Society of Poetry and Indian Music

News & Events (Upcoming & Current)

Saudha Bangla Music Festival 2024

Curated by poet Ahmed Kaysher, the festival brings the evolution of exciting genres of Bengali music that originated from 730AD.

 Counted as 'the largest and top presentations of Bengali music outside Indian subcontinent, the festival presents diverse genres of Bengali music from ancient Charajapada, Vaishnav, Ramprasadi, Toppa to Ponchokobi and modern experimental music with English translation and relevant commentaries in different venues around London and other cities.

 

Saudha Bangla Music Festival | John Keats Through Celestial Music

Saturday 2 November at 5:45pm

Keats House, 10 Keats Grove, London NW3 2RR

The session at the Keats House in collaboration with Keats House Museum is bringing a unique interpretation of Keats' poetry and his philosophy through a haunting presentation of some transcendental Indian classical music by an extremely talented Sitarist of this time travelling from India Sri Chandrachur Bhattacharjee, a prominent Bengali semi-classical vocalist Srimati Sumana Basu. They will be accompanied on Tabla by a talented Tabla player Sri Aniruddha Mukherjee.

 Registration link:

Saudha Bangla Music Festival | John Keats Through Celestial Music Tickets, Sat, Nov 2, 2024 at 5:45 PM | Eventbrite

Venue: From Nov 2, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024 in Keats House London

Saudha International Literature Festival 2024

The festival preaches the art and beauty of imagination, languages from different cultural heritages through talks, reading, performances. Saudha is also observing Franz Kafka's 100th death anniversary this year through re-treading / re-interpreting his works. 

 The sessions around Tower Hamlets are supported by Mayor's Small Grant of Tower Hamlets Council and A Season of Bangla Drama. 

 Saudha (www.saudha.org) is bringing new literature from different languages and different cultural heritages through this unique festival happening all around the UK.

 

SAUDHA INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE FESTIVAL | SUFI/MYSTIC/METAPHYSICAL POETRY & MUSIC

Sunday 7 July 2024 at 4pm

Rooftop Garden, Canary Wharf, Crossrail Place, London E14 5AB

 

Curated by poet Ahmed Kaysher, this session is featuring the splendour of Sufi / mystic and Metaphysical poetry as part of celebrating 7th birth century of great Persian poet Hafez through spoken-word and music performances.

 

The session also features performances of some powerful voices of contemporary literature from different cultural traditions.

 

Free registration Link:

Saudha International Literature Festival | Sufi/mystic/metaphysical verses Tickets, Sun, Jul 7, 2024 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite

 

The Poetics of  Self-Destruction | Saudha International Literature Festival | University of Leeds

Sunday 14 July 2024 at 12 Noon

Lecture Theatre 1, School of Music, University of Leeds LS2 9JT

 

As part of Saudha International Literature Festival, poet Ahmed Kaysher is bringing this extra-ordinary session that will re-read, re-interpret Cesare Pavese, Florbela Esblanca, Mário de Sá-Carneiro, Fernando Pessoa, Alejandra Pizarnik, Anne Sexton, Virginia Woolf , Ernest Hemingway, Yukio Mishima , Karin Boye , John Berryman, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Sylvia Plath, Charles Baudelaire, Jean Cocteau and others to explore as well as dig into the depth of self destruction or self-destructive arts.

The event is happening at the Lecture Theatre 1 of the Music School at the University of Leeds. 

Free Registration link:

The Poetics of Self-Destruction | Saudha International Literature Festival Tickets, Sun, Jul 14, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

 

Saudha International Literature Festival | Queen Mary University of London

Thursday 1 August at 3pm

the David Sizer Lecture Theatre (Bancroft Building, Mile End) in Queen Mary University in London E1 4NS

Curated by poet Ahmed Kaysher, this session, in collaboration with Department of Film at  Queen Mary University, London is featuring a book launch for 1971: A global History in the creation of Bangladesh written by Srinath Raghavan and translated by Kazi Zawad at the David Sizer Lecture Theatre (Bancroft Building, Mile End) in Queen Mary University in London. (Please call 07828190551 for direction).

 

Free Registration:

Saudha International Literature Festival | Queen Mary University of London Tickets, Thu, Aug 1, 2024 at 3:00 PM | Eventbrite

 

SAUDHA INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE FESTIVAL | Pt CHIRANJEEB CHAKRABORTY & OTHERS | CANARY WHARF ROOFTOP

Sunday 4 August 2024 at 4pm

Rooftop Garden, Canary Wharf, Crossrail Place, London E14 5AB

Curated by poet Ahmed Kaysher, this session is featuring both literary and musical works of one of the finest Indian classical vocalists in the UK Pt Chiranjeeb Chakraborty (https://chiranjeebmusic.com/bio/) through performances and interactive talks. Two very talented performance-poets Shree Ganguly and Tanjina Nur-i Siddique will be performing there, too.

