    • 3:00PM

    • 3:30PM

    • 4:00PM

    • 4:30PM

    • 5:00PM

    • 5:30PM

    • 6:00PM

    • 6:30PM

    • 7:00PM

    • 7:30PM

    • 8:00PM

    • 8:30PM

    • 9:00PM

    • 9:30PM

    10:00 AM ONWARDS

    Registration open

    javed Akhtar

    DISCUSSION

    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    Zindagi, Aashiqui Aur Shayari

    JAVED AKHTAR in conversation with KAUSAR MUNIR

    DISCUSSION

    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    Urdu-Hindi Adab: Mukhtalif Lafzon Men Mushtarak Khwab

    Urdu - Hindi Literature: Dreaming Together Differently

    Abdul BismillahAnamika Shamim Hanfi

    Moderator: ASGHAR WAJAHAT

    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Lo Phir Basant Aayi

    Musical concert by Rene Singh
    12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

    Book Launch

    "Shahkar-e-Adab" Edited by Syeda Hameed
    12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

    Urdu Tahzeeb - Andaaz-o- Adaab

    M. Sayeed Alam Tom Alter
    1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

    Rubaru: Asad Muhammad Khan, Anwar maqsood, Anwar Masood with Shahid rassam

    2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

    Izhar-e-Ishq Aur Shayari

    DANISH IQBAL
    3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

    Mehfil-e-Mizaah

    HUMOROUS POETRY

    4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

    Aao Awaaz ko Tasweer Banayen

    Painting the Music by SHAHID RASSAM
    11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

    Book Launch

    "Rohzin" by rahman Abbas

    Release by HAMEED SHAHID
    11:30 AM - 12:00 AM

    Book Launch

    "Suraj tum jaao" by alina itrat

    12:00 AM - 12:30 AM

    Book Launch

    "TEEN NOVLET"

    Release & Reading by Julien
    12:30 AM - 1:30 AM

    Discussion

    Urdu ka mushtarika khandan

    Urdu's Joint Family

    BHATNAGAR SHADAB, JULIEN, KHUSHBIR SINGH SHAAD, SEEMAB SULTANPURI & SUBODH LAL

    1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

    Qawwali by Dev Samaj Students

    2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

    Bakht Ali Khan

    Musical Performance
    2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

    Calligraphy Masterclass

    Qamar Dagar
    (Media Room)
    3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

    Nukkad Natak

    Street Performance by Bigul
    4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

    Khuli Nishist

    javed Akhtar

    DISCUSSION

    12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
    Koi Khwab Dekh Dalo: Nayi Nasl aur Shayari

    Dare to Dream: Youth and Poetry

    javed Akhtar

    DISCUSSION

    12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
    Mir Taqi Mir: Mat Sahal Hamein Jaano

    SHAMSUR RAHMAN FARUQI with QAZI JAMAL HUSSAIN

    DISCUSSION

    2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    Filmon Men Urdu: Kal Aur Aaj

    Urdu in Films: Past and Present

    DISCUSSION

    2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    Rajinder Singh Bedi: Insani Rishton Ka Razdan

    Unravelling Human Relationships: Rajinder Singh Bedi

    javed Akhtar

    PLAY

    3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
    Dastan-e-Taqseem-e-Hind

    DISCUSSION

    3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
    Barr-e-Sagheer ka Afsana
    Intizar Hussain ko Khiraaz-e-Aqeedat

    Fiction of the Sub-continent

    Tribute to Intizar Hussain

    javed Akhtar

    PLAY

    5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    Dara Shikoh

    Written by: DANISH IQBAL , Directed by: M.S. SATHYU & Produced by: K. K. KOHLI

    javed Akhtar

    5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    Baitbaazi

    A game of Urdu poetry: Celebrating a tradition

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam] CLOSING CEREMONY Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]
    javed Akhtar

    MUSICAL RENDITION

    7:45 PM ONWARDS
    RAFAQAT ALI KHAN

    A MUSICAL EVENING

    javed Akhtar

    7:45 PM ONWARDS
    Shatranj Ke Khiladi Duration: 2hr 9min

    FILM SCREENING

    Friday - February 12, 2016

    Download Schedule

    5:30 PM ONWARDS

    Registration open

    7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]6:30 PM - 7:00 PM

    Inauguration

    MR. NAJEEB JUNG - Hon'ble Lt. Governor of Delhi

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Kaifi Aur Main

    JAVED AKHTAR & SHABANA AZMI in a romantic saga

    Saturday - February 13, 2016

    10:00 AM ONWARDS

    Registration open

    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Discussion

    Ye Kaisa Ishq Hai Urdu Zabaan Ka

    GULZAR in conversation with SUKRITA PAUL KUMAR

    Auditorium [Diwan-e-Khaas]11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    DISCUSSION

    Ismat Chughtai: Riwayat Shikan Aurat ki Awaaz

    Ismat Chughtai: Voice of the Defiant Woman

    JEELANI BANOZAHEDA HINA

    Moderator: ANAMIKA

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    GHAZAL GAYAKI

    SHAKEEL AHMAD

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    MAKE FACES WITH AJIT

    12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]12.30 PM - 1:30 PM

    DISCUSSION

    Zindagi ki Soorat-gari: TV par Urdu ke Rang

    Portraying Life on TV through Urdu

    Kanwaljit SinghLubna SalimSania Saeed Sarmad Sultan Khoosat

    Moderator: NAGHMA SAHAR

    Auditorium [Diwan-e-Khaas]12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

    DISCUSSION

    Ghalib: Mohabbat aur Baqa-e-Baaham ka Shayar

    Ghalib: The poet of love and co-existence

    Gopi Chand Narang in conversation with Farhat Ehsas

    MR. NAJEEB JUNG to recite GHALIB

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

    STORY TIME WITH ANIS AZMI

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

    BOOK LAUNCH

    AURAQ-E-KHIZANI BY AHMAD MUSHTAQ

    Release by SHAMIM HANFI

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

    BOOK LAUNCH

    "LANGAR KHANA" BY javed siddiqui

    Release by ASIF FARRUKHI

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

    BOOK LAUNCH

    GHAZAL USNE CHHEDI EDITED BY FARHAT EHSASF

    RELEASE BY GULZAR

    2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

    RECITATION

    Aaina-Khane Mein Lafz

    A dramatized recitation by ANWAR MAQSOOD

    Introduction by SHAHID RASSAM

    Auditorium [Diwan-e-Khaas]2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

    DISCUSSION

    Nuqraii Ghantiyan Si Bajti Hain: Akhtarul Iman Ki Yaad

    Memories of Love and Longing: Remembering Akhtarul Iman

    Asma HusainBaidar BakhtJaved SiddiquiSYED KASHIF RAZA

    Moderator: SHAFEY KIDWAI

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

    DASTANGOI: "DASTAN ALICE KI"

    Ankit Chadha AND POONAM GIRDHANI

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

    BOOK LAUNCH

    "DHARTI KA KAAL" BY JOGINDER PAUL

    RELEASE BY GULZAR

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

    BOOK LAUNCH

    "GUCHHA" BY GULZAR

    RELEASE BY Gopi Chand Narang

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

    BOOK LAUNCH

    "TERA BAYAAN GHALIB" BY SALIM ARIF

    RELEASE BY GULZAR

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

    RECITATION BY SAKHA AMIN

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

    MUSICAL RENDITION BY SPECIAL CHILDREN

    PRESENTED BY HOSLA CHARITABLE TRUST

    3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

    PLAY

    Ghalib ke Khat

    A play based on Ghalib's letters featuring TOM ALTER

    Written & directed by: M. SAYEED ALAM

    Auditorium [Diwan-e-Khaas]3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

    DISCUSSION

    Manto ab tak Ham-Kalaam

    Manto Still Speaks to Us

    BIMAL CHADHANandita DasSarmad Sultan Khoosat

    Moderator: DARAIN SHAHIDI

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

    BOOK DISCUSSION

    "ZAIQAY FRONTIER KE" BY PUSHPA BAGAI
    Anjali MalikDipa Singh BagaiKamna PrasadVinod Dua

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

    KHULI NISHIST

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

    BOOK DISCUSSION

    KHIRMAN: DIWAN-E-MUZTAR KHAIRABAD
    JAVED AKHTAR

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]5:00 PM - 5:30 PM

    BOOK LAUNCH

    "NAMAK" BY SUBODH LAL
    Release by JAVED AKHTAR

    5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

    MUSICAL RENDITION

    Qawwali

    SABRI BROTHERS & GROUP

    Auditorium [Diwan-e-Khaas]5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

    PERFORMANCE

    Andaaz-e-Raqs

    A poetry-based dance performance by VIDHA LAL & ABHIMANYU LAL

    7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    GRAND Mushaira

    Bazm-e-Sukhan: Mushaira

    Ba-yaad-e Nida Fazli

    Abbas Tabish Anwar Masood Fazil Jamili Khushbir Singh Shaad Mohammad Alvi Rajesh Reddy Shariq Kaifi

