Remembering Maa…

‘Kuch Lamhe Maa Ke Naam’ celebrates a mother whose love for poetry was infinite, so much so that even when life was leaving her, poetry remained close

By Suhani Dewra

Soon after Farida Hussain lost her mother, Begum Khadija Ansari, she decided to host a mushaira in the name of her beloved mother who was an ardent admirer of poetry. “My mother was so fond of poetry that she often recited a well-known poet based on the situation. Shakespeare, Milton, Faiz, Iqbal…their poems were always on her mind,” remembers research activist Farida Hussain.

The first mushaira was conducted in 2017, a year after Begum Khadija Ansari’s death. It was titled ‘Ek Shaam Maa Ke Naam’ and was hosted at Farida Hussain’s house. The program became an annually recurring event, with a new name ‘Kuch Lamhe Maa Ke Naam’, as the mushairas were also conducted during the day time. As part of the mushaira, alongside poetry, the congregation also shares anecdotes on Begum Khadija Ansari such as these ones – “Begum Khadija’s love for poetry was so deep, that she often conversed with her chief justice (of Jammu & Kashmir) husband in poems” and “A week before she died, at 92, she was admitted in a hospital. While in that state of sickness, somebody asked her to recite a few lines and within a few seconds the lady recited several poems to everybody's pleasant surprise”

The gathering in the mushaira expanded from close friends and family to others as well. In later years, ‘Kuch Lamhe Maa Ke Naam’ found a partner - Dobara - to help conduct the sessions. “Dobara is a platform designed for the well-being of senior citizens. Keeping up our mission, we offered to help Farida Hussain in hosting the mushairas. In fact, we have spread the love for poetry far and wide. We now invite school students as well, to send in their poems in any language,” shares Mateen Ansari, the founder of Dobara.

Conducted usually around Begum Khadija’s death or birth anniversary, ‘Kuch Lamhe…’ follows the theme of mother and is a session open to all and sundry who appreciates poetry. “My mother chose poetry as her means of expression. There was no better way I could offer her tribute and show my love and respect for her than inviting poets and poetry into ours as well other’s lives. ‘Kuch Lamhe Maa Ke Naam’ is my way to celebrate her, shares Farida Hussain.

To participate in ‘Kuch Lamhe Maa Ke Naam’, log on to www.dobara.com or contact the admin 7416140500.