Special Report by Manjari

The soil of Prayagraj came alive in the last week of September 2025 when Harendra Pratap’s iconic poem “Baadh” (Flood), written in Hindi in the 1980s in Patna, was recited here for the first time—stirring powerful emotions. With striking honesty, the poem exposed the corruption that floods both governance and society.

“You drown–drown–drown, drown again, We will save you”: Harendra Pratap

The poetry of the 1980s echoes in Prayagraj

Poet Anwar Abbas revived the spirit of Raskhan with a heartfelt poem dedicated to Lord Krishna. He also presented a copy of his own book to poet Harendra Pratap as a mark of respect.

On 25 September, the historic city witnessed a rare literary confluence at the residence of renowned poet Anwar Abbas Naqvi. The gathering celebrated the shared cultural and linguistic legacy of Hindi and Urdu.

The evening was graced by the presence of Harendra Pratap Singh—celebrated poet, literary figure, and senior IEDS officer (President, AIMTOA & Joint Director, Ministry of MSME, Government of India, New Delhi). In his keynote, he remarked that the true wealth of humanity lies not in material possessions or power but in the harmony of minds and the companionship of ideas. His recital of two timeless poems, “Baadh” and “Aaj ki Patrakarita” (Journalism Today), electrified the atmosphere.

Dr. Pradeep Chitranshi added intellectual depth, tracing the historical and cultural bonds between Hindi, Urdu, and other Indian languages. The session was skillfully anchored by M.S. Khan (Shahid Ali Shahid), whose eloquence and engaging style held the audience spellbound.

The host, Anwar Abbas Naqvi, opened with a classical Hindi ghazal, followed by an Urdu ghazal that won thunderous applause. His versatility shone through, bridging traditions. The evening further sparkled with contributions from Prof. Sameer Mishra (Dr. G. Ganesan Mishra), Rang Pandey, Shailendra Jai, Jafar Askari, Ms. Misbah Allahabadi, and Waquif Ansari—each mesmerizing the audience with ghazals, verses, poems, and couplets.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Syed Suleman Ahmad, a noted social activist and thinker, who hailed the evening as a shining example of the unbreakable unity between Hindi and Urdu. He emphasized that the confluence was a symbol of linguistic vitality and social harmony.

Indeed, the evening was not merely a recital of poetry—it was a reminder that languages thrive not in isolation but in togetherness, uniting hearts, illuminating minds, and strengthening cultural bonds.

A day earlier, a poetic gathering at Kunjpur Guest House had also brought together many of these poets along with poetess Razia Sultan. Over two days, the land of Prayagraj was drenched in a downpour of poetry.