    Auditorium [Diwan-e-Khaas]7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

    DISCUSSION

    Mughal-E-Azam Coloured version Duration: 3hr 17min

    FILM SCREENING

    Sunday - February 14, 2016

    10:00 AM ONWARDS

    Registration open

    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    DISCUSSION

    Zindagi, Aashiqui Aur Shayari

    JAVED AKHTAR in conversation with KAUSAR MUNIR

    Auditorium [Diwan-e-Khaas]11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    DISCUSSION

    Urdu-Hindi Adab: Mukhtalif Lafzon Men Mushtarak Khwab

    Urdu - Hindi Literature: Dreaming Together Differently

    Abdul BismillahAnamika Shamim Hanfi

    Moderator: ASGHAR WAJAHAT

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    LO PHIR BASANT AAYI

    MUSICAL CONCERT BY Rene Singh

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

    BOOK LAUNCH

    "ROHZIN" BY RAHMAN ABBAS

    RELEASE BY HAMEED SHAHID

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

    BOOK LAUNCH

    "SURAJ TUM JAAO" BY ALINA ITRAT

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]12:00 AM - 12:30 PM

    BOOK LAUNCH

    "SHAHKAR-E-ADAB" EDITED BY SYEDA HAMEED

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

    BOOK LAUNCH

    "TEEN NOVLET"

    RELEASE & READING BY JULIEN

    12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

    DISCUSSION

    Koi Khwab Dekh Dalo: Nayi Nasl aur Shayari

    Dare to Dream: Youth and Poetry

    KUMAR VISHWASRicha Anirudh

    Auditorium [Diwan-e-Khaas]12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

    DISCUSSION

    Mir Taqi Mir: Mat Sahal Hamein Jaano

    SHAMSUR RAHMAN FARUQI with QAZI JAMAL HUSSAIN

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

    URDU TAHZEEB - ANDAAZ-O- ADAAB

    M. SAYEED ALAM & TOM ALTER

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

    DISCUSSION

    URDU KA MUSHTARIKA KHANDAN

    URDU'S JOINT FAMILY BHATNAGAR SHADAB, JULIEN, KHUSHBIR SINGH SHAAD, SEEMAB SULTANPURI & SUBODH LAL

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

    RUBARU: ASAD MUHAMMAD KHAN, ANWAR MAQSOOD, ANWAR MASOOD WITH SHAHID RASSAM

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

    QAWWALI BY DEV SAMAJ STUDENTS

    2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

    DISCUSSION

    Filmon Men Urdu: Kal Aur Aaj

    Urdu in Films: Past and Present

    Imtiaz AliJaved SiddiquiJAVED AKHTARTigmanshu Dhulia

    Moderator: Faridoon Shahryar

    Auditorium [Diwan-e-Khaas]2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

    DISCUSSION

    Rajinder Singh Bedi: Insani Rishton Ka Razdan

    Unravelling Human Relationships: Rajinder Singh Bedi

    Hameed ShahidIla BediShama Zaidi

    Moderator:RAHMAN ABBAS

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

    IZHAR-E-ISHQ AUR SHAYARI

    DANISH IQBAL

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

    BAKHT ALI KHAN

    MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

    Media Room2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

    CALLIGRAPHY MASTERCLASS

    QAMAR DAGAR

    3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

    PLAY

    Dastan-e-Taqseem-e-Hind

    Ankit ChadhaDarain Shahidi

    Auditorium [Diwan-e-Khaas]3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

    DISCUSSION

    Barr-e-Sagheer ka Afsana

    Intizar Hussain ko Khiraaz-e-Aqeedat

    Fiction of the Sub-continent

    Tribute to Intizar Hussain

    ASAD MUHAMMAD KHANSHAMIM HANFI
    Moderator: ASIF FARRUKHI

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

    MEHFIL-E-MIZAAH

    HUMOROUS POETRY

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

    NUKKAD NATAK

    STREET PERFORMANCE BY BIGUL

    Amphitheatre [Bazm-e-Ravaan]4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

    AAO AWAAZ KO TASWEER BANAYEN

    PAINTING THE MUSIC BY SHAHID RASSAM

    Speaking Tree [Kunj-e-Sukhan]4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

    KHULI NISHIST

    5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

    PLAY

    Dara Shikoh

    Written by: DANISH IQBAL , Directed by: M.S. SATHYU & Produced by: K. K. KOHLI

    Auditorium [Diwan-e-Khaas]5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

    Baitbaazi

    A game of Urdu poetry: Celebrating a tradition

    7:15 PM - 7:30 PM

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam] CLOSING CEREMONY Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]

    7:45 PM ONWARDS

    Stage Lawn [Diwan-e-Aam]7:45 PM ONWARDS

    MUSICAL RENDITION

    RAFAQAT ALI KHAN

    A MUSICAL EVENING

    Auditorium [Diwan-e-Khaas]7:45 PM ONWARDS

    Shatranj Ke Khiladi Duration: 2hr 9min

    FILM SCREENING

    Ye Kaisa Ishq Hai Urdu Zabaan Ka

    Sampurna Singh Kalra ‘Gulzar’ is one of the most celebrated cultural icons of contemporary India. He has enriched our cultural and aesthetic space as a poet, lyricist, fiction writer and film maker. Born in Punjab, Gulzar has made brilliant contribution to Urdu literature (poetry and fiction) for which he was conferred with the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award.

    In the Jashn-e-Rekhta 2016, Gulzar would be sharing his love for the Urdu language, literature and his experiences of life while speaking to a diverse audience, in conversation with Sukrita Paul Kumar, a professor of English and author.

    Koi Khwab Dekh Dalo: Nayi Nasl aur Shayari

    Dare to Dream: Youth and Poetry

    As youth (18-25 years) now form the largest chunk of Indian population, the young generation has become the main stay of India’s economic growth as well as cultural transformation. As is evident from the social media sites, a large number of young women and men show a strong prediliction for poetry, Urdu ghazal in particular. This track would have Kumar Vishwas and Munawwar Rana , the two stalwarts of Hindi and Urdu stage of popular poetry respectively, engaging and interacting with the youth, strengthen their bond with poetry and make them dream through it.

    Barr-e-Sagheer ka Afsana

    Fiction of the Sub-continent

    Panelists who include major luminaries of Urdu and Hindi fiction in India and Pakistan would discuss the major concerns, experiences and forms of narrative of the fiction of the Indian subcontinent as it has evolved through the twentieth century and also its contemporary scenario. The discussion would be moderated by the prominent Urdu fiction writer, intellectual and editor Asif Farrukhi.

    Zindagi ki Soorat-gari: TV par Urdu ke Rang

    Portraying Life on TV through Urdu

    TV dramas have now become an inalienable part of life in India and Pakistan. With the advent of Indian TV channel “Zindagi” Pakistani TV dramas have won a huge viewership in India even as Indian TV dramas are also being lustily viewed in Pakistan. This panel discussion intends to make sense of and interpret their narrative, production values and historic elements as well as how the use of Urdu language adds to their appeal.

    Nuqraii Ghantiyan Si Bajti Hain: Akhtarul Iman ki Yaad

    Memories of Love and Longing: Remembering Akhtarul Iman

    Akhtarul Iman is one of the most dominating poets who shaped and established the modern Urdu nazm, in the face of the predominance of the Ghazal Poetry, in the pre-independence India. Post-partition, he became the tallest among nazm poets in India. His poetry is marked out for its fiery and intense portrayal of the existential predicament of the modern man in a language which in his own words is ‘course and unpoetic’. He had a troubled childhood and faced many hardships through his life.

    In addition to being a celebrated poet, Akhtarul Iman made sterling contribution to the Indian cinema as a script and dialogue writer during his film career spread over about 40 years. Many of his dialogues, especially those in the film Waqt (1965), have been etched out in the public memory.

    This discussion on Akhtarul Iman would cover all important aspects of his creative personality and make the new generation aware of his contributions.

    Urdu-Hindi Adab: Mukhtalif Lafzon mein Mushtarak Khwab

    Urdu-Hindi Literature: Dreaming together Differently

    As we know, Urdu and Hindi are linguistically the same languages, but their literary traditions have evolved independently of each other. Yet, as they operate much in a shared cultural space, literature of both the languages closely touch each other at many points in the arena of values, experience and world-view. We wish the panelists to discuss, analyse and underline the shared legacy of the Urdu-Hindi literature, both in poetry and fiction and also the areas where they differ from each other.

    Ismat Chughtai: Riwayat-Shikan Aurat ki Awaaz

    Ismat Chughtai: Voice of the Defiant Woman

    Ismat Chugtai, one of the four pillars of Urdu fiction is singularly known for her unconventional and tradition – challenging ways of thinking and living life. She was bold enough to explore and give expression to such aspects of womanhood that were considered forbidden at her time. Ismat lived and wrote in feminist vein before the feminism was even conceived and theoretically established in the West. Our discussion would focus on interpreting what it means to be Ismat Chugtai and understand the impact her fiction and life have had on the world of women and the women writers.

    Filmon mein Urdu: Kal aur Aaj

    Urdu in Films: Past and Present

    Urdu has always been the language of our films, with prominent Urdu writers and poets associated with writing screenplays, dialogues and lyrics. Directors and music-directors spoke, read and wrote Urdu. Reflection of Urdu culture and poetry has always been structured into the narrative of our films which found expression specifically through the Muslim Socials. But from 1980s onwards, it all started disappearing and now one finds in our films a language that can hardly be called language.

