Muslim Marathi Literary Summit concludes with a strong message of harmony and education
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Nagpur: "Education is the only path towards true empowerment. Instead of blaming each other, we must come together in harmony and brotherhood," said
Dr SN Pathan
, president of the 10th All India Muslim Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, as the 2-day summit concluded in Nagpur on Sunday evening.
Delivering his concluding address, Dr Pathan emphasised that the literary summit had no political agenda but was a platform to bring forward diverse ideas and promote unity. "Let the message of
Hindu-Muslim unity
spread from this conference. Today, more than ever, the ideals of social harmony taught by the Warkari and Sufi saints are needed," he said, appealing for a renewed focus on education among Muslims to achieve development and uplift.
The summit, which began on April 26, witnessed a vibrant celebration of Muslim contribution to
Marathi literature
through symposiums, plays, storytelling sessions, poetry meets, and book releases. Writers, poets, and literary activists from across Maharashtra participated in large numbers.
The second day opened with the much-acclaimed theatrical monologue 'Mai Fatima Bol Rahi Hu', followed by 'Samvidhan Zindabad', a stirring portrayal of the making of the Indian Constitution and the monumental role of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.
A storytelling session, presided over by Ayyub Nallamandu from Solapur and conducted by Prof Suraiyya Jahagirdar, captured various shades of Muslim life in Maharashtra's rural and urban settings.
The symposium on 'Education, Reservation, and Protection of Muslims' and the 'Role of Media' saw pointed discussions under the leadership of Naushad Usman from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Another symposium focused on 'Cultural and Financial Threats on Minorities under Democracy', presided over by Dr Aslam Bari of Nagpur.
The concluding ceremony was graced by Swati Karad (Pune), former MP Hussain Dalwai, Adv Firdos Mirza, Prof Javed Pasha Qureishi, Dr KG Pathan, Prabhu Rajgadkar, Prof Ramesh Pise, Imtiyaz Ali, Prof Faruq Sheikh, Hasib Nadaf, Dr Aslam Bari, and Dr Mamta Moon among others.
Throughout the summit, symposiums explored rich topics such as the literature of Muslim Marathi saints, the influence of Phule-Shahu-Ambedkar thought on Muslim literature, and the expression of pain and rebellion in their writings. A multilingual poetry summit chaired by Siraj Shikalkar saw participation from nearly 100 poets.
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