Eleventh Edition Of ‘The Poetic Heart’ Continues Its Legacy Of Promoting Culture Across UAE

An initiative by SGI Gulf, The Poetic Heart – a unique symposium that provides young budding student poets an opportunity to share platform with world-renowned poets from across the globe – is all set to return this year with its 11^thedition.

Hosted by SGI Gulf and held in association with Dubai Knowledge Park and Dubai International Academic City, this year’s virtual edition will take place on11& 12 February. Held under the theme ‘Resilience’this year’s edition will bring together creative poetic excellence, soulful musical performances, book launches and much more.

Poetry is one of the most extraordinary forms of cultural and linguistic expression and identity, and has been practiced throughout historyin every culture and part of the world. Bridging all differences, it serves as a powerful catalyst for dialogue and peace by speaking to our common humanity, shared values, questions, and feelings.

The Poetic Heart center stages this literary form and serves as a platform for eminent local and international poets to revive oral traditions of poetry recitals; encourage the reading, writing, and teaching of poetry amongst students across schools in UAE as well as foster the convergence of poetry and music.

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Suresh Premkumar, Chairperson, SGI Gulf, said: “For over a decade SGI GULF has organized The Poetic Heart with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression. Wehavedemonstratedinnovation and creativity by collaborating with schools in the UAE as well as international poets from across the world. Amidst the current pandemic we are happy that with the constant backing of our sponsors such as Emirates NBD and Amity University, it continues to support and offer visibility to local and international literary talents while sharing a message of solidarity, hope and resilience to people from across the world”.

Every year one of the major highlights of The Poetic Heart is the inspiring and mesmerizing school student performances. This year on Day 1 of the symposium, 40 students from schools across UAE will be participating. Some of the participating schools include: Abu Dhabi Indian School, Mleih School, Private English international school – Abu Dhabi, Diyafah International School – Abu Dhabi, Merryland International School – Abu Dhabi, New Indian Model School – Dubai, Greenwood International School- Dubai, The Millennium School – Dubai, GEMS Own English High School, Woodlem Park School, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, The Indian International School, Greenwood International School amongst others.

Held in partnership with Emirates NBD’s CSR initiative, ‘Together Limitless’, a platform that commits to advocating for people of determination, Day 1 will also showcase poetry, performances and participation from students of centers such as Tender Hearts Arena, Manzil Centre and SNF Development Centre and Al Noor Center for Persons with Disabilities.

Speaking about the event, Neeraj Bhargava, Principal, Abu Dhabi Indian School Muroor said: “The Poetic Heart has become a part of the school activity calendar ever since our students started taking part in the event. From the perspective of our student community, I would say it has been an onward journey of self-discovery- an opportunity to express their thoughts and passions through poetry, a relatively grey-zone, not much explored. The platform has thrown up a unique forum wherein the students have shared the space amongst a multi-cultural, multi-lingual crowd that was ready to appreciate their poetic renderings as well as to be an audience to like-minded fellow beings from the community at large. I congratulate the foundation for the inimitable concept that they have successfully pioneered over a decade and more.”

The symposium over 2 days will showcase poetry recitals from renowned poets such as: Wael Al Sayegh – UAE, Ali Alshaali – UAE, Dr. Akash Ouchi – Japan (representing Dr. Daisaku Ikeda), Ibrahim Al Saafin – Saudi Arabia, Azzedin Mayhoobi – Algeria, Bina Sarkar Ellias – India, Dr. Aurora Humaran – Argentina, Suleman Jazeb – Pakistan, Dr. Sabrina Lei – Italy, Dr. Shihab Ghanem – UAE and Silvana Slamapour – UAE. Poems will be recited in a plethora of languages such as Arabic, Italian, Hindi, English, Urdu and Japanese.

In addition to captivating poetry recitals, Day 2 will also bring together musical performances of Dev Chakraborty,an accomplished vocalist, composer and music coach; Sucheta Satish, a talented young singer whose most recent accomplishment is being a ‘Guinness World Record Holder’ for most languages sung in a concert and Mandeera Ranthini Kosgahakumbura, a student at The Sheffield Private School who has achieved many accomplishments in her music career.  There will also a virtual performance by SGI Gulf’s in house chorus Naseem, who has been selected to perform at Expo 2020 Dubai in the coming weeks. Naseem, meaning ‘Breeze’ in Arabic, is an initiative combining music and poetry by SGI Gulf volunteers. Ever since its successful debut at the 3rd edition of The Poetic Heart – 2014, Naseem has sung songs on the themes of mother, peace, friendship, hope, happiness, and invincible humanity becoming an integral part of the successive editions of this poetic symposium.

As poetry continues to bring people together across continents, everyone is invited to join the eventon www.thepoeticheart.com to watch the digital telecast on 11th and 12th of February.