    This track is intended to analyse and understand the paradigm shift taking place in Bollywood films and also how our film-makers, directors, actors and writers relate to the Urdu language.

    Rajinder Singh Bedi: Insani Rishton ka Razdan

    Unravelling Human Relationships: Rajinder Singh Bedi

    Rajinder Singh Bedi is the iconic Urdu fiction writer who has made great contribution to enriching Urdu fiction with his deep insight of human nature and relationships. One of the main features of his fiction is marked by his delving deep into the archetypical roots of India’s cultural psyche through many characters he had developed in his stories and novels.

    Bedi was also a playwright and had a long association with the film industry as a director, screenplay writer and dialogue-writer. The film Dastak, directed by Bedi and starring Sanjiv Kumar is counted among the classics of Indian films.

    This discussion on Rajinder Bedi would focus both on the literary worth of his fiction writing and his contribution to Indian films.

    PARTICIPANTS

    see your favourites


    Abbas Tabish

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Abdul Bismillah

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Anamika

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Ankit Chadha

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Anwar Maqsood

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Anwar Masood

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Asad Muhammad Khan

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Asghar Wajahat

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Asif Farrukhi

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Asma Husain

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Baidar Bakht

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    BIMAL CHADHA

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Darain Shahidi

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Danish Iqbal

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Farhat Ehsas

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Faridoon Shahryar

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Fazil Jamili

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Gopi Chand Narang

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Gulzar

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Hameed Shahid

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Ila Bedi Dutta

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Imtiaz Ali

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Javed Akhtar

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Javed Siddiqui

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Jeelani Bano

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Kanwaljit Singh

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Kausar Munir

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Khushbir Singh Shaad

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Kumar Vishwas

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Lubna Salim

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    M. Sayeed Alam

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Mohammad Alvi

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Moin Shadab

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Naghma Sahar

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Najeeb Jung

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Nandita Das

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Nomaan Shauque

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Qamar Dagar

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Qazi Jamal Hussain

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Rafaqat Ali Khan

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Rahman Abbas

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Rene Singh

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Richa Anirudh

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Sabri Brothers

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Syeda Hameed

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Sania Saeed

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Sarmad Sultan Khoosat

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Shabana Azmi

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Shafey Kidwai

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Shagufta Yasmin

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Shahid Rassam

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Shiraz Husain

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Shama Zaidi

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Shamim Hanfi

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Shamsur Rahman Faruqi

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Shariq Kaifi

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Sukrita Paul Kumar

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Syed Kashif Raza

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Tigmanshu Dhulia

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Tom Alter

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Vidha Lal & Abhimanyu Lal

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Zaheda Hina

    ABOUT SCHEDULE

    Abbas Tabish

    Abbas Tabish is a poet of repute from Pakistan. His collection of poetry called Ishqaabad brings together his four earlier anthologies in one volume. A poet of intriguingly individual perceptions, he keeps away from an assumed philosophical posture and draws upon a diction that is direct and unassuming.

    • 13th February

      STAGE LAWN 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

      Grand Mushaira

      BAZM-E-SUKHAN: MUSHAIRA

    Abbas Tabish’s Page on rekhta

    Abdul Bismillah

    Abdul Bismillah is a celebrated Hindi fiction writer and poet. He was a Professor of Hindi at Jamia Millia Islamia (a Central University) in New Delhi. He has been a Visiting Professor at Warsaw University, Poland, and Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre, Moscow. He has published seven short stories collections and seven novels, apart from literary criticism in Hindi. Several of his works have been extensively translated into other Indian and foreign languages. Abdul Bismillah has been felicitated with the prestigious Soviet Land Nehru Award (1987) for his seminal work Jheeni Jheeni Beeni Chadariya which has also been translated into English and published by Macmillan.

    • 14th February

      AUDITORIUM11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      URDU-HINDI ADAB: MUKHTALIF LAFZON MEN MUSHTARAK KHWAB

      URDU - HINDI LITERATURE: DREAMING TOGETHER DIFFERENTLY

    Anamika

    An author of six national award-winning poetry collections and four biomythographic novels, Anamika teaches English literature at Delhi University. Her inspiration comes from the folk and the metaphysical strain of the rebel bhakta poets. Currently, she is a UGC Fellow at Teen Murti working on “Proto-feminist Hindi World: Mothers, Writers, Folklorists”. Her academic publications include: Post-Eliot Poetry: A Voyage from Conflict to Isolation, John Donne at Jaunpur: A Womanist Study Across Time and Place, Post-War Woman Poets: Treatment of Love and Death, Feminist Poetics: Where Kingfishers Catch Fire, Transplanting British Poetry in Indian Classrooms, Triya-Charitram: UTTAR KAND, Translating Racial Memory, and Swadheenta Ka Stree Paksha.

    • 13th February

      AUDITORIUM11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      ISMAT CHUGHTAI: RIWAYAT SHIKAN AURAT KI AWAAZ

      ISMAT CHUGHTAI: VOICE OF THE DEFIANT WOMAN

    Anwar Maqsood

    Anwar Maqsood is a Pakistani scriptwriter, television host, satirist, humorist, and infrequent actor. He is well known for his write ups for Pakistan Television Corporation which he did in the late 1970s. He belongs to several prominent families of Pakistan which include his sister, Fatima Surayya Bajia, Zehra Nigah, Ahmed Maqsood, and Zubaida Tariq. His wife, Imrana Maqsood is a known novelist and his son, Bilal Maqsood is a rock artist and lead guitarist of a rock band called Strings. Anwer Maqsood has been associated for many years with Pakistan Television Corporation where he served as presenter in a variety of shows including Studio Dhai, Studio Ponayteen, Show Sha and several others.

    • 13th February

      STAGE LAWN12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

      RECITATION

      AAINA-KHANE MEIN LAFZ

      Introduction by SHAHID RASSAM

    Anwar Masood

    A former academic, Anwar Masood is a Punjabi and Urdu poet from Pakistan known for his comical poetry, nevertheless, his works span across other genres as well.

    • 13th February

      STAGE LAWN7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

      GRAND MUSHAIRA

      BAZM-E-SUKHAN: MUSHAIRA

    Anwar Masood’s Page on rekhta

    Asad Muhammad Khan

    Asad Muhammad Khan, a well known fiction writer, recceived his early education in Bhopal. He migrated to Pakistan in 1950. Asad Muhammad Khan Started writing poetry in 1960 and Short stories in 1970. His works include Khidki Bhar Aasmaan, Burj-e-Khamoshaan, Ghusse Ki Nai Fasl, Ruke Huey Saawan, Narbada Aur Doosri Kahanian, Teesre Pahar Ki Kahanian, Jo Kahanian Likheen, Tukron mein Kahigai Kahani, Ek Tukda Dhoop Ka, and Yadein Guzri Sadi Ke Dost. Penguin Books (India) has published his anthology A Letter from India, a collection of contemporary short stories from Pakistan. Khan has been a recipient of several awards that include Baba-e-Urdu Moulvi Abdul Haq Award, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi Award, Aalami Farogh-e-Urdu Adab Award, Sheikh Ayaz Award, and the most prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz award.

    • 14th February

      AUDITORIUM3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

      DISCUSSION

      BARR-E-SAGHEER KA AFSANA

      FICTION OF THE SUB-CONTINENT

    Asad Muhammad Khan’s Page on rekhta

    Asghar Wajahat

    Asghar Wajahat is a noted Hindi scholar, fiction writer, novelist, playwright, an independent documentary filmmaker, and a television scriptwriter. He is well known for his works, Saat Aasmaan and his acclaimed play, Jis Lahore Nai Dekhya, O Jamyai Nai. A former professor of Hindi at Jamia Millia Islmia, New Delhi, he has published twenty books that include five novels, five collections of short stories, six full-length plays, a travelogue, a collection of street plays, and a book of literary criticism. He has also written film scripts and conducted workshops on screen writing. He has been placed among the top ten Hindi writers according to a survey conducted by Outlook (Hindi) magazine in 2007. His works have been translated into many Indian and foreign languages.

    • 14th February

      AUDITORIUM11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      URDU-HINDI ADAB: MUKHTALIF LAFZON MEN MUSHTARAK KHWAB

      URDU - HINDI LITERATURE: DREAMING TOGETHER DIFFERENTLY

    Asif Farrukhi

    Asif Farrukhi is a Karachi-based author, critic and translator, writing in Urdu and English. Educated at Dow Medical College, Karachi and Harvard University, he has translated several Urdu works into English. He is the editor of the Urdu literary journal Dunyazad and co-founder of the Karachi Literature Festival. Asif Farrukhi has also published six collections of short stories and two collections of literary criticism. Farrukhi works for Habib University as Associate Professor and Director of the Arzu Centre for Regional Languages and Humanities. In 1995, Farrukhi received the Prime Minister’s award for literature, and in 2005 the prestigious Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) from the President of Pakistan.

