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“Pehle pehle bam banata hai yahi; phir sabhi ko aankh dikhaata hai yahi; daraata hai yahi, yahi uksaata hai; Bill (Clinton)
to paagal hai…” At this punchline - referring to the US imposed sanctions on India in 1998 for testing its nuclear arsenal - the packed audience at IDRF’s Hasya Kavi Sammelan (Hindi stand-up comedy) bursts into laughter and applause.
India Development and Relief Fund’s (IDRF) second fundraiser for the year on May 31 attracted a full house of Hindi lovers across Greater Atlanta despite the long Memorial Day weekend. An audience of more than 200 packed the Impact Conference Room in Global Mall, Norcross that thundered throughout the 4 hours of the event with loud roars of laughter and clapping.
Dr Ashok Chakradhar, one of the finest known Hindi poets, humorists and satirists along with Shri Satyanarayan Mourya, a multi-talented personality – poet, painter, singer, cartoonist and satirist – made everyone laugh to their heart’s content with their witty compositions mixed with humor and satire on topics ranging from Indian and American politics to comical human tendencies to human emotions and social issues to Pakistan bashing. That life’s simple situations and going-ons in the world can be so funny was ably reflected in the renditions of the two famous poets.
Dr Chakradhar was at his usual best taking digs at the vote-grabbing methods of Indian politicians. His two best series of satirical poems were, “Animal elections in the jungle - Jataka tales” and “Making of a movie on the life of the
devta of Hasya Kavis – Laloo Prasad Yadav”.. Satyanarayan Mourya punched in valuable lessons in his humor and satire appealing to people to rise up the injustice and discrimination that the Hindus of Kashmir have been subjected to.
The Hasya Kavi Sammelan ended with the auction of the paintings of Swami Vivekanand and Bharat Mata painted the young, talented Satyanarayan Mourya. The audience was left with a deep impact and craving for more, evident in the words of Raju Buttonwala, President, Sterling Group of companies:
“This was a night that nobody in that hall will forget. I am thankful to the organizers for giving us these moments of happiness in the US. Thanks a million.” The proceeds from the event will go towards funding educational and literacy projects in India.
The gist of the night was very aptly put by Jayesh Dave, a young software professional in Atlanta, “In the over three hours, we got a multi-angled Bharat yatras. Ashok Chakradhar, as the name says ‘Ashok Chakra’, is proud of India in the same way as the symbol of the Ashok Chakra is proudly represented on the Indian National flag. Baba (Satyanarayan Mourya) filled the remaining colors of the flag with his all-round performance as a kavi, geetkaar and chitrakaar.”
IDRF, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in the US more than 14 years ago to serve the disadvantaged and underprivileged in India, without regard to religion, caste or creed. It is completely run on volunteer effort, with zero overheads so that 100% of the funds raised are allocated for charitable purposes. For more information, kindly visit
www.idrf.org
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