Progressive Literary & Cultural Society (India) and PLCS Turkish Forum organized an Online event, “Turkish-English Bilingual Poetry Reading” on 30th January 2022. The event commenced with PLCS President, Dr. Shamenaz (RTMM, Allahabad, India) giving a brief introduction of Turkish literature. She praised classical poets like Jalauddin Rumi and Shams Tabrizi saying that ‘Rumi is the most widely read poet in the United States in the contemporary scenario. She talked about Nazim Hikmet, Jemal Surayya and contemporary novelists like Orhan Pamuk and Elif Shafak who are very popular globally for their English writings. She discussed the growing popularity of Turkish serials in India giving examples of many popular series.

She then introduced and invited Muhsine Arda (PLCS Turkish Coordinator) and the Organizing Secretary of the event, Dania Mumtaz. Then Dania Mumtaz introduced PLCS in detail, telling about the objective, works and other relevant information. After this Muhsine Arda took charge to carry the event further. She invited poets one by one. In the First Session the following poets read their two English poems with Turkish translations:

1-Dilek Degerli recited, ‘The Alligator Tongue/Timsah Dili and ‘The Magic was Destroyed/Buyu Bozuldu.

2-Tarik gunersel recited, ‘Prologue/Prolog and ‘The Birth of Universe’/ evren Dogarken

3-Hilal Karahan recited, ‘Boko Haram’/Boko Haram and ‘Milk Coffee’/Sutlu Kahve

4-Bulent Elitok recited, ‘The Story of Bending While the Tree is Alive’/Agac Yasken Boyun  Eger Hikayesi and ‘World of Evil Will get Off’/Kotulukte Inecek Var Dunyası

5-Nese Yasın recited, ‘Memory of the Rose’/gulun Hafızası and ‘Poison Apple’/ Zehirli Elma

6 -Shamenaz recited, ‘Let Me Fly’/Bırak Ucayım

7- Muhsine Arda recited, ‘good Fishing’/Rastgele

With Muhsine Arda’s poetry recitation in English and Turkish, the first session ended. After a short break the second session started with Dr. Shamenaz introducing the second session which was a native language session. In this session, eight Turkish poets recited two poems each in their native language, Turkish. This session was also moderated by Convenor, Muhsine Arda as the first session. In her popular style she called each poet one by one.

1-Zubeyde Seven Turan recited, omrume and Ask

2-Zehra Betul Yazıcı recited Malta Hacı and Elimin Haram Tarihi

3-Esra Dokmen recited, Su Seni Bulacak and duskun

4-Deniz Ayfer Tuzun recited golge Angelica Icin olum Zamanı and Yırtık Siyanur sisesi Ve Kadın

5-Oya gunduz Aksu recited, Dugme Kutusu and Insan ve Tas Arasında

6-Mine Omer recited, Izmir’i Duymak and Buzlanan Kadın

7-Hilmi Hasal recited, Yanıltılmıs Cisimler Kucagı and Covid-19 Salkımı

8-Muhsine Arda was the last one to recite her poem, Kar.

In this session, Hilal Karahan gave a surprise by reading Dr. Shamenaz’s poem in Turkish which she has published in the poetry anthology of her event, ‘Feministanbul’.

After the poetry recitation, Zeynel ozturk sang a song/Turkuler

The Programme concluded by Dr Shamenaz proposing the ‘Vote of thanks’.  She thanked Muhsine Arda for her tremendous efforts, Daniya Mumtaz for her cooperation and all the Turkish poets for reciting their wonderful poems in English and Turkish. This was the second event of PLCS Turkish forum Coordinated very well by PLCS Turkish Coordinator.