    • 14th February

      AUDITORIUM3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

      DISCUSSION

      BARR-E-SAGHEER KA AFSANA

      FICTION OF THE SUB-CONTINENT

    Asif Farrukhi’s Page on rekhta

    Asma Husain

    Asma Husain is the daughter of the acclaimed Urdu poet and writer Akhtar-ul-Iman. She accomplished a master's degree in English Literature from the Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, followed by a Post Graduate degree in Special Education and a certification from the GSE, Harvard University. She has authored her debut novel A Small Window in the Iron Gate and has spent twenty years of her professional life in the Middle East and North Africa.

    • 13th February

      AUDITORIUM2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      NUQRAII GHANTIYAN SI BAJTI HAIN: AKHTARUL IMAN KI YAAD

      MEMORIES OF LOVE AND LONGING: REMEMBERING AKHTARUL IMAN

    Baidar Bakht

    A civil engineer by profession, Baidar Bakht is a Canada-based Indian who is well known for his translations of Urdu poetry. He has put together an anthology of modern Urdu poetry with Kathleen Grant Jaegar which popularized Urdu poetry to a larger section of non-Urdu readers. He is also acknowledged as one who brought together comprehensive volumes of Urdu poetry by important modern Urdu poets Akhtarul Iman, Amjad Islam Amjad, and Kishwer Naheed in English translation

    • 13th February

      AUDITORIUM2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      NUQRAII GHANTIYAN SI BAJTI HAIN: AKHTARUL IMAN KI YAAD

      MEMORIES OF LOVE AND LONGING: REMEMBERING AKHTARUL IMAN

    BIMAL CHADHA

    Bimal Chadha is the nephew of Shyam, the late Cinestar of 40s-50s, who was a close friend of the short-story legend, Manto. He is one of the fortunate few who had the pleasure of meeting and also knowing Manto. He is here to share his memories of Manto as a person, as he saw him from a young boy's perspective to later reading him in greater detail as an adult. Now retired, Bimal Chadha is working on a full length book on his uncle, Shyam. His father, younger brother of Shyam, is now ninety five and reminisces them both fondly.

    • 13th February

      AUDITORIUM3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

      DISCUSSION

      MANTO AB TAK HAM-KALAAM

      MANTO STILL SPEAKS TO US

    Darain Shahidi

    A well known face in Urdu literary festivals, Darain Shahidi is, without doubt, one of India’s finest Dastangoi artists. A journalist, political commentator, anchor and storyteller, he is currently a presenter with Network 18’s IBN7. Darain has previously worked for the top media networks in the country, which include NDTV, Star News, ESPN, and Star Sports. He has also anchored the first BBC TV news in Hindi. His professional successes apart, Shahidi’s immense talent lies in the Dastangoi art of storytelling. He has delighted audiences with this narrative style at many festivals, the most recent ones being the Islamabad Literature festival, organized by Oxford University Press of Pakistan and the Lucknow Literary festival. Darain Shahidi is a graduate in media from Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi.

    Danish Iqbal

    Danish Iqbal is a Delhi based playwright who combines in himself various roles of a performer, teacher, writer, researcher, cultural organizer, arts administrator, and media person and to all of which he brings exacting standards. Danish has worked with some of the best theatre personalities of India that include Utpal Dutt and M S Sathyu. He has won many national awards, including the prestigious ‘Mohan Rakesh Samman’ and other honours. He is a tennis enthusiast and a food connoisseur.

    • 14th February

      STAGE LAWN5.30 PM - 7:00 PM

      PLAY

      Dara Shikoh

      Directed by: M.S. SATHYU , Produced by: K. K. KOHLI & Written by: DANISH IQBAL

    Farhat Ehsas

    Farhat Ehsas is one of the most prominent contemporary Urdu poets, writers, and columnists from India. A specialist in classical Persian and Urdu poetry, his works primarily draw upon the life of the common man, his miseries and fortunes, and of the repercussions of excesses perpetrated by the agencies of power. His collections of poetry include Main Rona Chahata Hoon and Shayeri Naheen Hai Ye. Ehsas has been the editor of the literary section of Qaumi Aawaz, a prestigious Urdu daily in north India. In addition to this, he has been a commentator on current affairs with All India Radio and the Urdu Service of BBC. Currently, he is associated with Rekhta Foundation, the largest website and resource centre on Urdu literature, culture, and the arts. He has also written scripts for films and several serials for All India Radio.

    • 13th February

      AUDITORIUM12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

      DISCUSSION

      GHALIB: MOHABBAT AUR BAQA-E-BAAHAM KA SHAYAR

      GHALIB: THE POET OF LOVE AND CO-EXISTENCE

    Farhat Ehsas’s Page on rekhta

    Faridoon Shahryar

    Faridoon Shahryar is the Content Head Broadband at the number one entertainment portal bollywoodhungama.com. His popular talk show Talking Films where he interviews top Bollywood celebrities is widely followed all across the world. He was awarded the best Journalist award for the prestigious I O Choice Awards in 2013. He writes poetry in English and has been published in literary magazines in India as well as abroad.

    • 14th February

      AUDITORIUM2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      Filmon Men Urdu: Kal Aur Aaj

      Urdu in Films: Past and Present

    Fazil Jamili

    Fazil Jamili is a well known Urdu Poet and Journalist from Pakistan. He is currently Editor at jang.com.pk, the online editions of the premier media group of the country. Prior to being part of the Jang Group he was associated with Samaa Tv (editor content) and Daily AajKal (resident editor). He has been active in the struggle for journalists’ rights and was elected twice as general secretary of Karachi Union of Journalists. Now he is the elected President of Karachi Press Club, one of the oldest club of Pakistan.

    • 13th February

      STAGE LAWN7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

      GRAND MUSHAIRA

      BAZM-E-SUKHAN: MUSHAIRA

    Fazil Jamili’s Page on rekhta

    Gopi Chand Narang

    Gopi Chand Narang is a major Urdu critic, theorist, and linguist. He has the distinction of being recognized by the Presidents of both India and Pakistan. A writer, literary critic and scholar, Prof. Narang is unique in holding this record. He was awarded the prestigeous Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) by the Government of Pakistan and Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri by the Government of India. His works have brought him several other laurels also, some of which include the Mazzini Gold Medal from Italy, Amir Khusro Award from Chicago, Ghalib Award, the Canadian Academy of Urdu Language and Literature Award, and the European Urdu Writers Society Award. The Sahitya Akademi conferred on him its prestigious Fellowship in 2009. Narang has also authored books in Hindi and English. A strong advocate of Urdu, he rues the fact that this language has been a victim of politicization as he believes that Urdu has its roots in India and is a sister language of Hindi.

    • 13th February

      AUDITORIUM12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

      DISCUSSION

      GHALIB: MOHABBAT AUR BAQA-E-BAAHAM KA SHAYAR

      GHALIB: THE POET OF LOVE AND CO-EXISTENCE

    Gopi Chand Narang’s Page on rekhta

    Gulzar

    Gulzar is a celebrated Indian poet, lyricist, writer, and film director. He got his first break as a lyricist in Bimal Roy's Bandini (1963). A few of his films as a writer include Do Dooni Chaar (1968), Khamoshi (1970), and Safar (1970) Anand (1971), Guddi (1971), Bawarchi (1972), Namak Haraam (1973), . Gulzar made his directorial debut with Mere Apne (1971). He then went on to make Parichay (1972), Mausam (1975), Angoor (1982) Namkeen (1982), and the classic films like Achanak (1973), Aandhi (1975), Khushboo (1975), Kinara(1977),and Ijaazat (1987), Lekin... (1990) and Maachis (1996). His television film Mirza Ghalib (1988) was much acclaimed and appreciated in larger circles of viewers. He has to his credit poetry books Raat Pashmeeney ki; Pukhraj; Triveni; Raat, Chand aur Main; Mera Kuchh Saamaan; Kharaashein; Khauf; Chhaiyyan Chhaiyyan, Kuchh aur Nazmein. His book of stories for children called Ekta received an award from the National Council for Education, Research and Training.

    • 13th February

      STAGE LAWN11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

      DISCUSSION

      YE KAISA ISHQ HAI URDU ZABAAN KA

      GULZAR in conversation with SUKRITA PAUL KUMAR

    Gulzar’s Page on rekhta

    Hameed Shahid

    Hameed Shahid is a Pakistan-based fiction writer and critic. He draws his material from the dichotomies of human existence and sorts them out in a plausible framework of significant literary merit. He is a multifaceted genius who never stops at what he has done and continuously persists in presenting to his readers the best of himself. His short story collection Bund Aankhon se Parey, Jannum Jahunam, Marg-zaar, his novel Mitti Aadam Khati Hai, and his critique Adabi Tanazeyat, Ashafaque Ahmed: Shakhsiyat aur Fun, Urdu Afsana : Soorat-o-M’ana are the testimonies of his versatility.

