Kumar Vishwas, other poets make audience laugh, think

Nagpur: Despite rains leading to a last minute venue change, the poetry programme titled ‘Ek Shaam Kumar Vishwas Ke Naam’ organized during the ongoing Khasdar Sankrutik Mahotsav was attended by droves of people at Bhat Hall in Reshimbagh on Monday.
The world-renowned Hindi poet and a leader of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Vishwas dazzled the audience with his poetry on love and heartbreak. Reciting his famous couplets ‘Koi deewana kehta hain’ he had the entire hall singing along with him. Through his latest poem, he spoke about India’s importance through its culture and traditions. Due to his political background and dry wit, the laureate had the audience in stitches while cracking jokes after jokes on the political scenario of the country, sparing none.

The other poets of the evening were equally well-versed in their art. Sudeep Bhola, who was the opening act of the programme, rendered a verse about woman empowerment, as well as the terror that plagues girls even at the delicate age of two months, and touched the hearts of every member in the hall. He also spoke about various current issues prevalent in the country through parodies of various Bollywood songs, giving the serious issues a funny touch.

The next act, Dinesh Bawra, through his poem on sugar, cleverly explored themes of diseases, woman empowerment and the weakening relations of people today. The only female poet of the night, Mamta Banerjee recited her famous parody on the song ‘Jhumka gira re’ which hilariously takes a dig on the stereotypical nature of political ministers.

Ramesh Muskan examined and explained the theme of socioeconomic differences faced in today’s society through his poem of a simple boy and a modern girl.

The programme was inaugurated by chairman of Lokmat Media Vijay Darda and wife of Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Kanchan. Also present on the dais were MLA Sudhakar Kohle, MLCs Anil Sole, Girish Vyas and Nago Ganar, ex-MP Datta Meghe, deputy mayor Deepraj Pardikar, senior journalist Shripad Aparajit, poet Madhup Patil, secretary of Jan Akrosh Ravindra Kaskhedikar, Jaiprakash Gupta and Dr Rajiv Podar.