Celebrating Gujarati Literature & Culture!

 

From left: Dr. Asha Parikh, Mr. Jatin Shah, Madhu Rye, Rameshbhai Purohit, Dr. Dhaval Shah, Dr.Naresh Parikh, Mr. Nimish Sevak & Mr. Mustafa Ajmeri

Story & Photos: Sanjay Pandya

The International Gujarati Cultural Society of Atlanta, (IGCSA) organized not one but two outstanding events at the Best Western, Roswell, Atlanta on July 13, 2024 that transported the Gujarati audience to a new world! The first event was an evening with noted writer Madhu Rye and second was an evening of popular Gujarati Ghazals presented by iconic Gujarati poet Shobhit Desai.

The program was somewhat updated because the first "Gujarati Short-story Writer" workshop, led by accomplished short-story writer Madhu Rye, did not attract enough Gujarati participants in Atlanta.

Dr. Naresh Parikh felicitating noted writer Madhu Rye with offering him shwal

Celebrated Gujarati author Madhu Rye is the recipient of prestigious “Narmad Suvarna Chandrak”, “Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak”, “Bhupen Khakhar Award” and “Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar” Awards. The octogenarian creative genius Madhu Rye’s oeuvre includes stage drama, TV & Radio drama, novels and short-stories, in Gujarati language. His works have been adapted into other languages as well.

He studied stagecraft, especially playwriting and direction at University of Hawaii. In 1974 he finished his masters in creative writing from University of Evansville, Evansville, Indiana.

The program began, with the reading of his short story “Makan”, written in 1970 in India, “Makan” was followed by second story “Acharaj”, written in 1974 in Evansville, U.S.

Madhu Rye’s play “Chatushkon” is an epistolary play, in which two contradictory characters share their roller coaster lives through exchange of letters, over a long period. Both Mrs. Falguni Trivedi-Shah and Sanjay Pandya kept the audience engaged by emoting well. The play showcases Madhu Rye’s inimitable writing style, creative artistry, where he skillfully weaves in enlightening information.

Madhu Rye then conducted a few games to enhance understanding and usage of Gujarati language. Picking up a simple sentence from daily conversation, he pointed out how emphasizing different words changes the meaning of that same sentence. He then Immediately asked questions to participants and started a thread of story demonstrating how to add to or twist the plot of a play with just a few sentences! This was a unique experience for the audience!

During the interval, light dinner was served to all. Dr. Naresh Parikh then felicitated Madhu Rye with a shawl. Madhu Rye responded by gifting him with his famous novel “Kimball Ravenswood” which has been adapted into TV series and stage plays in many languages.

The “Gazalni Gunjati Sargam” an entertainment program presented by noted poet Shobhit Desai, entertained audience for three hours through popular Gujarati poet’s Ghazals.

From left: Mr. Jatin Shah, Madhu Rye, Rameshbhai Purohit, Dr. Naresh Parikh, Mr. Mustafa Ajmeri & Mr. Nimish Sevak

Shobhit Desai, who is a noted Gujarati language poet, has in his stellar career shared stage with legendary artists, and is known for his one-man show ‘Andaz-e-Bayaan Aur’ on renowned Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib. He has emceed over 4,000 multi-lingual stage shows in India and U.S.

Shobhit Desai and Nimish Sevek enthralled the audience with infectious zest, presenting a memorable evening with ever-green Gujarati Ghazals sung by various well-known poets and ghazalkars. They shared stories about Gujarati Ghazal poets Mariz, Saif Palanpuri, Barkat Virani (Befam), Shunya Palanpuri, Amrut ‘Ghayal, Jalan Matri, Ramesh Parekh, and Kailash Pandit, the lyricism and composition, which was a rare treat for the Gujarati poetry and music lovers! Over 125 attendees who enjoyed the enchanting evening show, didn’t want to end! Some were humming their favorite Ghazals while leaving the auditorium!

The show was graced by the presence of Drs. Asha & Naresh Parikh, Chairman & CEO of Embassy National Bank Nitin Shah & family, Dr. Dhaval Shah, Shri Jatin & Chaula Shah, Atlanta’s cultural ambassador Mustafa Ajmeri and many leading Hotel-Motel entrepreneurs.

The International Gujarati Cultural Society Atlanta, (‘IGCSA’) is thankful to Jatin Shah, Nimish Sevak, Mustafa Ajmeri, Chirag Thakkar, Sanjay Pandya, all the sponsors and Media for their strong support.
Both the events with a laudatory objective of preserving, nurturing and promoting Gujarati language and culture, were a resounding success.