Memorial for Dr Verma and Hindi Kavi Sammelan 2018, Hindu Temple Nottingham

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On the 22nd September 2018, Kavya Rang held Dr Verma’s memorial and the Hindi Kavi Sammelan, at the Nottingham Hindi Temple, dedicated to Dr Verma. The event was attended by 250 people, with the Lord Mayor of Nottingham as the Chief Guest. The Lord Mayor and Dr Verma had met in the community — indeed the Mayor described him as ‘The Hero of the Community’.

Six poets travelled from India through the High Commission of India and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), to bring our countries and cultures closer together. Many thanks to the Hindi Attaché Tarun Kumar and Mr KBL Saxena for their hard work in coordinating the guests as they spread Indian poetry and language across the UK, to celebrate Hindi Divas, an event that Dr Verma was an enthusiastic supporter of. He was a pillar of Kavya Rang.42727621_10160850486110142_597412788184285184_o[1]

The Kavya Rang committee and members have marked Dr Verma’s contribution by instituting a new award for UK writers who have excelled in their field: the annual Dr Mahipal Singh Verma Kavya Rang Literary Award. The first recipient was Dr Padmesh Gupt from Oxford.

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I was moved by the speeches given by family and friends to mark the life of my husband, and how they showed that his life was one of selflessness, kindness, and love for his family and the world. He was a humanitarian, and his spirit, courage, and love will live on forever in the hearts and minds of others. He was an example to us all, and an inspiration. He will be missed greatly by many people from many different backgrounds. There are universals: poetry, music, love. Dr Verma embodied these. The community of Nottingham and others over the world have shown their support and kindness over a difficult period of my life, and continue to do so. I would like to thank them greatly for helping me and my family through this. Kindness, support, and love have helped me to carry on without the greatest love in my life. He would be proud of you all.

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