    • 14th February

      AUDITORIUM2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      RAJINDER SINGH BEDI: INSANI RISHTON KA RAZDAN

      UNRAVELLING HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS: RAJINDER SINGH BEDI

    Hameed Shahid’s Page on rekhta

    Ila Bedi Dutta

    Ila Bedi Dutta, daughter of Narender Bedi and granddaughter of legendary Urdu short story writer Rajinder Singh Bedi, is a screenplay writer working for Bollywood. A writer of celebrated shows like Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chaand, Mehendi Tere Naam Ki, Saara Akaash and Shivaji, she is now receiving kudos for her most recent production Lajwanti for Zee TV. She is the co-producer of Hitler Didi on Zee TV, and also the co-author of Agni Path, a movie of considerable repute. Her background and her passion for art and culture are the factors that have transformed her into a benefactor of all those who have loved and admired the contributions of Rajinder Singh Bedi and Narendra Bedi to Bollywood and literature at the same time. She is currently working on the biography of Dhyan Chand, an iconic figure in the world of hockey.

    • 14th February

      AUDITORIUM2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      RAJINDER SINGH BEDI: INSANI RISHTON KA RAZDAN

      UNRAVELLING HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS: RAJINDER SINGH BEDI

    Imtiaz Ali

    Imtiaz Ali, who began his career as a writer and director of television shows Imtehan, Naina, and Kurukshetra, made his mark in the following years with Socha Na Tha and his commercial hits Jab We Met, Love Aajkal and Rockstar. His later films of acclaim were Highway and Tamasha. Hailing from a modest background, Ali developed his passion for films and perfected his art of film making with a keen eye on the peoples’ parameters of receptivity.

    • 14th February

      STAGE LAWN2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      FILMON MEN URDU: KAL AUR AAJ

      URDU IN FILMS: PAST AND PRESENT

    Javed Akhtar

    Javed Akhtar needs little, if any, introduction. An eminent scriptwriter, lyricist, and poet, he has a rich, literary lineage. His father, Jan Nisar Akhtar, was a renowned Urdu poet and film lyricist and his grandfather, Muztar Khairabadi, was an acclaimed Urdu poet. Akhtar’s inimitable work has won him a number of awards; many of which he has won several times, like the National Award for Best Lyricist (five times), Filmfare Award for Best Script / Best Lyricist (sixteen times), Screen Award for Best Lyricist (four times) and IIFA Award for Best Lyricist (three times), to name only a few. He was awarded with the Padma Bhushan in 2007 and Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu in 2013.

    • 12th February

      STAGE LAWN7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      KAIFI AUR MAIN

      JAVED AKHTAR & SHABANA AZMI in a romantic saga

    • 14th February

      STAGE LAWN11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      ZINDAGI AUR ISHQ

      JAVED AKHTAR in conversation with KAUSAR MUNIR

    Javed Akhtar’s Page on rekhta

    Javed Siddiqui

    Javed Siddiqui is a Hindi and Urdu screenwriter, dialogue writer, and playwright from India. He has written over fifty storylines, screenplays and dialogues. He started his career as a dialogue writer in Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khiladi in 1977. Since then, he has been highly regarded for his works in different genres of film making, including art films of parallel cinema, like Umrao Jaan, Mammo, Fiza, Zubeida and Tehzeeb; as well as commercial hits, such as Baazigar, Darr, Yeh Dillagi, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Raja Hindustani, Pardes, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke and Koyi Mil Gaya. He has also written scripts for serials like Shyam Benegal's Bharat Ek Khoj, Ramesh Sippy's Kismet, Yash Chopra's Waqt and others. Javed Siddiqui has written a book of pen sketches named Roshandan. His play Tumhari Amrita, based on A R Gurney's classic American play Love Letters, with only two actors (Shabana Azmi and Farooq Shaikh) reading out letters to each other, became a success of sorts.

    • 13th February

      AUDITORIUM2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      NUQRAII GHANTIYAN SI BAJTI HAIN: AKHTARUL IMAN KI YAAD

      MEMORIES OF LOVE AND LONGING: REMEMBERING AKHTARUL IMAN

    Jeelani Bano

    Jeelani Bano is a well known Urdu fiction writer. She started writing at an early age and her first story, ‘Ek Nazar Idhar Bhi’ was published in 1952. She is credited with twenty two books comprising anthologies starting with Roshni ke Minar and novels beginning with Aiwaan-e-ghazal. Her other books include an autobiography, Afsaney, and a collection of her correspondence with other writers, Door ki Aawaazein. One of her stories, ‘Narsayya Ki Bavdi’, has been made into a 2009 feature film, Well Done Abba by the renowned filmmaker, Shyam Benegal. The Government of India honoured her with the civilian award of Padma Shri in 2001. She has also been associated with prestigious forums like Youth for Action as its chairperson and Child and Women Human Rights, a forum of the International Human Rights Association of India, as its principal advisor.

    • 13th February

      AUDITORIUM11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      ISMAT CHUGHTAI: RIWAYAT SHIKAN AURAT KI AWAAZ

      ISMAT CHUGHTAI: VOICE OF THE DEFIANT WOMAN

      JEELANI BANO PADMA SACHDEV ZAHEDA HINA

      Moderator: ANAMIKA

    Kanwaljit Singh

    Kanwaljit Singh is an Indian actor who has performed in films as well as television serials. He has acted both in Hindi Punjabi films. His first film was Dastaan-e-Laila Majnu followed by Hum Rahey Na Hum, Shart, and Shaque. Ramesh Sippy's mega serial Buniyaad, gave him instant recognition. A few of his famous serials on television include Saans, Family No. 1, Dard, Siski, Barrister Roy, Paramveer Chakra and Farmaan.

    • 13th February

      STAGE LAWN2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      ZINDAGI KI SOORAT-GARI: TV PAR URDU KE RANG

      PORTRAYING LIFE ON TV THROUGH URDU

      IMRAN ABBAS KANWALJIT SINGH LUBNA SALIM SANIA SAEED

      Moderator: NAGHMA SAHAR

    Kausar Munir

    Kausar Munir is an Indian lyricist and screenplay writer. Jassi Jaisi Koyi Naheen was her debut TV serial writing after which she went on to write lyrics for films such as Tashan, Ishqzadey, Aik Tha Tiger, and Dhoom 3. She has also worked as a language consultant for the movie English Vinglish, a film that problematizes identity and language use. She won Zee Cine award in 2013 and Stardust and Starscreen awards in 2014, apart from Radio Mirchi award for the best lyricist in the same year.

    • 14th February

      STAGE LAWN11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      Zindagi aur Ishq

      JAVED AKHTAR in conversation with KAUSAR MUNIR

    Khushbir Singh Shaad

    Khushbir Singh Shaad is an Indian Urdu poet with seven books of Urdu Ghazals to his credit, published both in Urdu and Devnagri scripts. Shaad learnt the skills of Urdu poetry from his mentor Waali Aasi. His published works include Jaane Kab Yeh Mausam Badle, Geeli Mitti, Chalo Kuch Rang Hi Bikhrey, Zara Yeh Dhoop Dhal Jaye, Bekhawabiyan, Jahan Tak Zindagi Hai, and Bikharne Se Zara Pehle. Shaad has also penned the title song of Bollywood film, Dhokha, directed by film maker Mahesh Bhatt.

    • 13th February

      STAGE LAWN7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

      GRAND MUSHAIRA

      BAZM-E-SUKHAN: MUSHAIRA

    Khushbir Singh Shaad’s Page on rekhta

    Kumar Vishvas

    Kumar Vishwas is a celebrated Indian poet and he is on the National Executive of Aam Aadmi Party. He has recited his poetry widely in India and also in USA, Singapore, Japan, and Dubai. He has been awarded certificate of recognition by California State Assembly. His poetry as well as presentation take the audiences on a new high.

    • 14th February

      STAGE LAWN12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

      DISCUSSION

      KOI KHWAB DEKH DALO: NAYI NASL AUR SHAYARI

      DARE TO DREAM: YOUTH AND POETRY

    Kumar Vishwas’s Page on rekhta

    Lubna Salim

    Award winning Indian actor, Lubna Salim was seen as Ganga in 2025-Jaane Kya Hoga Aagey TV show. Her role as Susheela in Oh My God as Paresh Rawal’s wife, got her critical acclaim. A popular face on Indian television with several TV Commercials, it was the role of Leela Bhabhi of serial Baa Bahu aur Baby that won her the Star Parivar Awards of 2007, ITA Award 2007, Indian Telly Awards 2007, and Gold Award 2008. Her serials Ek Packet Ummeed, Mera Naam Karegi Raushan, Daaman, and Chhatrapati Shivaji have made her a household name. Lubna formed her theatre group Essay Communications with her father Javed Siddiqui, the eminent writer, and her husband, Salim Arif, another well known name in theatre and films. Lubna Salim received the Women Achievers Award - 2012 for her contribution to theatre.

