4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Disabled soldiers recite verses of courage at Pune QMTI's first Kavi Sammelan
The evening came alive with verses as disabled soldiers showcased their creative spirit at the first Kavi Sammelan held at Queen Mary's Technical Institute (QMTI) that brought together Pune-based poets last week in a celebration of courage, creativity, and the power of words.
The event, organised by KavitaKAFE at QMTI's Kargil Auditorium on July 19, began with a warm welcome by course coordinator Madhusudan Shinde and culminated with a melodious Bollywood number sung by artist Anupam Banerjee. QMTI is a pioneering vocational rehabilitation centre for disabled military personnel that was established in 1917.
Offering a glimpse into the journey of soldiers, Naik Ranjit Podar, Havildar Avdhut Vishwanath Patil, Corporal Ankit Acharya, and the institute's librarian R A Dhokte recited heartfelt verses on the Pulwama attack, patriotism, life, and love.
Soldier Harisharan Dwivedi's soulful violin performance added a melodic touch to the evening, while QMTI Dean Colonel Vasant Ballewar presented a poem on the lives of servicemen. City-based Surbhi Jain, Mohammed Azad, Bhanwar, and Tushar Gadekar also presented diverse poems.
'This event was thoroughly enjoyed by our soldiers, and now more are eager to participate. It will be good to see them explore their creativity and express themselves through poetry,' said Col Ballewar.
KavitaKAFE founder Garima Mishra also shared two of her compositions. 'The energy and enthusiasm of the soldiers, both on stage and in the audience, were electrifying. The response was so overwhelming that we now plan to make this a regular feature,' said Mishra.
