Poetry's Clarion Call Echoes On Dinkar's Land

Lalganj in Raebareli turned into a vibrant space of literature and culture as a grand Kavi Sammelan was organised at Ramlila Maidan on Tuesday, on the eve of the birth anniversary of Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’. Held under the banner of Shri Foundation, the event brought together poets from different parts of the country, whose powerful, humorous, satirical, sensitive and socially rooted compositions kept the audience engaged for a long time.

The atmosphere at Ramlila Maidan reflected the spirit of a literary gathering dedicated to Dinkar’s legacy. Listeners remained seated through the programme and repeatedly encouraged the poets with applause after every impactful line. The evening saw poetry being used not just for entertainment, but also as a medium to express emotion, social concern, satire and cultural pride.

The literary heritage of Rashtrakavi Dinkar was remembered with deep respect during the programme. Speakers said Dinkar’s pen did not merely give words to literature, but also gave voice to self-respect, national consciousness and social awakening. They said his writings continue to inspire the new generation with the values of struggle, courage and love for the nation.

The Kavi Sammelan began at 4 pm. Among the poets who recited their compositions were Swayam Srivastava, Priyanshu Gajendra, Akhilesh Dwivedi, Jagjivan Mishra ‘Dinesh Priyajan’, Hasan Raebarelvi, Dr. Chetna Pandey, Anjani Kumar Singh, Shashi Shreya, Atul Bajpai and Neeraj Pandey, along with several others. The stage saw varied shades of poetry through the evening. At times, humour filled the venue with laughter. At other moments, satire struck at the system. Sensitive compositions also moved the audience emotionally.

The event also carried a message of social service alongside literature. Shri Foundation president and social worker Manoj Dwivedi ‘Dada Shri’, and social worker Sudha Dwivedi, former candidate from the Sareni Assembly constituency, said literature is the mirror of society and poets give words to the conscience of society. They said the Kavi Sammelan organised on the eve of Dinkar’s birth anniversary was not merely a programme of entertainment, but an effort to strengthen literature, culture and social awareness.

They also said there is a need today to take literature to every village and to the younger generation, so that young people can remain connected with their language, culture and proud literary tradition. The organisers underlined that such literary programmes help build a bridge between the cultural heritage of the region and the new generation.

A strong social and cultural presence from Baiswara was visible on one platform during the event. Various social, literary and cultural organisations from the Sareni Assembly constituency participated in the ceremony. Representatives of Prema Devi Smarak Jan Seva Samiti, Lalganj Sanatan Sanskar Foundation, Maa Parvati Seva Samiti, Rana Beni Madhav Baks Singh Smarak Samiti, Adishakti Maa Mukta Suretha Seva Sansthan, Shri Saraswati Naam Sahitya Parishad, Baiswara Sadhana Samiti, Kalyalok Literary, Social and Cultural Institute, Panchvati Vikas Samiti, Kislay Literary Institution, Baleshwar Seva Samiti, Shri Jankalyan Samiti, Om Shivshakti Manav Seva Samiti and Swarnkar Seva Samiti were present, among many others.

Several other organisations also took part in the programme. These included various industry and trade representative bodies, Shri Dussehra Ramlila Committee, Baiswara Chetna Sangh, Baiswara Literary and Social Organisation, Shaheed Smarak Samiti, Yuva Shanti Ekta Sangathan and Kalam Shakti Trust. Their participation gave the event the character of a wider social and cultural gathering, rather than only a poetry recital.

During the programme, institutions and representatives active in the fields of literature, culture and social service in the region were also honoured. The felicitation ceremony added dignity to the event. The organisers said honouring the area’s talents and social-cultural organisations was meant to encourage their work and spread positive energy in society.

The literary stage set up in Lalganj on the eve of Dinkar Jayanti continued to echo till late at night with poetry, applause and literary consciousness. The event conveyed the message that literature still has the power to connect society, awaken it and show it a new direction.