Aligarh Alumni Association of New England (AAANE) held its 9th Annual International Mushaira with renowned Urdu poets from India, Pakistan and USA. This enlightening evening with poets this year was held on Sep. 16th at Boylston High School.

The event opened with an introduction and welcome to the new AAANE Team by Ms. Homaira Naseem. This was followed by a beautiful rendition of Tilawat-e-Quran by Amaan Syed Ali. Dr. Sadia Chaghtai, President of AAANE welcomed the audience and reaffirmed AAANE’s commitment to charity. She requested the members to donate generously to support the education of children in the US and India.

AAANE presented “Lifetime Service” award to Mr. Syed Ali Rizvi for his unflinching support of his alma mater. Mr. Rizvi has done yeomen service to both AAANE and the national alumni association chapter. ATFS, an afterschool educational program institution was recognized for academic excellence. Lokvani was proud to receive the community service award from AAANE.

The main event of the evening was a fabulous showcase of Urdu poetry that sometimes made the audience roar with laughter, at other times touched a deeply sentimental corner of one’s heart. Local poets, Dr. Saleem Khanani, Dr. Kiran Nath, Dr. Muneebur Rehman, Janab Sarvar Iqbal, Janab Khaled Irfan, Dr. Jamal Qadri, Janab Maarij Kirmani, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and international poets Janab Farhat Ehsaas – India, Janab Iqbal Ashhar – India, Janab Khushbir Singh “Shaad”- India, Prof. M. S. Z. Chaghtai – India and Janab Saleem Kausar –Pakistan kept the audience entertained with their lovely poems for over three hours.

Each year the Mushaira seems to get better and the audience is always waiting for the next AAANE Mushaira to come around.  Lokvani thanks AAANE for the lovely recognition presented to us and wishes this organization the very best.  We look forward to working with AAANE for many years to come.

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