Verses from Warriors: Soldiers, Poets Unite at QMTI’s First Kavi Sammelan
Pune, 26th July 2025: On July 19, Queen Mary’s Technical Institute (QMTI), Khadki, came alive with poetry as disabled soldiers showcased their creative spirit at the institute’s first Kavi Sammelan, organised by KavitaKAFE. The event brought together Pune-based poets and soldier-poets, celebrating courage, creativity, and the power of words.
Soldiers Naik Ranjit Podar, Hav Avdhut Vishwanath Patil, CPL Ankit Acharya, and QMTI Librarian Shri RA Dhokte recited heartfelt poems on patriotism, Pulwama attack, life, and love, offering a glimpse into the soldier’s journey. Soldier Harisharan Dwivedi’s soulful violin performance added a melodic pause, while QMTI Dean Col Vasant Ballewar also presented a poem on soldiers’ life and times. The evening, which was held at Kargil Auditorium at QMTI, began with a warm welcome by
Madhusudan Shinde and culminated with a melodius Bollywood number sung by artist Anupam Banerjee.
City-based Bhanwar, Surbhi Jain, Mohd Azad, and Tushar Gadekar, invited by KavitaKAFE, presented diverse poems, while Garima Mishra, founder of KavitaKAFE, shared two of her compositions. “We are truly delighted to collaborate and perform at QMTI. The energy and enthusiasm of the soldiers, both on stage and in the audience, were electrifying. The response was so overwhelming that KavitaKAFE now plans to make this a regular feature in our upcoming event calendar,”
said Garima Mishra, summarising the spirit of the evening.
“This event was thoroughly enjoyed by our soldiers, and now more and more are eager to participate. It will be good to see them explore their creativity and express themselves through poetry,” said Col Ballewar, Dean, QMTI.
This event was part of KavitaKAFE’s initiative Healing Verses, under which it has already organised poetry events at Aaji Care Centre, Cipla Cancer Care Centre, and Vrindavan Old-age Home. KavitaKAFE also regularly organises poetry gatherings at Monalisa Kalagram, Koregaon Park, making poetry accessible and healing for diverse audiences.
QMTI, India’s pioneering vocational rehabilitation centre for disabled military personnel, established in 1917, continues to restore dignity through skill development. This Kavi Sammelan became more than a poetry event—it became a testament to resilience and the healing power of art.
