A session titled Kaifiyat was organized at Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet in the presence of actress Shabana Azmi, author Rakhshanda Jalil and Sangeeta Datta.

Kaifi Azmi has been a bright star in the Urdu poetry fraternity. His poetry ranges from lyrics in films like Kagaz Ke Phool to high pitched revolutionary verses. Love and romance run through the line of politics and protest in the poetry of Kaifi Azmi.

The book of poems which is a great translation consists of an introduction by Rakshanda Jalil on Kaifi Azmi’s life and legacy. The book has a foreword by Shabana Azmi.

Kaifi’s daughter Shabana Azmi narrated many stories about her father. She mentioned how at a small age, her father refused to wear new clothes as the farmers tilling their land could not afford new clothes.

Shabana Azmi also recited some of her father’s poems at the event.

The session concluded with a question-answer session and the unveiling of the book of poems on women and love titled Kaifiyat.

Priyanka Dutta