The Consulate General of India, New York, in association with the Helena Kaushik Education Foundation hosted a “Shaam-e-Ghazal”, (an evening of Ghazals), on July 24, 2009. The Rizvi Parivar comprising of Shri Raj Kumar Rizvi, his wife Smt. Indrani Rizvi, and daughters Runa and Neha Rizvi, regaled the audience with Ghazals and songs of different genres of classical music by such legendary poets and singers as Amir Khusro, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Mirza Ghalib, Mehdi Hasan, Farida Khanum, among others.  The Rizvi Parivar were supported by Pandit Ramesh Mishra on the Sarangi, Samir Chatterji on Tabla and Basheer Ahmed on the Banjo. Around a hundred and seventy people, comprising of American and Indian Americans from the Tri-State area, attended the event. 

The Consul General of India in New York, Amb. Prabhu Dayal earlier welcomed the gathering to the event, the seventh in the ongoing “Jewels of India” Concert Series. A number of distinguished invitees such as Amb. T. P. Sreenivasan, Amb. Hardip Singh Puri, Amb. Mrs. Neelam Deo, Amb. Gurjit Singh, Shri Amitabh Kant IAS officer, New York Assembly Woman Sandy Gaeler, presented bouquets to the artistes. 

In his remarks, Prof Surendra Kaushik spoke about the work done by the Helena Kaushik Education Foundation in the field of Women’s education in Rajasthan. He elaborated upon the many achievements of Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women’s College, run by the Foundation at Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan.  

A dinner reception followed the event.

July 24, 2009