HYDERABAD: The Urdu mushaira at Deccan College of Medical Sciences was an evening of poetry, history, and conversations about language and identity. As part of the college’s 40th anniversary celebrations — Quadrigenia, poets from across India recited verses on truth, resilience, and the struggles faced by Urdu in the country.Poet Nadeem Farrukh, who presided over the event, set the tone early on. “Abhi yeh sheher Urdu bolta hai,” he said, a reminder that Hyderabad has not forgotten the language. Responding to those who have called Urdu a language of terrorists, he said, “This is the language of Ghalib, Mir, Iqbal, Premchand, and Krishan Chander. If this is terrorism, then literature itself is a crime.”The evening was also about the journey of the college and the vision of Faqr-e-Millat Abdul Waheed Owaisi, who had predicted in 1972 that the community would one day have its own engineering and medical colleges. That vision finally took shape under the leadership of Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi.Poets spoke about love, deception, hypocrisy, and the changing place of Urdu in India. Nawaz Deobandi reminded the audience that Urdu has never belonged to one community. “I am the language of Anand Narayan Mulla, of Firaq Gorakhpuri, of Munshi Premchand. I was never of one religion or race — I belong to all who love poetry and expression.”Other poets included Mounika Moni, Azm Shakeri, Tayyab Pasha Qadri, Mahashar Afridi, Nadeem Farrukh, Sampat Sarai, Salahuddin Nayyar and Md Ali Wafa.The mushaira was one of the many events planned for Quadrigenia. Over the next few days, the celebrations will continue with cultural programmes, sports, and discussions. The final evening, on February 23, will close with a qawwali night, with alumni, faculty, and students in a celebration of 40 years of Deccan College of Medical Sciences.
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