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SAARC literature festival in Agra from Feb 13
Agra: A three-day SAARC literature festival will begin in the Taj city Feb 13.
Literary luminaries from the neighbouring SAARC countries will interact, debate latest literary trends and present their literary pieces for analytical comments during the event.
The evenings will be enlivened by performances by Sufis and Darveshes. The regional Braj culture and literature will also be on display.
Ajeet Cour, chairperson of Foundation of SAARC writers and literature (FOSWAL) told: “Events like these help bridge the communication gaps and lead to better understanding of humanity.”
“SAARC is probably the only region in the world where we celebrate love and marriages, pregnancies and child-births, and even deaths with songs. In our folk tales and folk songs, gods come to earth to interact with human beings; birds and animals speak and tell tales of ancient wisdom. We have songs for the changing seasons, for harvests, for monsoons,”Cour said.
People in this region sang songs and told tales of the whole of nature and all the wonders of life around! “They are the original story tellers since the Indus Valley civilisation.” People share long civilisational journeys, horizontally and vertically, on micro and macro levels, she said.
The vision of cultural bonding and connectivity was extended to the neighbouring SAARC countries in 1987, when writers from Pakistan set foot on Indian soil for the first time since the Partition of the country in 1947, for the first-ever Indo-Pakistan Writers Conference. It was like swimming against the current.
She said the driving force behind this endeavour was LOVE. Love for the people living in the neighbouring countries ! Love for the whole humanity ! Love for the one Infinite Presence merged in the Universe like soft fragrance ! The one who created the Universe in Love !
Ajeet Cour said: “We have organized 48 Conferences and Festivals and Academic Seminars for deep deliberations about what binds us emotionally and culturally : our literature, our music, our beliefs, our myths and legends, our sensitivities and deep mystic beliefs, our poetry and our melodies. Our Conferences of Sufism and Buddhism, of Folklore, of Fiction and Poetry ! And Festivals of Mystic Music and Folk Performances! Cutting across borders and boundaries.”
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.