Poets from Leh & Kargil participate in Hussaini Mushaira Secretary Culture requests poets to use & preserve local ethnic languages

Leh, Sep 14: Poets should use and preserve our own local ethnic languages, including Ladakhi/Bhoti, Balti, Sheena/Dardi and Purgi languages, said Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Kacho Mehboob Ali Khan, during the district-level multi-lingual Hussaini Mushaira held at Chuchot Yokma today. The event was organised by Ladakh Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (LAACL), Leh and Shia Muslim Co-ordination Committee, Auqaf Sub Committee Chuchot Yokma.
Secretary Tourism and Culture stated that culture determines the true identity of a community or race and stressed the need for all stakeholders to ensure that ethnic identities are preserved against modernisation. He informed about efforts being made by the Administration for the promotion and preservation of the cultural heritage of Ladakh. He assured that LAACL and Tourism Department would work for the preservation of culture of Ladakh.
Secretary Tourism and Culture requested the poets to come up with a theme and messages for society.
Earlier the programme was started with reciting Holy Quran “Tilawat-e-Quran-e-Pak” by Sheikh Manzoor Hussain Chochout, followed by presentation of “Naat-e-Imam Hussain (A.S).
Deputy Secretary, Ladakh Cultural Academy Kargil, Nazir Hussain, gave the welcome speech and said the objective of the programme is to provide a suitable platform to the budding poets to refine their poetic abilities under the guidance of the senior poets. He also recalling the supreme sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS)’s and his loyal companions emphasized the need to follow the path and principles of Hazrat Iman Hussain (AS)’s so as to bring virtue and morality in the present era which is faced with a lot of chaos and disorder.
President, Anjuman-e-Imamia Leh, Ashraf Ali Barcha lauded the efforts of LAACL Leh and Shia Muslim Co-ordination Committee, Auqaf Sub Committee Chuchut Yokma for organising the event. He requested LAACL Leh to involve the youth in literary and other programmes to raise awareness about the importance of preserving traditions and heritage. He called literature an integral part of Ladakhi society and shared that society will not progress until there is development in the literature in society.
Ven Thupstan Paldan said that such platforms would enable poets from both districts representing different vernacular languages to share their literary endeavours. He stressed the importance of understanding the basic principles of all religions.
More than 25 senior and aspiring poets from both districts representing Ladakhi/Bhoti, Balti, Purgi and Urdu languages took part in the day-long event. The poets mesmerised the audiences with their poetic collections. The notable names included senior poet and writer Ven Thupstan Paldan, Sheikh Nazir Ahmad Phyang, Akhone Fida Hussain Thiksey, Sayed Raza Rizvi, Khampo Konchok Phanday, Sheikh Manzoor Hussain Chochout, Akhtar Hussain Zubdavi, Ali Raza Skampari, Yasmin Fatima, Mehrun Nissa, Jigmat Dorjey Stok, Ali Ghulam Phyang, Mohd Abass Salamdas, Ghulam Haider Rustum, Tsering Targyas, Sakina Khatoon Zurkhang, Tsering Tashi, Mohd Rahulla Ruhani, Mohmmad Ali Zurkhang, Maqusma Bano, Naziya Jabeen, Roqiya Banoo, Gulzar Hussain Zubdavi and Fatima Banoo.
The whole day-long multilingual Hussaini Mushaira programme was beautifully conducted by Dr Thupstan Nurboo, Editor, Ladakh Cultural Academy, Leh
All the poets fascinated the audiences with their poetic collections mostly aimed at rendering praise and paying rich tributes to the martyrs of Karbala, and reflecting upon the philosophy of martyrdom.