Thinkers Collective Hosts Abbas Qamar’s Urdu Poetry Evening in Chandigarh
‘Urdu Speaks in Nuance and Emotion’: Abbas Qamar at Thinkers Collective Event
Drawn to Urdu’s Emotional Depth, Says Poet Abbas Qamar at Chandigarh RecitalB
Babushahi Network Bureau
Chandigarh, January 30, 2026:
Well-known New Delhi–based young Urdu poet Abbas Qamar captivated an attentive audience during a poetry recital held at the Government Museum Auditorium, Sector 10, here on Thursday.
Organised by the Thinkers Collective, the event featured Qamar engaging with a wide range of themes in his verse, reflecting contemporary social and political concerns. Moving seamlessly between personal vulnerability and collective unease, the poet highlighted how lived experiences inform his creative expression, making his work deeply relatable.
The programme began with an interaction between Qamar and senior journalist Nirupama Dutt, who spoke with the poet about his literary influences and creative journey. Qamar shared that poetry had been part of his life since childhood.
“My maternal grandfather was a poet, though his work was largely confined to religious poetry. He was my first inspiration. Ghazals and salāms formed an integral part of my upbringing,” Qamar said. “I was drawn early to Urdu’s capacity for nuance and emotional depth. During my first year of college in Delhi in 2014, I realised that poetry offered the most honest and precise way to express thoughts and feelings that resisted direct prose.”
A research scholar in Political Science, trained at Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia, Qamar recited several well-received ghazals, including ‘Ashkon ko aarzoo-e-rihai hai, roiye’, ‘Tanhaai — ek hi tamasha hai’, ‘Darbaari hain aap’, ‘Sauda baraa-e-zindagi aasaan kar diya’ and ‘Fankaar nahi hun main’, drawing sustained applause from the audience.
Reflecting on the changing literary landscape, Qamar observed that the decline of traditional poetic gatherings and platforms had reduced sustained inter-generational dialogue and mentorship. “At the same time, it has compelled young poets to seek alternative spaces and audiences, fostering adaptability and new forms of literary community,” he noted.
The chief guest on the occasion was Rajya Sabha Member and Chancellor of Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu. Among those present were BS Ghuman, former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala; noted sociologist Prof Raunki Ram; Babushahi.com Editor Baljit Balli; artist Sukant; and several prominent professors, writers and artists, who keenly participated in and enjoyed the literary evening.
Dr Pramod Kumar, Chairperson of the Chandigarh-based Institute for Development and Communication (IDC) and the conceptualiser of the Thinkers Collective, praised Qamar’s work for its contemporary relevance.
“It is heartening to witness the themes Qamar takes up. He proves that art is not merely for art’s sake, but bears a responsibility towards society at large,” he said.
Web News Portal Babushahi.com was one of the media partners for the event.