By A Correspondent / Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
: The Uttar Pradesh Transgender Welfare Board successfully organized a literary confluence, “Sahitya Sangam Samavesh” recently in Lucknow.
The event was aimed at fostering inclusivity in literature and provide a platform for diverse voices. Writers, poets, and literary enthusiasts participated in discussions on the significant contributions of women in literature, their writing styles, and poetic perspectives.
The event that was held here at Gomati Nagar, was presided over by DIG Smt. Kiran Yadav (IPS).
Rani Patel, President of Aarohan, a non governmental organization that is actively working for the upliftment of the transgender community, shared her insights.
Sharing her experience while working towards empowering transgender community and other marginalized sections of the society, Ms. Patel said that the actual empowerment of downtrodden takes place only when come forward and help the deprived sections and make them self-reliant.
Writers including Smt. Shalini Agarwal and Shiv Gureja, along with other poets and essayists, presented their views.
A session focused on the poetic perspectives of women poets, featuring Smt. Shalini Agarwal, Smt. Om, Smt. Sarita Nirjara, Himani Chaturvedi, Tapasi Upadhyay, and Sandeep Pandey, who expressed concern over the increasing harassment faced by women, especially those in creative fields.
The atmosphere at the gathering suddenly turned emotive when an acid attack survivor, Kumari Rupali, shared her harrowing experiences.
Kathak Guru Smt. Pratibha Singh contributed to the program by classical dance performances that received accolades from the audience.
The event concluded with remarks by Devika Devendra Manglamukhi, Advisory Member, Uttar Pradesh Transgender Welfare Board.
The program was made possible with the support of State Bank of India, the District Administration, and the Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan.
In her key note address Rani Patel emphasized the importance of self-reliance and collective empowerment, adding that “Whether women or transgender individuals, we must fight our own battles. True empowerment lies in lifting those who are marginalized alongside us.”
The event served as a significant step towards promoting literature and fostering dialogue among diverse segments of society.