In an era where the boundaries of the public sphere are increasingly contested, the Department of Languages at Christ (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru Central Campus, asserted the power of the written word through its annual poets’ meet, Sham-E-Ghazal , held on February 10, 2026. Organised by the Club of Hindi and Urdu Poets (CHUP) —a name that ironically subverts its literal meaning "silent"—the event served as a vibrant platform for poetry recitation, soulful ghazals, and musical renditions. Students and faculty gathered to celebrate the aesthetic beauty of Urdu and Hindi literature, while simultaneously reflecting on the role of the artist in contemporary society. The event could have been aptly called Hum CHUP nehin rehenge (We will not remain silent), which feels particularly poignant against the backdrop of recent controversies involving institutional gatekeeping. Participants drew parallels between their creative expressions and the broader silencing of critical ...