‘Meer Ki Dilli’: Urdu Literary Festival To Be Held In The Capital

EE News Desk Feb 13, 2024

The capital is set to commemorate Urdu poet Meer Taqi Meer on his 300th birth anniversary with a unique festival titled ‘Meer ki Dilli, Shahjahanabad: The Evolving City’.

The Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu (Hind), commonly known as Urdu Ghar and established by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in 1882, will organise a four-day celebration dedicated to Meer Taqi Meer. The festival is scheduled to kick off on 15 February, 2024 at the India International Centre, marking a significant occasion for the oldest Urdu literary institution.

The festival is poised to capture the spirit of Shahjahanabad through in-depth discussions exploring its history, culture, and evolution. With 30 sessions and over 40 speakers, the four-day event will also include cultural programs in the evenings.

The opening ceremony will witness the release of an unabridged edition of Meer Taqi Meer's autobiography. Originally published in 1928, this work has been translated into Persian for the first time by Dr. Sadaf Fatima. While the inaugural Urdu edition was introduced in January 2024, the festival will unveil the second edition, featuring significant revisions by the translator.

Furthermore, the festival will debut the revised edition of the renowned 1906 book focusing on Master Ramchandra, the scholarly mathematics professor at Delhi College and a notable Urdu writer. Additionally, a special edition of Urdu Adab, the century-old quarterly journal of the Anjuman, will be revealed during the event. This special issue, dedicated to Shahjahanabad, showcases articles penned in Urdu by various eminent personalities.