April 13-14th the Hindi Urdu Flagship will host a festival of both live and filmed performances of Kabir poetry and song. Events are free and open to the public. The schedule is as follows:

Had-Anhad: Journeys with Ram & Kabir

Film | Mon April 13, 4.45 pm | Jessen Auditorium (HRH)

Kabir defied the boundaries between Hindu and Muslim, refusing to be labeled himself and sharply criticizing sectarianism. His name and upbringing were Muslim but his poetry often uses Hindu concepts and Hindu names for God, especially Ram. This film journeys in search of the “Ram” invoked in Kabir's poetry, delving into the heart of divisive Hindu-Muslim politics of religion and nationalism, encountering singers and lay people in India and Pakistan, probing the forces of history and politics that have created disputatiously diverse Rams, while also spawning many Kabirs.

A reception and discussion with the filmmaker will be held in HRH 3.102 after the screening. Refreshments will be served.

Prahlad Singh Tipanya and Kabir Ensemble

Musical Performance | Tues April 14, 4.45 pm | Jessen Auditorium (HRH)

Prahlad Singh Tipanya sings and plays the tambura (a five-stringed plucked and strummed instrument originally from Rajasthan), and kartal (a wood and metal instrument, two pieces struck together to make a tambourine-like sound, played with the fingers of the left hand). His younger son Vijay Tipanya sings with him and plays manjira (small cymbals); his older son Ajay Tipanya plays dholak (two-headed drum); his brother Ambaram Tipanya plays manjira, kartal, and sometimes harmonium; Devnarayan Sarolia plays violin. In addition to the official accompanying singer, all are likely to join in on the singing.

More info on the film, filmmaker, and performers is available at The Kabir Project website. http://hindiurduflagship.org/events/news.html#New-Website The Hindi Urdu Flagship has just renovated and relaunched its website. We hope you are enjoying the changes! Some new sections to look out for include: Flagship student profiles, an introduction to Hindi Urdu and an explanation of its increasing importance, a new indepth resources section, videos and powerpoints from teacher training workshops, a look at past media coverage of HUF, and suggestion for preparing for the Flagship experience. Feel free to send us comments and suggestions! http://hindiurduflagship.org/events/news.html#SM-Zaki HUF will continue its Hindu Urdu Speaker Series with a poetry reading by S.M. Zaki on April 21, 2009. HUF will also host a separate poetry writing workshop with S.M. Zaki and several scholars of South Asian literature who teach at the University of Texas at Austin. Details of both events will be posted shortly. http://hindiurduflagship.org/events/news.html#New-Staff At the start of the new semester, the Flagship is pleased to welcome to new staff members. Martha Berry joins HUF as our new Program Assistant. She holds a Master's Degree in Asian Cultures and Languages with a Hindi concentration from the University of Texas at Ausin. Faculty and Staff page>Elise Abernethy joins HUF as our new Administrative Assistant/Accountant. She comes to the University of Texas at Austin from the Detroit, Michigan area where she spent her working career in the automotive industry. She holds a Master’s Degree in International Business and undergraduate degrees from Hope College in Holland, Michigan in the areas of Political Science and Communication.