Hansi Ke Favvare: Blending Patriotism and Laughter
Thunderous laughter and national pride filled the air at the Impact Center, Global Mall on Memorial Day, May 29th 2006. Over 300 individuals attended the Hasya Kavi Sammelan organized by Sewa International, a non-profit volunteer organization. Aptly titled Hansi ke Favvare (fountains of laughter), the program featured three stand-up comic acts in Hindi by poets of the hasya-vyangya (humor and satire) genre. Each of the poets had a unique method of entertaining the audience yet instilling patriotism.
The program began with Abhinav Shukla, a talented young poet, who has competed in poetry competitions at the national level. From his college memories to social issues to his failed cooking efforts, Mr. Shukla touched upon a myriad of topics. He entertained the audience with his stories about Valentine's Day but also provoked thoughts on issues like quota reservations in the educational system of India.
The sutradhar or the unifying element of the event was Satyanarayan Mourya, fondly known as Baba Mourya. A multi-talented performer, artist and orator, devoted to furthering the cause of pride in Hinduism, Baba Mourya has worked with Zee TV as a script writer and program manager producing over 3000 episodes of 'Jaagran', 'Amrit Kalash', and 'Bhakti Geet'., He reminded the audience of their duty towards their motherland, the need for national assertion, and individuality. He sprinkled in humorous anecdotes and stories that left the audience roaring with laughter.
The third poet in the trio was Rajesh "Chetan". A visionary poet of patriotic and nationalist genre; he has been featured by Doordarshan, NDTV and Sab TV channels and writes weekly columns in national dailies. His energetic rendition of patriotic verses reverberated throughout the halls as he called for action to stop violence and to promote peaceful existence in the world.
Finally, "Baba" Maurya, an extremely talented artist, painted images of divinity and inspiration. Lord Rama, Lord Hanuman, Veer Chhatrapati Shivaji and Swami Vivekananda took form with Baba's effortless brush strokes as the audience looked on in awe. The climax of the Kavi Sammelan saw Baba paint a breathtaking image of Mother India while singing songs of national pride from Hindi movies. The audience too joined with full force, clapping, singing and dancing with him. All the paintings were auctioned during the event, with the proceeds going towards Sewa International's activities.
In addition to the acts, a 31 panel exhibition of Hindu culture, dharmic traditions, origin of vedic culture, science behind Ayurveda, and contributions made by ancient India to the modern world of today were displayed. .
The three poets, musicians Manish and Sandeep Savla, Sewa International's organizing team, and sponsors of the event were thanked for their contributions. Sewa International is committed to fostering the development and relief of underprivileged and needy people throughout the world. For volunteer information visit www.sewausa.org
~ Nika Desai
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
