An initiative of cultural exchange and friendship between India and Mexico was celebrated through an erudite seminar and a vibrant poetry reading session. The erudite exchange of thoughts strengthened multiculturalism, universality and glocal appeal. Dr. Shikha reports for Different Truths.  

In an initiative of cultural exchange and friendship between India and Mexico a seminar titled, ‘Role of Poetry in Uniting Nations’ and ‘Poetry Reading’ was organised jointly by the Allahabad Museum and Different Truths Publications, on Saturday (Aug 24), in the Allahabad Museum’s conference hall, where six Mexican poets were welcomed to share their poetic expression on universal concerns. The erudite exchange of thoughts strengthened multiculturalism, universality and glocal appeal. The seminar, emceed by Dr. Jaya Kapoor Chadha, was divided into two sessions.

…poetry can join our cosmic and mystic souls. It has no borders and can join selves, souls and the world.

The first session commenced with the keynote address by Dr. Yuri Zambrano, the chief guest, a neurologist, activist, writer, editor, novelist, essayist and story-teller. He said that poetry can join our cosmic and mystic souls. It has no borders and can join selves, souls and the world. He talked about genes, individuality and social interactions. It is like geometry, and individuals are factors of Brahma, who can find the force of poetry in the Brahma.

Dr. Sunil Gupta, Director Allahabad Museum, emphasised the role of poetry in uniting the world, the healing power of poetry and poetry being different from other forms of literature like prose and drama. Poetry takes the help of imagery and symbolism and becomes powerful in expressing the idea of human pathos and existence. He stated that there is poetry even in the stories that archaeologists try to reconstruct from excavated material and human suffering comes on record out of all the scientific data collected. A poetic sensibility lends soul to archaeological excavations.

Prof.  Sonjoy Dutta Roy, of the University of Allahabad, spoke about the deeper response from Latin American poets to Tagore’s, Gitanjali, and how even then poetry had moved from the local to the universal.

Among other speakers, Prof.  Sonjoy Dutta Roy, of the University of Allahabad, spoke about the deeper response from Latin American poets to Tagore’s, Gitanjali, and how even then poetry had moved from the local to the universal. He shed light on

some rare letters and the relationship of Latin American poets with Tagore.

Prof. Sanjoy Saksena, of the University of Allahabad, highlighted the role of poetry in unifying emotions and thoughts, and how the progress of poetry has been influenced by language.

Prof. A. N. Dwivedi, of the University of Allahabad, emphasised the unifying role of poetry in modern times by beginning at the terrestrial level and ending in divinity. He drew attention to similar thoughts expressed by ancient Indian poets like Kabir, Tulsidas and Bhavbhuti, and Western poets like Wordsworth, Eliot and Frost.

Arindam Roy, Editor-in-Chief and Founder Different Truths Publications, in his valedictory address, threw light on the vision-mission of Different Truths in advocacy and the emerging trends of poetry writing today.

Arindam Roy, Editor-in-Chief and Founder Different Truths Publications, in his valedictory address, threw light on the vision-mission of Different Truths in advocacy and the emerging trends of poetry writing today. “Different Truths, he stated, moves on the twin fulcrums of passion and compassion”, he stated.  He made an important point that paucity of time and new technological influences have replaced epic poems. Now, lyric poems coexhist with Tweetku and Glocal poems – a combination of the local and the global. Tweetkus are shorter in length, rich in content and easily readable.

The second session was a Poetry Reading Session where self-composed poems were read by Mexican poets, Dr. Yuri Zambrano, Radha Govinda Lila Devi Dasi, Jorge Claudio Frayman, Paola Zarza, Mayra Chavrez and Gaudalupe Mich. Others included Prof. Sonjoy Dutta Roy, Dr. Shikha Chatterjee, Dr. Jaya Kapoor Chadha, Dr. Rashmi Jain, Abhishek Dutta Roy, Mugdha Agarwal, Shivangi Sood, Pooja Kumari, Prof. A. N. Dwivedi and Prof. Sanjoy Saksena.

Rajesh Mishra applauded the synergy of the two organisations, Different Truths Publications and Allahabad Museum.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Rajesh Mishra, Education Officer, Allahabad Museum. He applauded the synergy of the two organisations, Different Truths Publications and Allahabad Museum. Thanking the elite gathering for its presence, he complimented the Mexican poets for their sensitive contents.

Photos from Different Truths