Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao Friday inaugurated an Urdu 'mushaira' (poetic symposium) here as part of 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi.
Union Minority Affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi along with poets from across the country were present at the function.
Rao asked everyone to take conscious efforts to change the perception that Urdu is a language only of Muslims and comprises just "ghazals, sher and shayari".
"Urdu is one of the sweetest and richest languages and is the soul of mushaira. Mushaira will spread the essence of the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and promote socio-cultural harmony and brotherhood in society," he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi said, "Since ages, Urdu has been a proponent of humanity, principles and discipline. Urdu has played a key role in connecting people across the world."
He said the Union government had organised a year-long programme to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The mushaira was based on the teachings and principles of Mahatma Gandhi.
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