Mantralaya holds Diwali poetry evening for staff to promote 'Aapla Mantralaya' magazine

The Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR) brings out an in-house magazine, 'Aapla Mantralaya', to promote the literary and cultural talent of officers and employees working at Mantralaya in Mumbai. On the occasion of Diwali, the magazine organised a grand poetry evening in the Parishad Sabhagruha at Mantralaya.

Speaking at the event, Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary and Director General of the DGIPR, said the in-house magazine gives all employees a good opportunity to present their writing and literary expression.

Welcoming the writing of government officers and employees, Singh said, "Many officers and employees who are poets, writers and lovers of literature work in Mantralaya. This poetry evening has been organised so that their talent gets a platform. 'Aapla Mantralaya' is not just a monthly, it is the own platform of every employee of Mantralaya. Everyone should take an active part in it and enrich their writing further."

Additional Chief Secretary Vikas Kharge, Director (Information) Dr Kishor Gangurde, Director Govind Ahankari, Deputy Director Varsha Andhale and Kirti Pande, public relations officer to the Chief Minister, were present as special guests.

In his address, Additional Chief Secretary Vikas Kharge stressed the importance of reading. He said, "Reading makes a person mature and gives a new way of thinking. Reading has the power to make an ordinary person special. So everyone should cultivate the habit of reading. The state government runs many initiatives for the development of art, literature and music, and employees should take advantage of them."

Poets from Mantralaya presented poems on society, culture and human emotions and won over the audience. Those who recited included Satish Moghe, Dr Namdev Bhosale, Minakshi Patil, Leena Sankhye, Anjali Dhamal, Ajay Bhosale, Namdev Koli, Dr Jagdish More, Shashi Dambhare and Praveen Kulkarni.

At the event, a Diwali special issue, 'Waghur', by Namdev Koli was also released by those present.