Free registration:

Saudha International Literature Festival - The Space

 

Saudha International Literature Festival | The Aesthetics of Silence | MAC, Birmingham

Saturday 10 August at 6pm

Midlands Arts Centre Birmingham B12 9QH

Curated by poet Ahmed Kaysher, co-hosted by Sampad Arts, this session is featuring the aesthetics and the inner architecture of silence in arts through  poetry and music performances with dance and painting as visual interpretation  from different cultural traditions, reading,  brief poetry theatres and interviews with experimental writers.

The session also focuses on celebrating the 200th birth centenary of Bengali major poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt as well as the 100th anniversary of Tagore's tour to explore China through talks and relevant reading.

Ticket link:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/saudha-international-literature-festival-midlands-arts-centre-birmingham-tickets-907585220827?aff=efbevent&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR37J6hy-LyWFrAn6lbaxE5XDzVzYhtxjrJTwyyWLBW4mjGr5DrzTwVeIAg_aem__pDqB0a61S831-VnfGgSTw

 

Celebration of Blue Moon in Park |Saudha International Literature Festival | Roundhay Park

Monday 19 August at 7pm

Roundhay Car Park (By the Lakeside Cafe / Carpark) Roundhay LS8 2JL

Curated by poet Ahmed Kaysher, this session is featuring sensual poetry performances and meditative music in the lap of the nature (Second tall bandstand by the Lakeside Carpark or Lakeside cafe) sorrounded by woods and beautiful lake. (please ring 07828190551 for direction)

Free Registration: 

Celebration of Blue Moon in Park |Saudha International Literature Festival Tickets, Mon, Aug 19, 2024 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite

 

Franz Kafka | Saudha International Literature Festival | Poplar Union, London

Saturday 7 September 6pm

Poplar Union, 2 Cotall Street London E14 6TL

Curated by poet Ahmed Kaysher, this session is celebrating 100th death anniversary of Franz Kafka - the most influential literary genius of the last century through performances, playlets, talks that re-read as well as reinterpret his works with a new shade of light.

 Writers and performers include poet Shanta Acharya, poet John Farndon, poet Jah-Mir Early, Egyptian poet Mohammed Mohsen, visual artist Sewli Bhattacharyya, photographic interpretation by Pablo Khaled, Tagore and Kafka by Ahmed Kaysher

Ticket link:

Franz Kafka | Saudha International Literature Festival | Poplar Union Tickets, Sat, Sep 7, 2024 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite

 

 The Holography of Atypical Verses  | Mishima, Parra, Akhmatova Mira Bai | The House of Commons

Thursday 12 September 6pm

Grimond Room, Portcullis House, The House of Commons

1 Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JR

Curated by poet T M Ahmed Kaysher, this session at the Grimond Room of Portcullis House in the House of Commons features talks and performances on new and atypical verses of poetry and antipoetry with a special focus on Yukio Mishima, Nicanor Parra, Anna Akhmatova, Mira Bai and some other exceptional poetic voices from all around the globe.

Poets/writers and perfomers include poet April Elisabeth Pawar, poet Shree Ganguly, poet John Farndon, poet Anna Maria Mickiewicz, poet Vera Graziadei, poet Sophia Blackwell, poet Mona Dash, Poet Sarah Wardle, spoken-word artist & singer Suha Priyadarshini Chakravarty, poet Raine Geoghegan, dancer Ishita Sinha and Sewli Bhattacharyya. 

Registration link for the event: 

The Holography of Atypical Verses | Mishima, Parra, Akhmatova & Mira Bai Tickets, Thu, Sep 12, 2024 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite

 Saudha International Literature Festival | Protest Revolution Rebellion

Sunday 4 August 2024 at 4pm

Rooftop Garden, Canary Wharf, Crossrail Place, London E14 5AB

This session features talks / readings / performances by some extremely talented poets and performers on the social relevance of arts and culture, historical role of arts in protest and revolution as well as performances - both music and spoken-words from bygone eras to modern time and from diverse cultural traditions.

The session features the works of Bengali poets Rabibdranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Sukanta Bhattacharya, Rajanikanta Sen D L Roy, Atul Parasad Sen, Garcia Lorca, Bertolt Brecht, Roque Dalton, Cesare Pavese, Baul Shah Abdul Karim and a few other contemporary poets through the performance by David Lee Morgan, Tanusree Guha, Italian Poet Giuseppe Mastroianni, Kaberi Mukherjee, Amy Neilson Smith. Ahmed Kaysher, Sarwar E Alam, Zafira Salam.

