Society of Poetry and Indian Music
News & Events (Upcoming & Current)
Beats, Bhakti and Bauls: Ginsberg at 100 Goes Back to India
From Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 3, 2026 in Centenary Concert Hall, University of Leeds.
Beats, Bhakti and Bauls: Ginsberg at 100 Goes Back to India
Centenary Concert Hall, University of Leeds, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 3AR.
Leading Beat poet Allen Ginsberg’s South Asian inspirations were manifold. He travelled to India and Bangladesh twice in the 1960s-70s, collaborated with avant-garde Bengali poets of the Hungry Generation, raised consciousness of the suffering caused by the Bangladesh Liberation War and wrote poetry inspired by Bengali mystics such as Lalon Fakir. Saudha Society of Poetry and Indian Music celebrates Ginsberg’s birth centenary with an innovatory exploration of these connections. Among others Indian classical vocalist Chandra Chakraborty, poet and singer T M Ahmed Kaysher, semi-classical vocalist Amith Dey, performance poet Shree Ganguly, Bengali folk and Tagore singer Sahana Bajaie and Matthew Pritchard from the School of Music will be reciting, dramatizing and discussing Ginsberg’s poetry, presenting mystical songs by Lalon, Kabir and Hason and spiritual and semi-classical forms from bhajan to thumri
The event is hosted by Saudha Society of Poetry and Indian Music (www.saudha.org) in collaboration with the Music Department of Leeds University.
An unprecedented motion has been lodged at the Scottish Parliament to congratulate Saudha's works
We are absolutely pleased to see that a motion has been lodged in The Scottish Parliament to appreciate and to congratulate Saudha's 'extraordinary cross-cultural works'; its wide spectrum of art literature and music initiatives all around the country and to acknowledge its contribution to UK's cultural scene. Followed by a wonderful Saudha production in the #Parliament, this motion came as the recognition of our art vision, our commitment to Internationalism and universalism that we tend to preach THROUGH every art-production and art-initiative.
The motion was lodged by Foysol Choudhury MSP MBE and supported by so many members of Scottish Parliament e.g. Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Edward Mountain, Paul Sweeney, Mercedes Villalba, Tess White.
Please continue your support to revolutionise the world with a new vision and perception of arts.
Please find the parliamentary motion below:
S6M-20327 | Scottish Parliament Website
Our sincere gratitude to all the members of the parliament – the one who lodged the motion and the ones who supported it.
We also would like to pay our gratitude to all of our artists and volunteers who invested their passionate contribution to shape Saudha’s vision.
Venue: From Jan 7, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027 in The Scottish Parliament
A Few Drops of Dews & Ditties
Saturday 24 January 2026 at 4:30pm
City Hall, Centenary Square, Bradford BD1 1HY, UK
A celebration of winter dusk with moving winter verses, compelling winter music & dance at the Council chamber of Bradford City Hall.
Come and warm yourself up with searing verses of poetry, flaming music and sizzling dance by the best interpreters of each genre.
This unique session is hosted by Saudha (www.saudha.org) a leading platform of predominately South Asian classical arts, global music, poetry and other art forms.
Free reservation:
Venue: From Jan 24, 2026 to Dec 24, 2026 in Council Chamber | Bradford City Hall