Bhatkal community holds poetry recital

The Bhatkal Muslim Association held a poetry recital here recently attended by leading members of the community.
Muzammil Kazia, president of the organization, was the chief guest at the event. He said the people from Bhatkal, on the coast of Karnataka in south India, have strong ties with the Arabs.
“The expats from our community in the Gulf countries may be living here, but their hearts are in Bhatkal.” He said most people from the region are involved in trade.
Younus Kazia, general secretary of the organization for Gulf countries, said: “Although Urdu is not our language since we speak various languages, it is our abundant love for it that makes us organize Urdu poetry sessions.”
Kazia praised Imran Pratapgarhi, a young Indian poet, for highlighting issues facing Muslims in India.
Pratapgarhi said people from Bhatkal should be “role models for the rest of India.”
The poet enthralled the audience late into the night with couplets on various social and political issues in India.
He lambasted Indian politicians for the way they are dealing with Muslim issues. He also lashed out at the media for depicting Muslims negatively. Rehan Kobatte, the president of the organization's Jeddah branch, and Qamar Sade, the branch secretary, briefed the gathering about the activities of the community in the city.