Free registration: 

Saudha International Literature Festival | Protest Revolution Rebellion Tickets, Sun, Sep 29, 2024 at 3:00 PM | Eventbrite

 

Saudha International Literature Festival | Re-reading Milton and Madhusudhan + Booklaunch

Wednesday 16 October at 3pm

The Arts One Studio 1:28 of Queen Mary University of London (Mile End Road Campus), E1 4NS

 

Curated by poet T M Ahmed Kaysher, this session at the Arts One Studio 1:28 of Queen Mary University of London (Mile End Road Campus), focuses on to re-read /re-interpret the works of a major English poet John Milton (1608-1674) and Michael Madhusudan Dutt (1824 - 1873 - as part of the celebration of his 200 birth anniversary) through talks / readings / performances.

Poet Fiona Sampson (Fiona Sampson - Wikipedia), poet Peter Robinson (Peter Robinson (poet) - Wikipedia)), poet John Farndon (https://johnfarndon.com/) poet Georgia Hilton, poet April Elizabeth Pawar will bring some unique interpretation of Milton and fictionist Shree Ganguly will talk on the relevance of Madhusudan as part of thye celebration of 200 birth anniversary of a great Bengali poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt.

The session also features brief book-launches of a few important poetry books.

Poet and fictionist Shree Ganguly will share a few translations from the newly published book by T M Ahmed kaysher and a British Polish violinist Basia Bartz will render musical interpretation of poetry as well as a celebrated moden and actor from Bangladesh Sadia Islam Mou will render visual interpretation of poetry.

 

 

 Free registration:

Saudha International Literature Festival | Re-reading Milton & Madhusudan Tickets, Wed, Oct 16, 2024 at 3:00 PM | Eventbrite

 

 

In Search Of the Soul of Sylvia Plath |Saudha International Literature Festival | Rich Mix, London

 

Saturday 9 November at 6pm

Rich Mix, London, 35-47 Bethnal Green Rd, E1 6LA

 

 

As part of Saudha International Literature Festival, poet Ahmed Kaysher presents a hypnotic theatrical combination of spoken word and haunting music, re-interpreting the heart-piercing poetry and tragic life of this iconic poet.

The production features musical performances by the incredible Yijia Tu on the guzheng – an ancient Chinese zither – and the powerful violinist Basia Bartz. The musicians will provide a captivating soundscape for Sylvia Plath‘s work, performed by three prominent performance poets – Sophia BlackwellAmy Neilson Smith and Shree Ganguly.

 

 

Ticket link:

In Search Of the Soul of Sylvia Plath |Saudha International Literature Fest Tickets, Sat, Nov 9, 2024 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite

 

Saudha International Literature Festival | Re-reading Lorca, Nazrul &  Hikmet

Sunday 10 November, Door opens at 5:30

Kobi Nazrul Centre, 30 Hanbury St, London E1 6QR

 

Curated by poet T M Ahmed Kaysher, this session of Saudha International Literature Festival is shedding new lights on the three anti-fascist poets of the last century Federico García Lorca (1898-1936), Kazi Nazrul Islam (1899-1966) Nazim Hikmet (1902-1963) to read and re-interpret fascism and other socio-political paradigms of contemporary world; romanticism and other relevant literature-movements.

 

The session involves insightful talks and a series of haunting spoken word as well as music performances by poet John Farndon, poet David Lee Morgan, poet Shree Ganguly, singer Gouri Chowdhury and a Ukranian Bandura player Eka. 

 Saudha International Literature Festival|Re-reading Lorca, Nazrul & Hikmet Tickets, Sun, Nov 10, 2024 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite

 

SAUDHA INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE FESTIVAL | HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT |  LITERATURE THAT HEALS

Wednesday 20 November at 5.45pm

Committee Room Number 11, Westminister Palace, Parliament House, London SW1A 0AA

Curated by poet T M Ahmed Kaysher, this session at the committee room number 11 of the Westminster Palace in the House of Commons features talks on the idea and philosophy of healing, spoken-word and music performances from a diverse global traditions - that heal.

The session is featuring performances/talk by British Bangladeshi writer Manzu Islam, British Indian poet & fictionist Shree Ganguly, Welsh poet Dominic Williams, Persian poet Ziba Karabassi, Guyanese writer Maggie Harris, Polish violinist Basia Bartz, Swedish poet Bengt O Björklund, British Indian filmologist Ashvin Devasundaram, poet Julia Webb, poet & novelist Sue Hubbard, poet Sue Wallace-Shaddad, poet Liv Torc and a Ukranian Bandura player Eka.

Registration link:

SAUDHA INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE FESTIVAL | HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT Tickets, Wed, Nov 20, 2024 at 5:30 PM | Eventbrite

Venue: From Jul 7, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024 in Keats House, London, Canary Wharf Rooftop Garden, Midlands Arts Centre, Rich Mix London, Roundhay park Leeds and other venues