This time in Amar Ujala Shabd Samman 2025, such a confluence of literature and music was seen, which did not let the people present in the auditorium get up from their chairs for a long time. As soon as Ustad Shujaat Hussain Khan moved his fingers on the sitar, the audience seemed to sit holding the chairs and the whole atmosphere echoed with tunes and words.
In this function organized at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Auditorium located at Ambedkar International Centre, enthusiasm was seen from the very beginning. All the visitors to the event were welcomed on the red carpet.
As soon as they entered the auditorium, a phase of interaction started between litterateurs, writers, poets and people associated with prestigious institutions from different parts of the country. Both familiarity and curiosity were clearly visible in the atmosphere. After the formal beginning of the program, two eminent women litterateurs of the country were introduced from the stage.
The auditorium echoed with applause as soon as the names of well-known Hindi storyteller Mamta Kalia, born in Mathura, and Dr. Arambam Ongbi Memchowbi, a distinguished writer of Manipuri language, born in Imphal, were mentioned. After this, the chief guest, renowned sitar player Ustad Shujaat Hussain Khan took the stage.
As soon as he played the first tune on the sitar, he started getting applause from the audience. His presentation gradually deepened and the people sitting in the auditorium kept listening, glued to their chairs, mesmerized. A bandh based on Lord Shankar immersed the entire atmosphere in devotion.
The program was appreciated by all. Literature lover Pradeep Arora said that the love for literature of every person present in the program could be clearly felt. Jagdish Pradhan called it a source of inspiration. He said that when literature gets such a big platform, the energy for writing increases.
Ustad’s smile charmed my mind, his cheeky words wooed me
While Ustad Shujaat Hussain Khan kept the audience engaged in the program with his sitar tunes, he also made the atmosphere light and pleasant with his witty remarks. The auditorium kept resonating with applause on his comments made in between the presentation.
While playing the sitar, the maestro also interacted directly with the audience. When he saw some women talking among themselves in the hall, he said smilingly, women’s conversations never end.
On hearing this, laughter and applause echoed in the auditorium. On another occasion, he jokingly said, now Kareena and Katrina are not allowed to attend the programme, now I will have to listen. His signal was that all the listeners should sit attentively and enjoy the music. People applauded loudly on this comment also.