An annual India Poetry Reading is arranged at Harvard University every May.  The event commenced in 1997 and has continued every year.  This year’s program is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, to be held at 3 PM in The Auditorium, South Asia Building, Harvard University, 1730 Cambridge Street in Cambridge, MA.  We will be hosted by Harvard South Asia Institute and the Department of South Asian Studies at Harvard University. http://southasiainitiative.harvard.edu/

The South Asia Institute (SAI) at Harvard University engages faculty and students through interdisciplinary programs to advance and deepen the teaching and research on social, political, cultural and economic issues relevant to South Asia.  The Department of South Asian Studies encompasses the older Department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies.  It deals with language education, philosophy, linguistics and religion in Indian subcontinent.

Our topic this time is "Matrubhasha’ (Mother Tongue)".  You can write a new poem or pick up a poem from the literature.  All languages are welcome.  We will read all as time would permit.   Please do encourage others in the community to join.

A new group called South Asian Poets of New England (SAPNE) has started 6 years ago, as an offspring of Harvard Annual Poetry meets. It convenes quarterly as a poetry reading group to listen to languages and voices. More than forty poets from various regions in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal are actively writing and participating in recitations in New England Area.

SAPNE poets write in many Indian languages and in English. Many are published in magazines and have their collections of poems printed in books. Their work is widely recognized here and abroad. Some have been awarded literary prizes and some of the poems are prescribed in the syllabi of Universities in India. You can join the group, (www.sapne.us) to come and read your poems.

Please contact Dr. Bijoy Misra, He can be reached by email at bmisra@fas.harvard.edu or by phone at 781.259.0029.  The Gujarati poet of eminence Sri Chandrakant Shah will help coordinate the event.  He may be contacted at Bostonwale@gmail.com or by phone at 781.983.4941.  

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