Source : Times of India
Lucknow: Until recently, not many young ears in the city were attuned to the nuances of poetry. But thanks to a group of youths, the scene is changing. Passengers travelling from Munshipulia Metro station to CCS Airport were in for a surprise on Saturday evening, when a group of people oraganised an open mic session full of poetry, storytelling and music.
Creating a literary atmosphere on board, the open mic event titled Navonmesh was a fourth public event hosted en route the 45-minute ride, organised by nine youngsters. From traditional ghazal to shayari, the youths caught the attention of passengers travelling on the north-south corridor.
Anshuman, who performed a poetry titled Musafir, said, “Open mic sessions are becoming a regular feature of the city. Today, the added zing to such event is that it is happening in a Metro and allowing us to entertain the people.”
As language was no bar, participants read out their favourite poems in an array of languages, from Hindi, English to even Urdu.
Another performer, Anup, who began his poetry with a recital of Saraswati vandana, said, “Such events allow you to make the best use of whatever space is available, and also engage with more new upcoming artists in the crowd.”
Lucknow Metro is slowly becoming a hub of literature and art, as over three events have so far been organised on the north-south corridor. From a chess tournament and mushaira to a poster-making competition, these activities seem to be a hit among the commuters.
“Sports, literature and arts event add an aesthetic value to our daily monotonous routine and brings joy to the ennui of everyday travel in a Metro,” said Aavantika Bhatt, a commuter.
On April 7, a chess competition was organised by LMRC, where children aged between 8 and 14 years participated. On April 28, Lucknow resident Mohammad Siraj Mehdi recited a mushaira on board throwing light on the past traditions of Lucknow and the present tech-savvy world. On May 17, LMRC organised a poster-making competition for schoolchildren from across the city.
