Kashmiri poet Ravinder Kaul ‘Ravi’ mesmerises audience with poem on the beauty of valley snowfall
VINOD BHAT
NEW DELHI, Feb 22: Celebrating the linguistic diversity and literary richness of the nation, the Sahitya Akademi organized a grand Multilingual Poets’ Meet on the occasion of International Mother Language Day on February 21, 2026, at its Conference Hall in New Delhi. The event brought together eminent poets representing a wide spectrum of Indian languages, reaffirming the Akademi’s commitment to preserving and promoting the country’s vibrant literary heritage.
The programme was chaired by noted Hindi writer and Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar awardee Divik Ramesh, who opened the session by congratulating participants and highlighting the significance of mother tongues in shaping cultural identity. Quoting lines from Bharatendu Harishchandra, often regarded as the father of modern Hindi literature, he underlined the importance of nurturing one’s own language as a pillar of intellectual and emotional expression.
At the outset, the gathering paid homage to recently deceased literary figures. The audience was informed about the sad demise of Taren Boro, Convener of the Bodo Advisory Board; eminent Bengali writer Mani Shankar Mukhopadhyay, popularly known as Shankar; and Devendra Kumar, distinguished Hindi writer and Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar awardee. A minute’s silence was observed in their memory, lending a solemn note to the otherwise celebratory occasion.
The poets’ meet unfolded as a rich tapestry of languages and themes. Ratnottama Das, an eminent Assamese poet, recited her poem “I Was Fine As I Was” in Assamese, followed by its English rendition. Kaushik Sen presented Bengali poems, including a sharp political satire. Kiran Boro, representing Bodo literature, recited “Hamara Desh Bharat” and “Chandni Ke Munh Par Kale Daag,” which were later rendered in Hindi translation.
Dogri poet Kajal Suri captivated listeners with “Meri Sannate Di Kavita,” “Suno,” and “Amrod Da Boota.” Amlanjyoti Goswami presented English poems including “Mother,” “My Father Searched For A Poem,” and “Grandfather’s Postcard,” along with one of his Assamese works.
Gujarati poet Bhagyendra Patel delivered a moving poem depicting the agony of a sparrow injured by a kite’s sharp thread during the Uttarayan festival. Kannada poet Ramesh Aroli recited a poignant poem about the plight of a three-year-old boy arrested with his family in Zimbabwe and also sang a song reflecting on the impact of mobile phones in the modern world.
Among the highlights of the evening was the recital by Kashmiri poet Ravinder Kaul ‘Ravi’, who presented a poem in Kashmiri celebrating the serene beauty of snowfall in the Valley. His evocative verses painted vivid imagery of winter landscapes, resonating deeply with the audience and adding a distinct Himalayan flavour to the multilingual gathering.
Konkan poet Lilesh V. Kudalkar recited a poem commemorating Konkani attaining the status of a State language. Maithili poet Nivedita Jha presented a poem on forest fires and their consequences, followed by its Hindi translation. Malayalam poet Sindhu Suresh rendered a lyrical composition titled “Silent Houses,” while Manipuri poet Misna Chanu recited poems from an anthology of world mother tongues.
Marathi poet Jeevan Prakash Talegaonkar recited his poems “Bapu” and “Ram Hamare,” and Nepali poet Harka Bahadur Lamgade presented “Udhar Ka Yauvan.”
The second session continued the celebration of linguistic plurality. Biraja Mahapatra recited an Odia poem on the current political situation and another on the sufferings of immigrants in cities. Punjabi poet Akramal Kaur presented a ghazal emphasizing the importance of language and recited “Keedi Ka Aata.” Sanskrit poet Pramod Kumar Sharma offered a poem dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sanskrit.
Santali poet Sarojini Besha recited “Matru Bhasha” and “Meri Pehchan,” followed by Hindi translations. Sindhi poet Mohini Hingorani presented short poems addressing contemporary issues and human emotions. Tamil poet Vinitha S. R. recited “The Death” and “The Venom” in Tamil, with English translations. Telugu poet Dattaiah Attem spoke on the theme of mother tongue and also rendered his poem in English translation.
Urdu poet Moien Shadab recited couplets and a ghazal, while Divik Ramesh concluded the programme by quoting Kedarnath Singh’s celebrated poem “Matrubhasha” and presenting one of his own compositions.
The event was conducted by N. Suresh Babu, Deputy Secretary of Sahitya Akademi, who extended a vote of thanks on behalf of Secretary Ms. Pallavi Prashant Holkar.
The Multilingual Poets’ Meet stood as a vibrant tribute to India’s linguistic mosaic, reinforcing the message that every mother tongue carries within it the soul of its people. Through poetry that ranged from political reflection and social commentary to personal memory and natural beauty, the evening affirmed that India’s unity thrives in its diversity of voices.
