We keep hearing from our national and international audience about their constant disappointment at not being able to attend live sessions here in Delhi. Last week was a hectic one for us, since Kaafiya finally got out, hit the ground, and started spreading a message of poetry and creative expression far and wide. In colleges, private gatherings and historical precincts of Delhi, we took out our imaginative quills to scribble some exquisite verses on the hearts of Dilliwaalas.
For all those who could not make it to the events, here is a short glimpse of all that happened. This is also a glimpse into the glorious events we are still to bring to you in our #RunUp2Kaafiya series. Let's get cracking!
#TalkingPoetry at PGDAV College
Kaafiya, a young butterfly that carries the words of the ages to create a storm, generated her first winds in the halls of PGDAV College. The event, which was called Talking Poetry, was conducted impressively by Saumya Kulshreshtha and Tauseef Ahmed. The first question raised was What Is Poetry. A number of answers came. Students said that its the language of the soul and an aftermath of heartbreak. But the most brilliant answer was that poetry is nothing but saying more in less. Saumya talked about the origin and evolution of our poetry in Sanskrit whereas Tauseef explained the inception and spreading of Urdu. The show was concluded by the mesmerising poetry of Tauseef, Shibani and Shiva – three brilliant poets and masters of their own sectors of poetry.
#RhymingAlong with Poets' Collective
Poets' Collective is a partner in all endeavours of Kaafiya. In their monthly gathering, this time their they gave a call for rhyming along to poets from Delhi and beyond. Alternating between English and Hindustani poetry, the gathering witnessed recitations from various genres of poetry. At these, genres overlapped to create a powerful effect of words on the already mesmerised hearts of the audience. Poets' Collective is a platform which encourages non-judgemental exhibition of poetry. And to get those pristine expressions out is a cause which Kaafiya supports wholeheartedly. Some new bonds of poetry were fostered effortlessly by the end of this meet, which we hope will stay on with us till the festival and beyond.
#PoetryHeritageWalk with Youth For Heritage Foundation
The Poetry Heritage Walk the first of its kind, conceptualised by Vikramjit Singh Rooprai and Yaseen Anwer. Mr. Rooprai is an established authority when it comes to history and heritage, especially that concerned with Delhi. On a hot Sunday afternoon, more than 50 eager listeners turned up to take a walk along the periphery of Humayun's Tomb to the many locations which, in some manner or the other have given refuge to poetry. The walk which began at Nizamuddin Khanqah, the place where Urdu was born, ended at the Tomb of Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khana, where a lovely impromptu poetry session provided a fitting conclusion to the event.
The coming week, again, is an action-packed one for us at Kaafiya. Here is what you can expect from us -
1. A lecture in a leading school of Delhi on Wednesday.
2. A creative writing festival - Rhetorica - being organized in collaboration with Gargi College. This will include a lecture (#TalkingPoetry), a creative writing competition and a poetry slam, on Wednesday.
3. A Confessional Poetry session in collaboration with You're Wonderful Project on Thursday.
4. A #TalkingPoetry session at Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies on Friday.
5. A Poetry Slam event in collaboration with IIT Delhi on Saturday.
6. A Poetry Heritage Walk in collaboration with Youth for Heritage Foundation in Mehrauli on Sunday.
Phew. Join us, please!
For all those who could not make it to the events, here is a short glimpse of all that happened. This is also a glimpse into the glorious events we are still to bring to you in our #RunUp2Kaafiya series. Let's get cracking!
#TalkingPoetry at PGDAV College
Kaafiya, a young butterfly that carries the words of the ages to create a storm, generated her first winds in the halls of PGDAV College. The event, which was called Talking Poetry, was conducted impressively by Saumya Kulshreshtha and Tauseef Ahmed. The first question raised was What Is Poetry. A number of answers came. Students said that its the language of the soul and an aftermath of heartbreak. But the most brilliant answer was that poetry is nothing but saying more in less. Saumya talked about the origin and evolution of our poetry in Sanskrit whereas Tauseef explained the inception and spreading of Urdu. The show was concluded by the mesmerising poetry of Tauseef, Shibani and Shiva – three brilliant poets and masters of their own sectors of poetry.
#RhymingAlong with Poets' Collective
Poets' Collective is a partner in all endeavours of Kaafiya. In their monthly gathering, this time their they gave a call for rhyming along to poets from Delhi and beyond. Alternating between English and Hindustani poetry, the gathering witnessed recitations from various genres of poetry. At these, genres overlapped to create a powerful effect of words on the already mesmerised hearts of the audience. Poets' Collective is a platform which encourages non-judgemental exhibition of poetry. And to get those pristine expressions out is a cause which Kaafiya supports wholeheartedly. Some new bonds of poetry were fostered effortlessly by the end of this meet, which we hope will stay on with us till the festival and beyond.
#PoetryHeritageWalk with Youth For Heritage Foundation
The Poetry Heritage Walk the first of its kind, conceptualised by Vikramjit Singh Rooprai and Yaseen Anwer. Mr. Rooprai is an established authority when it comes to history and heritage, especially that concerned with Delhi. On a hot Sunday afternoon, more than 50 eager listeners turned up to take a walk along the periphery of Humayun's Tomb to the many locations which, in some manner or the other have given refuge to poetry. The walk which began at Nizamuddin Khanqah, the place where Urdu was born, ended at the Tomb of Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khana, where a lovely impromptu poetry session provided a fitting conclusion to the event.
The coming week, again, is an action-packed one for us at Kaafiya. Here is what you can expect from us -
1. A lecture in a leading school of Delhi on Wednesday.
2. A creative writing festival - Rhetorica - being organized in collaboration with Gargi College. This will include a lecture (#TalkingPoetry), a creative writing competition and a poetry slam, on Wednesday.
3. A Confessional Poetry session in collaboration with You're Wonderful Project on Thursday.
4. A #TalkingPoetry session at Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies on Friday.
5. A Poetry Slam event in collaboration with IIT Delhi on Saturday.
6. A Poetry Heritage Walk in collaboration with Youth for Heritage Foundation in Mehrauli on Sunday.
Phew. Join us, please!