    • 13th February

      STAGE LAWN2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

      DISCUSSION

      ZINDAGI KI SOORAT-GARI: TV PAR URDU KE RANG

      PORTRAYING LIFE ON TV THROUGH URDU

      IMRAN ABBAS KANWALJIT SINGH LUBNA SALIM SANIA SAEED

      Moderator: NAGHMA SAHAR

    Ankit Chadha

    Ankit Chadha is an entrepreneur, writer, and researcher. He specializes in the art of dastangoi. He was the President of Ibtida, the dramatic society of Hindu College, University of Delhi, which gave him an opportunity to hone his skills. He was the youngest participant in the first dantangoi workshop conducted by Mahmud Farooqi and Danish Hussain. He worked extensively to develop his dastan Dhaai Akhar

    M. Sayeed Alam

    Playwright, director, and theatre-actor, M. Sayeed Alam, is the main force behind Pierrot Troupe, a legendary Delhi-based theater group. A Ph. D. from Aligarh Muslim University, Alam is also an author and researcher and has previously been a journalist with Iran-based news agency, IRNA. Pierrot Troupe has produced more than two thousand shows, which include masterpieces like Ghalib In New Delhi, Cut Cut Cut, Big B, Maulana Azad and K. L. Saigal. Some of the best names from theatre and cinema that have appeared in its plays include Tom Alter, Rakesh Bedi, and Simple Kaul.

    • 13th February

      STAGE LAWN3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

      PLAY

      GHALIB KE KHAT

      A play based on Ghalib's letters featuring TOM ALTER

      Written & directed by: M. SAYEED ALAM

    M. Sayeed Alam’s Page on rekhta

    Mohammad Alvi

    One of the most distinguished Urdu poets with an individual signature of his own, Mohammad Alvi has won many laurels for his invaluable contribution to Urdu poetry. He received the Sahitya Academy Award in Urdu for his collection of poems Chautha Aasmaan. He has also been conferred with the Gujarat Urdu Sahitya Academy Award and the prestigious Ghalib Award. Born in Ahmedabad, Mohammad Alvi is known for his inimitable and unself-conscious style. He has published several works, which include Khali Makaan, Akhri Din ki Talash and Teesri Kitaab. The poems in these collections are monologues that break away from the rhetoric of the reformists.

    • 13th February

      STAGE LAWN7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

      GRAND MUSHAIRA

      BAZM-E-SUKHAN: MUSHAIRA

    Mohammad Alvi’s Page on rekhta

    Moin Shadab

    Moin Shadab is an anchor and assistant producer at Sahara TV’s Alami Samay Urdu News Channel. A regular at Indian and international Mushrairas, he is a poet who finds inspiration in the works of Urdu masters like Firaq Gorakhpuri, Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Irfan Siddiqui. Shadab is a graduate of Rajasthan University and Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

      Moin Shadab’s Page on rekhta

      Naghma Sahar

      Naghma Sahar is one of the most respected electronic media journalists who started her career in journalism in 1999, and carved a niche for herself with Salaam Zindagi on NDTV. As a senior anchor and Associate Editor at NDTV, her journalistic acumen is widely appreciated. She currently hosts International Agenda on NDTV.

      • 13th February

        STAGE LAWN2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

        DISCUSSION

        ZINDAGI KI SOORAT-GARI: TV PAR URDU KE RANG

        PORTRAYING LIFE ON TV THROUGH URDU

      Najeeb Jung

      Currently the Lieutenant Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Najeeb Jung received his education at St. Columba’s School, New Delhi; St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University; and London School of Economics, London. He joined the Indian Adminstrative Service and held prestigious assignments before he quit it and joined Asain Development Bank as Senior Energy Specialist, and later Oxford Institute of Energy Studies as a Fellow, and Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi, as Director. He has been the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, a Central University in Delhi. Apart from carrying out his responsibilities in various capacities, Najeeb Jung has written and published on energy related issues and current affairs, and maintained a steady interest in literature and theatre. He has been a very keen reader of Ghalib and a great admirer of his skill as a poet.

      • 12th February

        STAGE LAWN6:30 PM - 7:00 PM

        INAUGURATION

        MR. NAJEEB JUNG - Hon'ble Lt. Governor of Delhi

      • 13th February

        AUDITORIUM12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

        DISCUSSION

        GHALIB: MOHABBAT AUR BAQA-E-BAAHAM KA SHAYAR

        GHALIB: THE POET OF LOVE AND CO-EXISTENCE

      Nandita Das

      Nandita Das has acted in more than forty films in ten different languages. Her directorial debut was Firaaq in 2008. She was on the jury of Cannes Film Festival twice, among others. A strong advocate of social issues, she was the Chairperson of Children’s Film Society. Das has been conferred the ‘Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters’ by the French Government.

      • 13th February

        AUDITORIUM3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

        DISCUSSION

        MANTO AB TAK HAM-KALAAM

        MANTO STILL SPEAKS TO US

      Nomaan Shauque

      A broadcaster by profession, Nomaan Shauque is a prominent poet writing in Urdu as well as in Hindi, with four books Ajnabi Sa’aton ke Darmiyan, Freezer Mein Rakhi Sham, Jalta Shikara Dhoondne Mein and Apne Kahe kinare to his credit. His collection of poems in Hindi, Raat aur Vishkanya, was published by Jnanpeeth. He is also a translator and his literary articles and other works have been published widely in India and abroad. A handful of his poems has also been translated into English and other Indian languages. His poetry marks a clear departure from his predecessors as well as from his contemporaries in style and content. It has also been widely appreciated for the same in Urdu and Hindi.

      NOMAAN SHAUQUE’s Page on rekhta

      Qamar Dagar

      Reviving an art form is often an uphill task. This is exactly what calligrapher and artist Qamar Dagar has been able to achieve. She founded Qalamkaari Calligraphy Trust in order to give this fading art a new lease of life. As part of an initiative of this trust, Qamar organized a festival, Qalam Aatma, in which a dozen calligraphers and artists from across the globe displayed their stunning works.

      Qamar is a graduate in Sociology and comes from the prominent family of Dhrupad musicians. An artist by birth, she has found inspiration in the works great calligraphers like Hassan Massoudy from Iraq and Mohammad Elbaz from Morrocco. Qamar has held several solo exhibitions in India, France and the United States.

        Qazi Jamal Hussain

        Formerly a professor in the Department of Urdu at Aligarh Muslim University, Qazi Jamal Hussain is a well-known literary critic. With his training in Arabic and Persian, he has been able to develop a comprehensive view of literature and literary expression In Urdu. He has shown a very special interest in classical literature and mysticism. This is well borne out by his works on Khwaja Meer Dard, Dagh Dehlavi, and Shafiq Fatimah Shera. He has to his credit collections of his critical essays that cover a larger canvas of Urdu’s literary heritage.

        • 14th February

          AUDITORIUM12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

          DISCUSSION

          Mir Taqi Mir: Mat Sahal Hamein Jaano

          SHAMSUR RAHMAN FARUQI with QAZI JAMAL HUSSAIN

        Rafaqat Ali Khan

        Rafaqat Ali Khan is the son and nephew of legendry musical duo, Ustad Nazakat Ali Khan and Salamat Ali Khan from Pakistan. He has to credit twelve musical albums released worldwide. He can play several instruments like tabla, dholak, harmonium, electric drum, and synthesizer with remarkable ease and perfection. He writes his lyrics and also composes them himself. He is equally at home singing in local languages as well as Urdu. The Lahore Press Club had honored him with a life membership. He is the first Pakistani singer ever to perform at the opera house in Oslo.

        • 14th February

          STAGE LAWN7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

          MUSICAL RENDITION

          RAFAQAT ALI KHAN

          A MUSICAL EVENING

        Rahman Abbas

        Rahman Abbas is an Indian fiction writer. He writes in Urdu and English. He holds two master's degrees in Urdu and English literatures from Mumbai University. His novels deal with the themes of forbidden politics and love. Abbas's first Urdu novel, Nakhalistan Ki Talash (2004), was written when he was twenty four. He has to his credit a collection of literary essays entitled Ekkiswin Sadi Men Urdu Novel aur Digar Mazameen. His short stories were published in the literary magazine Shabkhoon. He won the Maharashtra Sahitya Akademi Award in 2011 for his novel Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Ankh Micholi.

        • 14th February

          AUDITORIUM2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

          DISCUSSION

          RAJINDER SINGH BEDI: INSANI RISHTON KA RAZDAN

          UNRAVELLING HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS: RAJINDER SINGH BEDI

        Rene Singh

        Rene Singh, a singer and composer, has excelled as one who weaves Sufi poetry into music. She has imbibed the beauty and simplicity of folk cultures and traditions of India while travelling extensively across villages in different states. This is well reflected in her pure, simple, and soulful musical renditions. She is the founding member of HUM, Hamari Urdu Mohabbat, an organization that takes Urdu poetry to a cross section of audiences. She also holds music workshops with underprivileged children and youth to create a chain of individuals committed to the cause of love and harmony, and shares the same on national and international platforms. Rene Singh, who initiated the TOUCHACHORD choir in Delhi, has also been a partner with UNICEF to produce musical stories for community radios in remote villages of the country.

        Richa Anirudh

        Richa Anirudh is an Indian prime time news anchor with IBN7 Hindi news channel and also a talk show host. She has been in the news industry since 2002 when she started her career with Doordarshan. She conducted a TV show Zindagi Live from 2007 to 2014 which also won the Ladli Media Award for gender sensitivity from UNFPA, and also the best talk Show Award from Indian television.com. Over the years, she has lent her inherent and natural credibility to every issue that she has discussed on screen which made her a figure of sorts in Indian Television.

