On the occasion of 45th foundation day of Janvadi Lekhak Sangh, India.

On the occasion of the 45th Foundation Day of the Janwadi Lekhak Sangh, a seminar and poetry reading were organized by the Karnal unit of the association at the Social Justice Library and Study Center, Sant Ravidas Temple, New Ramesh Nagar. The chief guest of the program was noted psychologist and counsellor, Dr. Vikram Chauhan. The event was presided over by eminent senior litterateur Dr. Ashok Bhatia. The stage proceedings were conducted by General Secretary Deepak Vohra.
The program was held in two sessions. The first session was a seminar in which Deepak Vohra shed light on the history of the establishment of the Janwadi Lekhak Sangh. He said that this day is not merely a remembrance of the founding of an organization, but a tribute to the ideology, commitment, and struggle that made literature the voice of the common people. The Janwadi Lekhak Sangh was established on 13 February 1982 with the objective of making literature a medium of expression for the exploited, marginalized, and oppressed sections of society. The organization believes that literature is not merely an aesthetic pursuit, but a powerful tool for social change.
The second session began with a poetry recital. Advocate Vikram Kumar opened the session by reciting a few couplets from a ghazal by progressive poet Manjeet Bhola. A glimpse:
कौन जाकर अब कहे दरबारियों के सामने
भूक मुँह बाये खड़ी है बस्तियों के सामने
Joni Panchal recited a poem on how relationships change after marriage and how mutual bonds and love begin to crack. Mahendra Kaul, a retired bank manager, presented a poem based on his experiences of caste-based oppression in his life. Teacher and poet Dayal Jast recited:

ये सही वक्त है हमको संभलना चाहिए।
इस पत्थर दिल को कुछ पिघलना चाहिए।

Deepak Vohra recited his own poem:

फ़ूल/ झर चुका है/ डाल से
पर/ हवा में /तैर रही है
अब भी/ उसकी सुगंध
और/ हमारी स्मृति में
वो/ फिर-फिर खिलता है
खुश्बू बन कर

A prominent voice in contemporary Hindi poetry, Rajesh Bharti, recited his ghazal:

गूंगा होकर बोल रहा है
तुमसे बेहतर बोल रहा है

ख़ून बहा है मज़लूमों का
सारा मंज़र बोल रहा है

Senior litterateur and short story writer Dr. Ashok Bhatia recited three short-short stories. One of his short pieces titled “Bas Aise Hi” was presented as follows:

— आप मंदिर क्यों जाते हैं?
— ताकि ईश्वर की कृपा बनी रहे।
— पर आप तो कहते हैं कि सब कुछ पहले से लिखा है। फिर मंदिर जाने की क्या जरूरत है?
— बस ऐसे ही।

A book exhibition was also organized on the occasion, featuring publications by Unic Publishers, including Jaipal Ji’s poetry collections Band Darwaze and Kavita Bhi Tumhen Dekhti Hai; the autobiographical account of women sanitation workers Zahar Jo Humne Piya; Karmchand Kesar’s Haryanvi ghazal collection Gullar Ke Phool; and Rajesh Bharti’s poetry collection Ret Par Rekhaen.

Dayal Jast, Devashish Chauhan, Samarth Vohra, Anjali, and many other literature enthusiasts were present. The seminar concluded with a literary dialogue and mutual exchange of ideas. In the end, General Secretary Deepak Vohra expressed his gratitude to everyone.

Deepak Vohra