Doha: The Bihar Divas was celebrated first time in Doha with “Ek Sham Bihar Ke Naam†by Bihar Foundation, Qatar Chapter and the Indian Association of Bihar and Jharkhand (IABJ), a socio-cultural organisation affiliated to the Indian Cultural Centre, at Qatar Charity hall recently.
The programme commenced with a recitation of the Holy Quran by well-known child artist of Qatar Nadir Abdul Salam. The guests were welcomed by Saba Desnawi while Farooq Ahmed, Secretary of the IABJ presented the report.
Mirza Hamid Ali, Vice President of IABJ and Aslam Perwaiz presented a memento and shawl to the Ambassador of India to Qatar Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa.
Shakil Ahmed Kakvi, President of the IABJ briefed on the objective of celebrations of Bihar Divas.
“This is the first time we are celebrating Bihar Divas in Qatar. The motive to celebrate Bihar Divas is to bring all the people of Bihar origin around the world on to one platform to feel proud of Bihar and its glorious past and to join hands in the progress of India. I have started a school called the Kainat International School in my village Kako of Jehanabad District in Bihar. It is not a part of charity but is a part of my duty to bring happiness and a smile on the faces of my villagers. I appeal to all NRBs to addresses at least one issue of your village where you were born. This will be best gift to your soil,†Shakil Ahmed Kakvi said.
On behalf of Bihar government Vivek Kumar Singh, CEO of the Bihar Foundation congratulated the people of Qatar for holding the first Bihar Divas function in Qatar and specially thanked the Ambassador of India for her support and guidance for Bihar Divas.
The Indian Ambassador said that according to a survey done by a Briton in 1952, Bihar was the best governed state in India. “It has the distinction of having cradled faiths like Jainism and Buddhism,†she said.
Today, Bihar boasts of having the youngest population with 58 percent of its population being young.†The programme featured staging of a contemporary play holding of a poetry recital session called Mushaira and Kavi Sammellan besides rendition of Bojpuri songs and folk dances.
The programme was presided by Hassan Chaugule, Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Indian Cultural Centre.
Chaugule assured support and cooperation to IABJ and Bihar Foundation for the development of the state.
The Chairman of the NRI Chapter-Qatar, S Bukhari, compared Bihar with Bhopal and praised the Bihari intellect in different fields.
The President of ICC, K M Varghese said he was surprised to see the video presentation on the seven wonders of Bihar.
The President of ICBF, Nilangshu Dey said he was proud to be of Bihari origin and being brought up in Jharkhand.
He said the effort of the Indian Association for Bihar and Jharkhand and Bihar Foundation is laudable.â€
The Editor of Qatar Tribune, Ajit Kumar Jha, talked on the paradoxes that characterise the state.
Jha drew attention to the conflicting identity of Bihar as historically and culturally one of the richest states of the country but at the same time one of the most backward economically.
Susheel Kumar Modi, the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar sent a message of congratulations.
Members of IABJ and Bihar Foundation contributed Rs100,000 for the family of Mohibullah, who died recently in Qatar.
The Indian Ambassador presented the Veer Kunwar Singh award and Maulana Mazharul Haque award to two Bihari poets, Iftekhar Raghib and Amjad Ali Sarwar, for their works in Qatar.
Raghib’s poetry collections include Khayal-e-Chehra and Lafzon mein Ehsaas whereas Sarwar has written Zia-e-Haramain.
A short film on the seven wonders of Bihar was shown with a message from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar highlighting that the restoration of the Nalanda University’s glory would bring about great changes in Bihar.
The Peninsula