        • 14th February

          STAGE LAWN12:30 AM - 1:30 PM

          DISCUSSION

          KOI KHWAB DEKH DALO: NAYI NASL AUR SHAYARI

          DARE TO DREAM: YOUTH AND POETRY

        Sabri Brothers

        Sabri Brothers, the disciples of Inayat Sen Sabri, hail from Rajasthan, India. They have been duly appreciated for their unique style of rendition both in India and Pakistan. Sabri brothers are the major exponents of Qawwali sung in valorishing the khwajagan. Sabri brothers’ performances have won them enviable recognition from those who recognize the value of music as a source of spiritual upliftment.

        • 13th February

          STAGE LAWN5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

          MUSICAL RENDITION

          QAWWALI

          SABRI BROTHERS & GROUP

        Sabri Brothers’s Page on rekhta

        Syeda Hameed

        Syeda Saiyidain Hameed comes from the lineage of Maulana Altaf Husain Hali; her grandmother Mushtaq Fatima was Maulana Hali's granddaughter. She has written, among other books, a compendium on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and his biography titled Maulana Azad and the Indian National Movement. Her translated short story collection Parwaaz, is a selection of 20 Century women writers in Urdu. She has edited Bread Beauty Revolution, a compendium of the works of Khwaja Ahmed Abbas. She is one of three founder members of HUM (Hamari Urdu Mohabbat). She was also a member of the Planning Commission of India and has also served as the chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University in Hyderabad. She has also been a recipient of the Padma Shri.

        Sania Saeed

        Sania Saeed, a founder member of the prominent Karachi based theatre group Katha established in 1994, has been one of the most versatile actors of Pakistani television and theatre over the past two decades. She was conferred PTV Award for best actress and four LUX Style Awards for her impeccable performances. Her popular serials, Aahat, Sitara Aur Mehr-un-Nisa, Ab Tum Jaa Sakte Ho, Maa, Shayad Ke Bahaar Aaye, Zaib-un-Nisa, Jhumka Jaan, Kitni Girhein Baaqi Hain made her a household name in Pakistan. Saeed won the PTV Award for the best actress twice in 1991 and 2011.

        • 13th February

          STAGE LAWN2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

          DISCUSSION

          ZINDAGI KI SOORAT-GARI: TV PAR URDU KE RANG

          PORTRAYING LIFE ON TV THROUGH URDU

          IMRAN ABBAS KANWALJIT SINGH LUBNA SALIM SANIA SAEED

          Moderator: NAGHMA SAHAR

        Sarmad Sultan Khoosat

        Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, son of veteran actor Irfan Khoosat, is a prominent actor, director, and script writer. He came into prominence during the mid ‘1990s with the creation of a situation comedy Shashlick which captivated the viewers for as long as three years on PTV. His first TV drama as a director was Piya Naam ka Diya. Later, he directed a serial called Mujhey Apna Naam-o-Nishan Miley. He is best known for his direction in drama Hamsafar and Shehr-e-Zaat. His short film, Hernaam Kaur, won the Best Film award at the Manto Festival, as well as in the Best Director category on the Indus TV Awards. He recently played the role of a protagonist and also directed a biographical film, Manto. based on the life of the legendary short-story writer, Saadat Hasan Manto.

        • 13th February

          AUDITORIUM3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

          DISCUSSION

          MANTO AB TAK HAM-KALAAM

          MANTO STILL SPEAKS TO US

        Shabana Azmi

        Shabana Azmi was among the first actresses of parallel cinema, which is famous for its realistic content and serious approach. One of the finest actresses of the industry, she has been a part of many foreign films and projects as well. Besides proving her acting prowess, she has also been actively engaged in social work, especially women’s rights. Shabana Azmi has been honored with the National Film Award for Best Actress five times. She has also been honored with international awards in film festivals like Taormina Arte Festival (Italy), Chicago International Film Festival and L.A. Outfest. Shabana Azmi has been conferred with prestigious honors like Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan by the Government of India, Martin Luther King Professorship award by the University of Michigan.

        • 12th February

          STAGE LAWN7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

          DISCUSSION

          KAIFI AUR MAIN

          JAVED AKHTAR & SHABANA AZMI in a romantic saga

        • 14th February

          STAGE LAWN2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

          DISCUSSION

          FILMON MEN URDU: KAL AUR AAJ

          URDU IN FILMS: PAST AND PRESENT

        Shafey Kidwai

        Shafey Kidwai has been teaching Mass Communication for three decades now. His recent book titled, Urdu Literature and Journalism: Critical Perspectives published by the Cambridge University Press, has received widespread critical attention. His research dissertation Cementing Ethics with Modernism: An Appraisal of the Sir Sayyid's Periodicals (2009) is considered as one of the substantial works on the nineteenth century journalism. He has prepared the Style Book (2002) for the ETV, Hyderabad and Glossary of Mass Communication in Urdu (2003) for NCPUL, New Delhi. Kidwai has been on the editorial board of several peer reviewed journals including Global Media published by Purude University, USA and Calcutta University. Two of his Urdu books include Fiction Motaleyat: Ma-baad-e-Jadeed Tanazur (2011) and Meeraji. He has also to his credit a monograph on R.K. Narayan, the translation of a monograph on Michal Madhusudan Dutt and Our Constitution. His book Khabar Nigari (1988) is the fist book on the art of reporting in Urdu.

        • 13th February

          AUDITORIUM2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

          DISCUSSION

          NUQRAII GHANTIYAN SI BAJTI HAIN: AKHTARUL IMAN KI YAAD

          MEMORIES OF LOVE AND LONGING: REMEMBERING AKHTARUL IMAN

        Shagufta Yasmin

        Dr. Shaghufta Yasmin is a media person and a well- known broadcaster associated with Urdu Media (DD News & AIR) as an established News presenter. During her 10 years media career she anchored more than 1,200 episodes of programs for DD Urdu and Zee Salaam including 500 episodes of live Show. Dr. Yasmin gained prominence for her scholarly writings and she is an author of four books. She won the opportunity to be an alumnus of the U.S. State Department's prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program. Dr. Yasmin is working as a Senior Research Fellow at “Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India” and recently honored by Shakshiyat Award-2015”

          Shaid Rassam

          The Arabic word rassam which means ‘painter’ is what was added to Shahid by Jaun Elia to make it Shahid Rassam who later emerged as one of the major painters and sculptors of Pakistan. Mentored by his mother and other iconic figures like Sadequain, Mushtaq Ahmed Yusufi, and Anwar Maqsood, Shahid Rassam has worked through the roving images of time and space to create his own complex of symbolic configurations. He has been described as one developing an ‘ongoing dialogue with self and society’ to distinguish the abstract from the concrete, the concealed from the revealed, and the sinner from worshipper. Travelled across continents, Rassam has picked his metaphors of belonging and unbelonging and shown them in as many as thirty five countries.

          • 13th February

            AUDITORIUM12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

            DISCUSSION

            AAINA-KHANE MEIN LAFZ

            Introduction by SHAHID RASSAM

          Shiraz Husain

          Shiraz Husain, is a visual artist, illustrator, graphic designer, storyteller and conceptual artist from New Delhi, India. He obtained his degrees of BFA and MFA from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Jamia Millia Islamia. He is a multi-disciplinary artist who practices free-hand drawing, minimal poster and also indulges in experimental music in order to create multiple layers of communication. Shiraz is a founder member of Khwaab Tanha Art Collective established in 2011.He has also illustrated a few books and won the best film award in national film making competition organized by YES Foundation. He has worked for brands like Lufthansa Airlines, PVR Cinemas, DLF Saket, Dainik Jagran and Jagori. He has widely exhibited in India and abroad. Currently, he is working on a fine art project called "Galiyon Say". Shiraz teaches in the department of Applied Arts, Jamia Millia Islamia.

          Shama Zaidi

          Shama Zaidi is an Indian screenplay writer, costume designer, art director, critic, theatre personality, and documentary film maker. She was educated at Woodstock School, Mussoorie, and then at Miranda House, New Delhi. She has a bachelor's degree in English from Delhi University, and a diploma in stage design from the Slade School of Art, London. She is married to M S Sathyu, an acclaimed filmmaker, designer, and art director.

          • 14th February

            AUDITORIUM2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

            DISCUSSION

            RAJINDER SINGH BEDI: INSANI RISHTON KA RAZDAN

            UNRAVELLING HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS: RAJINDER SINGH BEDI

          Shamim Hanfi

          Shamim Hanfi is one of the most respected literary critics, playwrights, and poets of India. A former academic at the Department of Urdu at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi, he has also been the editor of its prestigious magazine, Jamia. He has authored a number of respectable books in literary criticism. Some of these that need mention include Jadidiyat ki Falsafiyana Asaas; Nayi Sheri Riwayat; Tareekh, Tehzeeb aur Takhleequi Tajurba; Urdu Culture aur Taqseem ki Riwayat; Khayal ki Musaafat; and Qari Say Mukalma. He has also written four plays, translated four books, and brought out four books for children which he admits of enjoying immensely. Hanfi’s poetry collection Aakhiri Pehar ki Dastak was published by Rekhta, one of its first ventures in publishing, in 2015. A not-so-known fact about Hanfi is that he maintains a keen interest in painting, pottery and the performing arts.

