Women’s College Golconda resonates with fragrance of Urdu

A cultural programme at the Government Degree College for Women, Golconda, celebrated Urdu through poetry, prose, and drama, rekindling appreciation for the language and its literary treasures among students and faculty.

Hyderabad: The fragrance of Urdu wafted gently over the centuries-old walls of Golconda, and for a few enchanting hours, the Government Degree College for Women was transformed into a cultural mehfil. The occasion was a special presentation by Anjumane Rekhta Goyan, whose ongoing series Asnafe Sukhan Goee seeks to rekindle love for Urdu and its literary treasures.

Students and faculty alike found themselves transported by the lilting cadences of poetry, the dramatic flair of prose, and the refined expression of Urdu diction. The performers wove together genres – ghazal, afsana (story), inshaiya (essay), and drama – holding the audience spell bound.

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The highlight of the programme held the other day was the staging of Premchand’s famous play ‘Lottery Ticket’, enacted by Javeed Kamal, Rafia Nausheen, and Javeed Mohiuddin. Their lively performance drew laughter and admiration in equal measure.

Equally engaging was the reading of Krishan Chander’s short story ‘Do Furlong Lambi Sadak’, which struck a chord with its simple yet profound narrative. Adding a lyrical note, Makhdoom Mohiuddin’s celebrated poem Chand Taron Ka Bun was recited, drawing applause for its timeless beauty.

What made the programme memorable was not just the variety of presentations, but also the way they touched hearts. Principal Prof. T. Srilakshmi was so moved that she publicly declared her wish to learn Urdu. Turning to Vice Principal Dr. Humaira Sayeed, who is closely associated with the initiative, she requested her guidance. “Urdu is not just a language but a culture and a refined diction,” she observed, before reciting Daagh Dehlvi’s immortal couplet:

Urdu hai jiska naam, humein jaante hain Daagh
Saare jahan mein dhoom hamari zubaan ki hai

Prof. Amina Tahseen of Maulana Azad National Urdu University urged students to go beyond exams and embrace Urdu literature for the values and life lessons it imparts. English lecturer, Dr. Rajneesh, compared Urdu’s sweetness to ‘sheer khurma’ and recalled how his father and grandfather, though Hindus, had mastered both Urdu and Persian.

The programme’s success was shaped by a dedicated team – Dr. Javeed Kamal, Dr. Gule Rana, Dr. Atiya Mujeeb Arafi, Rafia Nausheen, Lattefuddin Lateef, K.N. Wasif and Javeed Mohiuddin. Adding youthful charm, students like Sidra Arif, Sakina Begum, Asma, and Amina participated with enthusiasm, delighting the gathering with their spirited performances.

The event concluded on a warm note with the college authorities hosting a sumptuous lunch. Long after the last morsel was eaten, the fragrance of Urdu lingered in the air of Golconda, leaving behind a renewed love for the language of tehzeeb and grace.