Tonk: The city of Tonk is set to host two major cultural events this week, celebrating both Urdu and the arts. On November 9, World Urdu Day will be observed at Global Public School under the joint aegis of Murad Academy and the Rajasthan Calit Art Foundation. The celebration coincides with Allama Iqbal Jayanti, honoring the poet-philosopher’s literary and intellectual legacy.
The event will open with a khattati exhibition featuring Allama Iqbal’s verses displayed through calligraphy. Scholars and writers will then discuss the Urdu Angan Mumbai magazine’s special issue on “Murad Sayeed” and the relevance of Iqbal’s work in contemporary times. Dr Arshad Abdul Hamid will deliver a keynote address on Iqbal’s biography, poetry, and Urdu’s enduring role in India’s cultural history.
An All India Mushaira will follow, featuring poets from Delhi, Meerut, Jaipur, and local talent. Senior poet Shauk Ahsani will preside over the session, with Syed Saidan Shah as chief guest. Emerging young poets from Rajasthan are also expected to participate, and contributors to Urdu literature will be felicitated.
Simultaneously, the 9th International Art Festival ‘Crayons’ will be held in Tonk from November 7 to 9. Organized by the Intimate Education and Welfare Society, the event will bring together over 500 artists from India and abroad. It will include exhibitions of painting and sculpture, along with a Children’s Art Festival encouraging young talent from local schools.