          • 14th February

            AUDITORIUM11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

            DISCUSSION

            URDU-HINDI ADAB: MUKHTALIF LAFZON MEN MUSHTARAK KHWAB

            URDU - HINDI LITERATURE: DREAMING TOGETHER DIFFERENTLY

          Shamim Hanfi’s Page on rekhta

          Shamsur Rahman Faruqi

          Shamsur Rahman Faruqi is a distinguished Urdu critic, poet, fiction writer, and theorist. His works span over different genres, from literary history and criticism to poetry and fiction. Considered an authority on llm-e bayan (the science of poetic discourse) and classical poetry, he is also a noted lexicographer. Faruqi’s book Ka’i Chaand the Sar-e Asmaan, written in 2006, has been hailed as a masterpiece of Urdu fiction. An English version of this book, called Mirror of Beauty, was published in 2013. He has also translated his stories into English which are included in a book titled The Sun Rose from the Earth. He has also been credited with spearheading the revival of the Dastangoi style of storytelling in India. He was awarded the Saraswati Samman for his work She`r-e Shor-Angez, a study of the major eighteenth-century poet Meer Taqi Meer.

          • 14th February

            AUDITORIUM12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

            DISCUSSION

            MIR TAQI MIR: MAT SAHAL HAMEIN JAANO

            SHAMSUR RAHMAN FARUQI with QAZI JAMAL HUSSAIN

          Shamsur Rahman Faruqi’s Page on rekhta

          Shariq Kaifi

          Shariq Kaifi is an Urdu poet from India who has shown remarkable skills in writing both ghazal and nazm. Aam sa Radde ‘Amal and Yahaan Tak Roshini Aati Kahaan Thhi are the collections of his ghazals and Apney Tamashey ka Ticket include his nazms, some of which are remarkable reflections on the poetics of death. His poetry has been critically acclaimed by some of the important Urdu critics.

          • 13th February

            STAGE LAWN7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

            Grand Mushaira

            BAZM-E-SUKHAN: MUSHAIRA

          Shariq Kaifi’s Page on rekhta

          Sukrita Paul Kumar

          Sukrita Paul Kumar is an English critic, poet, painter, and editor from India. She is an Honorary Fellow of International Writing Programme at the University of Iowa and an Honorary faculty member at the Durrell Centre at the island of Corfu in Greece. Her critical works include Narrating Partition and Conversations on Modernism. She has also co-written a book on Ismat Chughtai and was the chief editor of a major book, Cultural Diversity and Literary Traditions in India. She was the director of a UNESCO project, ‘The Culture of Peace’ when she edited a volume of Urdu short stories, Mapping Memories, from India and Pakistan. She currently holds the Aruna Asaf Ali Chair.

          • 13th February

            STAGE LAWN11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

            DISCUSSION

            YE KAISA ISHQ HAI URDU ZABAAN KA

            GULZAR in conversation with SUKRITA PAUL KUMAR

          Syed Kashif Raza

          Syed Kashif Raza: A broadcast journalist by profession, Syed Kashif Raza is a young and budding poet, writer and translator from Pakistan. So far he has authored five books including two volumes of poetry. His poems are charged and he depicts the social and personal themes in a way which is quite new in the Urdu poetry. He has written non-fiction as well and a volume of his travel writings “Deedam Istanbul aur dusri safar kahanian” will be published soon. His critical essays and political articles are also published frequently. He has translated the writings of Milan Kundera, Borges, James Joyce, Noam Chomsky and Muhammad Hanif into Urdu.

          • 13th February

            AUDITORIUM2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

            DISCUSSION

            NUQRAII GHANTIYAN SI BAJTI HAIN: AKHTARUL IMAN KI YAAD

            MEMORIES OF LOVE AND LONGING: REMEMBERING AKHTARUL IMAN

          Tigmanshu Dhulia

          Tigmanshu Dhulia is an Indian film dialogue writer, director, actor, screenwriter, producer, and casting director known for his works in Hindi cinema and Television. He wrote the dialogues for the 1998 film Dil Se. His career in direction has also garnered international recognition with the biographical film, Paan Singh Tomar premiered at the 2010 BFI London Film Festival which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film and the Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay. He is also well known for his role as Ramadhir Singh in Anurag Kashyap's modern cult film Gangs of Wasseypur. Dhulia holds a Master's Degree in Theatre from the National School of Drama. He has been honoured with the life membership of International Film and Television Club of Asian Academy of Film and Television. He has also been given the lifetime membership of the prestigious University Film Club, Aligarh Muslim University.

          • 14th February

            STAGE LAWN2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

            Filmon Men Urdu: Kal Aur Aaj

            Urdu in Films: Past and Present

          Tom Alter

          Tom Alter is a United States-born Indian actor with remarkable love for Urdu language, literature, and culture. He is best known for his work in films as well as theatre. In 2008, he was awarded Padma Shri by the Indian government. He is a life member of International Film and Television Club and International Film and Television Research Centre of Asian Academy of Film and Television. In the recent past, he has appeared as Hussain Baba in TV serial Khamosh sa Afsana which was, telecast on India's state-owned network, Doordarshan. He has also appeared as Ghalib, and since November 2014, he has been playing Sahir Ludhianvi in a stage production based on the life and works of the famous Urdu poet and film-lyricist.

          • 13th February

            STAGE LAWN3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

            PLAY

            GHALIB KE KHAT

            A play based on Ghalib's letters featuring TOM ALTER

            Written & directed by: M. SAYEED ALAM

          Tom Alter’s Page on rekhta

          Vidha Lal & Abhimanyu Lal

          Vidha Lal, a multi-facated kathak exponent, is a disciple of renowned guru Smt. Geetanjali Lal of Jaipur Gharana. She has emerged as a notable star in the field of kathak dance. She is an empanelled artist with Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and ‘A’ grade artist with Delhi Doordarshan. Vidha has earned great acclaim in the media and from connoisseurs for her brilliant solo performances in India and abroad.

          Abhimanyu lal, son and disciple of renowned guru Smt. Geetanjali lal is recongnized as one of the most accomplished kathak dancers of India. The splendor of his brilliant solo performances has earned him applause both in India and other parts of the world.

          • 14th February

            AUDITORIUM5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

            PERFORMANCE

            ANDAAZ-E-RAQS

            A poetry-based dance performance by VIDHA & ABHIMANYU LAL

          Zaheda Hina

          Zaheda Hina is a noted Urdu columnist, essayist, short story writer, novelist, and dramatist from Pakistan. She chose journalism as a career in the mid 1960s. In 1970, she married the well-known poet Jaun Elia. Zaheda Hina was associated with the daily Jang from 1988 until 2005, when she moved to the Daily Express, Pakistan. She now lives in Karachi. Hina has also worked for Radio Pakistan, BBC Urdu and Voice of America. Since 2006, she has been writing a weekly column, ‘Pakistan Diary’ in Rasrang, the Sunday magazine of India's largest read Hindi newspaper, Dainik Bhaskar. In August 2006, she was nominated for Pakistan's highest award, the Pride of Performance, which she declined as a mark of protest against the military government in Pakistan

          • 13th February

            AUDITORIUM11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

            DISCUSSION

            ISMAT CHUGHTAI: RIWAYAT SHIKAN AURAT KI AWAAZ

            ISMAT CHUGHTAI: VOICE OF THE DEFIANT WOMAN

            JEELANI BANO PADMA SACHDEV ZAHEDA HINA

            Moderator: ANAMIKA

          Zaheda Hina’s Page on rekhta
          • Abbas Tabish

          • Abdul Bismillah

          • Anamika

          • Ankit Chadha

          • Anwar Maqsood

          • Anwar Masood

          • Asad Muhammad Khan

          • Asghar Wajahat

          • Asif Farrukhi

          • Asma Husain

          • Baidar Bakht

          • BIMAL CHADHA

          • Darain Shahidi

          • Danish Iqbal

          • Farhat Ehsas

          • Faridoon Shahryar

          • Fazil Jamili

          • Gopi Chand Narang

          • Gulzar

          • Hameed Shahid

          • Ila Bedi Dutta

          • Imtiaz Ali

          • Javed Akhtar

          • Javed Siddiqui

          • Jeelani Bano

          • Kanwaljit Singh

          • Kausar Munir

          • Khushbir Singh Shaad

          • Kumar Vishvas

          • Lubna Salim

          • M. Sayeed Alam

          • Mohammad Alvi

          • Moin Shadab

          • Naghma Sahar

          • Najeeb Jung

          • Nandita Das

          • Nomaan Shauque

          • Qamar Dagar

          • Qazi Jamal Hussain

          • Rafaqat Ali Khan

          • Rahman Abbas

          • Rene Singh

          • Richa Anirudh

          • Sabri Brothers

          • Syeda Hameed

          • Sania Saeed

          • Sarmad Sultan Khoosat

          • Shabana Azmi

          • Shafey Kidwai

          • Shagufta Yasmin