Patna City: Social workers, politicians, litterateurs, and cultural figures gathered to remember and pay tribute to the eternal poet Khan Bahadur Syed Mohammad Shad Azimabadi on his 98th death anniversary. The memorial event included offering Fateha, chadar, and flowers at his tomb on Shad Azimabadi Path, Langar Gali, Hajiganj.
The event, organised by the socio-cultural organisation Navshakti Niketan, was presided over by Dr Anil Sulabh, President of the Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, and conducted by General Secretary Kamalnayan Srivastava.
On this occasion, senior poet Mrityunjay Mishra ‘Karunesh’ and litterateur Dr Ishrat Subuhi were honoured with the Shad Azimabadi Samman 2025. Additionally, Subhchandra Sinha, Shweta Ghazal, Shama Kausar, and Farida Anjum received the Sahitya and Samaj Seva Samman, each presented with a shawl, a symbolic token, and a plant.
Speaking as the chief guest, Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav described Shad Azimabadi as a timeless poet. He emphasised that Azimabad has long been a hub for litterateurs and revolutionaries and called for every possible effort to preserve Shad’s legacy.
Kamalnayan Srivastava highlighted that Shad’s poetry resonates with the heartbeat of the nation, advocating national unity. In his presidential address, Dr Anil Sulabh remarked that Shad was a consummate Urdu poet and stressed the need to revive his works. Ramashankar Prasad, President of Navshakti Niketan, announced plans to organise a programme titled Ek Shaam Shad Ke Naam in June and to translate and publish Shad’s works in Hindi.
Patna’s Deputy Mayor, Reshmi Chandravanshi, urged the government to publish Shad’s rare works in Hindi and other Indian languages.
Several speakers criticised the government for neglecting Shad’s legacy, citing the incomplete construction of Shad Azimabadi Park and the absence of a foundation stone for Shad Azimabadi Path. They demanded that Shad’s tomb be declared a national museum and a commemorative postage stamp be issued in his honour.
The event also featured reflections from Dr Anil Sulabh, senior litterateur Bhagwati Prasad Dwivedi, Mr Anant Arora, Madhuresh Narayan, Kamal Kishore Verma ‘Kamal’, Faizan Ali Fahm, Baban Prasad Verma, Dr Ehsan Sham, Premkiran, Dr Nisar Ahmed (Shad’s great-grandson), and Akbar Raza Jamshed.
Faizan Ali Fahm delivered the vote of thanks. The event concluded with a poignant recitation of Dr Kaleem Aaziz’s lines:
“Today is your death anniversary, come Shad / Meet us writers too, Shad / Who will understand you in this era / We have become Laxman Saw, Shad.”
The poets and writers present paid tribute to Shad Azimabadi with heartfelt performances.
