Imran Pratapgarhi headlines Sydney’s Rang-e-Sukhan 2026

In Summary

Imran Pratapgarhi headlined Sydney’s Rang-e-Sukhan 2026 at Parramatta Town Hall on 26 September, featuring Urdu poetry and social reflections.
The sold-out, multicultural event brought together South Asian communities and international/local literary voices, promoting poetry and literature as connectors.
Pratapgarhi was highlighted for his mushaira roots and his poetry on marginalised communities, pluralism, communal harmony, injustice and resistance, alongside works like Madrasa and Lal Qila.
His political journey was also noted, including joining the Indian National Congress, chairing the party’s Minority Department, and serving in India’s Rajya Sabha from 2022.
The programme also included contributions from poets and moderators such as Wahab Siddiqui, Syed Altaf-ur-Rahman Zubair, Rehan Alavi and others, emphasizing poetry’s ability to cross borders and identities.

The historic Parramatta Town Hall came alive with Urdu poetry, humour and reflections on society as acclaimed poet and Indian parliamentarian Imran Pratapgarhi joined local and international literary voices for Rang-e-Sukhan 2026.

A celebration of words, culture and the enduring tradition of the mushaira brought Sydney’s diverse South Asian communities together for Rang-e-Sukhan 2026, held at Parramatta Town Hall on Saturday 26 September.

Presented by Lead College in collaboration with the Australian Multicultural Association Inc, the sold-out event was promoted as a celebration of poetry, literature and South Asian culture, using the power of language to connect people and communities.

The major attraction was internationally renowned Urdu poet and Indian parliamentarian Imran Pratapgarhi, who travelled to Sydney as guest of honour, joining Khushbir Singh Shaad, Rehan Alavi, Syed Altaf-ur-Rahman Zubair, Wahab Siddiqui and Tehmina Rao among the featured literary voices.

Organiser Dr Abdul Noor welcomed the gathering and thanked Pratapgarhi for accepting the invitation to Australia, as well as supporters, sponsors and community representatives who helped bring the literary evening together.

From poetry to Parliament

Pratapgarhi’s appearance gave Rang-e-Sukhan a particular significance. Born Mohammed Imran Khan in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, in 1987, he emerged from India’s kavi sammelan and mushaira tradition before developing a substantial following for poetry addressing contemporary social and political issues.

His work has frequently focused on the experiences of marginalised communities and themes of pluralism, communal harmony, injustice and resistance. Among his widely known poems are Madrasa, Filisteen, Lal Qila and Umar.

His journey subsequently moved from poetry into party politics: he joined the Indian National Congress, contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election and was appointed chairman of the party’s Minority Department in 2021. In July 2022, he entered India’s upper house of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, representing Maharashtra.

At Rang-e-Sukhan, however, the emphasis was on the literary tradition that first brought him public recognition and on poetry’s capacity to communicate across national and religious boundaries.

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Poetry across borders

That spirit was reinforced by Wahab Siddiqui, who served as Nazim-e-Mushaira, or moderator of the poetry session. His opening verses celebrated Urdu as a language capable of carrying affection and shared humanity across borders.

Sydney-based Syed Altaf-ur-Rahman Zubair, an engineer with connections to Hyderabad and Sharjah, opened the poetic proceedings, while Asma Aftab Siddiqui moved between devotional and contemporary themes.

Rehan Alavi similarly explored themes extending from personal relationships to migration and cultural identity.

Khushbir Singh Shaad brings a veteran voice

Another highlight was the appearance of celebrated poet Khushbir Singh Shaad, whose work represents the long-standing contribution of non-Muslim writers to Urdu literary culture.

Shaad’s poetry brought a more philosophical and socially reflective tone to the evening, touching on fear, hypocrisy, truth and the contradictions of public life.

Their presence on the same Sydney stage also reflected something larger about Urdu: a literary language whose heritage has been shaped over centuries by writers from different faiths and communities across the subcontinent.

Imran takes to the podium

Finally, it was Imran Pratapgarhi’s turn to take the stage, much to the anticipation of the audience. He recited a selection of his well-known and newer poetry, including one of his most popular works, “Lal Qila.”

A particularly moving moment came when he presented a new poem reflecting on his relationship with his father, affectionately referred to as Walid Saheb.

The deeply personal verses struck an emotional chord with the audience and were greeted with resounding applause and enthusiastic whistles, marking one of the memorable moments of the evening.

Celebrating community contributors

Rang-e-Sukhan was not limited to poetry. The program also recognised people who have contributed to Australia’s multicultural and South Asian communities.

Among those felicitated were veteran broadcaster Kumud Merani; engineer and community leader Zahid Jameel who presided over the event (Sadre-Mushaira); Indian Sydney founders Nadeem Ahmad and Gurnam Singh; veteran educator Mobin Siddiqui; Little India Harris Park Business Association president Sanjay Deshwal; and Deccan Australian Welfare Association president Mustafa Mohammad.

In a multicultural city where younger generations can easily become separated from their ancestral languages, Rang-e-Sukhan demonstrated that Urdu poetry remains capable of bringing generations and communities together — while providing a space to laugh, remember, question and reflect.

And with Imran Pratapgarhi at its centre, the Sydney gathering showed how the centuries-old mushaira tradition continues to evolve: from intimate literary gatherings to global stages, social media and even the floor of Parliament.