Thirteenth Edition of “The Poetic Heart: Connecting Humanity” Held in Dubai Pays Tribute to Daisaku Ikeda
On February 8, 2024, the 13th edition of “The
Poetic Heart: Connecting Humanity” was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
(UAE). This annual poetry event was hosted by SGI-Gulf, a Dubai-based cultural
and educational organization, in association with Abu Dhabi Department of
Education and Knowledge (ADEK). It was attended by some 900 people and
broadcast online.
“The Poetic Heart” was first held in 2012 and draws inspiration from the conviction Daisaku Ikeda (1928–2023) had in the power of poetry to foster connection and nurture the values that underlie peace. Each year, it brings together poets, musicians and students from across the region and beyond to perform their work on topics such as peace, friendship, tolerance and human dignity.
This year, the event was held under the theme
“Building a Sustainable Future, Together,” which, states ADEK, underscores
the need for a collective, forward-thinking approach to tackle complex
challenges related to sustainability. Forty-four students from educational
establishments across UAE, ranging from junior high schools to universities, presented
their poems. Expressing the power of youth and their aspirations for the
future, the students hoped to inspire people to recognize the ways in which
they benefit from nature and the importance of initiating change from within
oneself.
Poets from
countries including Egypt, India, UAE and the UK also recited their poems in
different languages.
Dr. Shihab Ghanem paying tribute to Mr. Ikeda (right) and one of the student poets reciting her poem (left)
Among them was
Dr.
Shihab Ghanem, a renowned UAE poet, who led the translation of Mr. Ikeda’s
poetry collection Fighting for Peace into Arabic and has played a
pivotal role in organizing “The Poetic Heart” since its inception.
Dr. Ghanem paid tribute to Mr. Ikeda, who passed away on
November 15, 2023, praising his work as not only a prolific poet and
photographer but also as a dedicated advocate for peace and the founder of
various institutions, including universities. Dr. Ghanem
read a poem he wrote, dedicated to Mr. Ikeda, recounting a visit to Hiroshima,
Japan, in 2015. In the poem, he refers to Mr. Ikeda as “brother Daisaku.”
The
symposium also included a recitation in Japanese and in Hindi of Mr. Ikeda’s
poem “Salute to Mothers” and of the lyrics he wrote for the song titled
“Mother’s Song.” The SGI-Gulf chorus group Naseem (meaning “breeze” in Arabic)
performed an original composition.
Participants at the 13th edition of “The Poetic Heart: Connecting Humanity” symposium gather for a commemorative photo
[Adapted
from an article in the February 16, 2024, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan]
