The Urdu Ghazal Podcast
Each episode of this podcast features a ghazal written by a leading Urdu poet, read by the podcaster with additional commentary. The show explores the rich tradition of Urdu poetry, offering insights into the works of renowned poets.
Episodes
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 24: Gulzar
Send us Fan MailGulzar, born Sampooran Singh Kalra on August 18, 1934, in Dina village in the Jhelum district, stands as one of the most distinguished figures in Indian literature and cinema. He is regarded as one of the greatest Urdu poets of this era, with a multifaceted career spanning poetry, film lyrics, screenwriting, and direction. The trauma of India's partition in 1947 profoundly sha
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 23: Bashir Badr
Send us Fan MailSyed Muhammad Bashir, known by his pen name Bashir Badr, was born on February 15, 1935, in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. He emerged as one of the most prominent voices in contemporary Urdu poetry, particularly renowned for his ghazals. Badr completed his education at Lucknow University and later taught Urdu at Aligarh Muslim University for several decades before retiring. His literary ca
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 22: Sahir Ludhianvi
Send us Fan MailSahir Ludhianvi (1921-1980), born Abdul Hayee in Ludhiana, was one of the most influential Urdu poets and lyricists of the 20th century. Born into an affluent family, Sahir's childhood was marked by his parents' troubled marriage and eventual separation. These early experiences of emotional turmoil profoundly influenced his poetry, infusing it with themes of pain, disillu
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 21--Kaifi Azmi
Send us Fan MailKaifi Azmi, born Syed Athar Husain Rizvi in 1919 in Mizwaan village near Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh), was one of the most influential Urdu poets of the 20th century. He showed literary promise from an early age, penning his first ghazal at the age of eleven. Deeply moved by social injustice, he became associated with the Progressive Writers’ Movement (Taraqqi Pasand Tahreek) in the 19
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 20: Ali Sardar Jafri
Send us Fan MailAli Sardar Jafri (1913-2000) was one of the most prominent Urdu poets of the 20th century, born in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh. Coming from an aristocratic family, he was educated at Sultan-ul-Madaris in Lucknow and later studied at Aligarh Muslim University. He became deeply involved in the Progressive Writers' Movement during the 1930s and remained committed to leftist ideals t
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 19: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Send us Fan MailMajrooh Sultanpuri (1919-2000) was one of Urdu literature's most celebrated poets and a prominent lyricist in Hindi cinema. Born as Asrar ul Hassan Khan in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, he adopted the pen name ‘Majrooh’ (meaning ‘wounded’), which reflected the melancholic undertones often found in his work. He began his literary career as a progressive poet, deeply influenced by t
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 18: Parveen Shakir
Send us Fan MailParveen Shakir (1952-1994) was one of the most celebrated Urdu poets, known for her distinctive feminist voice and innovative approach to ghazal poetry. Born in Karachi, she earned a Master's degree in English Literature and later worked as a civil servant in the Pakistani government. Shakir published her first poetry collection, "Khushbu" (Fragrance), in 1976, which
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 17 --Jan Nisar Akhtar
Send us Fan MailJan Nisar Akhtar (1914-1976) was a distinguished Urdu poet, lyricist, and writer who left an indelible mark on modern Urdu literature and Indian cinema. Born in Gwalior, he came from a literary family and developed his poetic sensibilities at an early age.Akhtar was known for his progressive ideals and was associated with the Progressive Writers' Movement. His poetry reflected
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 16: Ahmad Faraz
Send us Fan MailAhmad Faraz (1931-2008) gained prominence for his passionate ghazals and progressive poetry. His distinctive style blended classical Urdu poetry traditions with contemporary themes. What he wrote was characterized by romantic intensity, social consciousness, and political resistance. His verse focuses on love, loss, and human dignity, while also addressing issues of social justice
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 15 --Faiz Ahmad Faiz
Send us Fan MailFaiz Ahmad Faiz (1911-1984) was one of the most celebrated and most loved Urdu poets of the last century. Faiz began his literary career in the 1930s and became associated with the Progressive Writers' Movement, which sought to use literature as a tool for social reform. His poetry masterfully combined classical Urdu literary traditions with revolutionary themes, addressing is
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 14: Firaq Gorakhpuri
Send us Fan MailRaghupati Sahay, known by his pen name Firaq Gorakhpuri (1896-1982), was one of the most celebrated Urdu poets of the 20th century. Born in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, he bridged cultural and religious divides through his literary work. Firaq was not only a poet but also a distinguished academic and critic. He served as a professor of English literature at Allahabad University for ma
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 13: Asghar Gondvi
Send us Fan MailAsghar Hussain, known by his pen name Asghar Gondvi, was born in 1884 in Gorakhpur. Despite formally studying only up to the 8th class, Asghar achieved mastery of Urdu, Persian, and Arabic through self-study, and also gained proficiency in English. He was under the spiritual influence of Sayed Abdul Ghani Kazmi, a religious saint and mystic, and led a life of piety and self-control
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 12--Jigar Moradabadi
Send us Fan MailJigar Moradabadi (1890-1960) was one of the most celebrated Urdu poets of the 20th century, renowned for his passionate ghazals and romantic poetry. Born as Ali Sikander in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, he adopted the pen name ‘Jigar’ (meaning heart or liver, symbolizing intense emotion), which perfectly captured the essence of his deeply emotional verse. During his lifetime, J
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 11: Josh Malihabadi
Send us Fan MailJosh Malihabadi (1898-1982) was one of the most significant Urdu poets of the last century. Due to his revolutionary poetry during the freedom movement, he became known as Shaayir-e-Inquilaab. Josh was born Shabbir Hasan Khan on December 5, 1898, in Malihabad. He studied at St. Peter's College in Agra and later at Tagore's University, where he acquired proficiency in Ara
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 10: Hasrat Mohani
Send us Fan MailHasrat Mohani (1875-1951), born Syed Fazl-ul-Hasan in Mohan, a town in the Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, was a multifaceted personality who impacted literature and politics in India. He was not only a romantic poet but also a journalist, politician, parliamentarian, and fearless freedom fighter. When he gave the call of ‘Inquilab Zindabad’—Long Live Revolution—he relentlessly fo
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 9: Yaas Yagana Changezi
Send us Fan MailYaas Yagana Changezi (1884–1956), born Mirza Wajid Hussain Changezi, was a bold and unconventional Urdu poet known for his rebellious spirit and modernist outlook. Born in Patna, Yagana carved a unique niche in Urdu literature by defying the traditional romanticism and conventional themes that dominated the poetry of his time. He was heavily influenced by Western philosophy, partic
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, S5 E8--Fani Badayuni
Send us Fan MailFani Badayuni, born Shaukat Ali Khan on September 13, 1879, in Badaun district, was a distinguished Urdu poet renowned for his poignant and melancholic poetry. He hailed from a family that had migrated to India from Kabul during the reign of Shah Alam. He graduated from Bareilly College in 1901 and earned his Bachelor of Laws from Aligarh Muslim University in 1906. Fani began compo
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, S5 E7--Dagh Dehlvi
Send us Fan MailDagh Dehlvi (1831–1905) was one of the most celebrated poets of classical Urdu ghazal of the late 19th century. He came from an aristocratic family, but his father, Nawab Shamsuddin Ahmed Khan, was implicated in the murder of the British Resident William Fraser in 1835 and was executed by the British. This event drastically altered Dagh’s childhood. Following his father’s death, h
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast -- Season 5 Episode 6 --Momin Khan Momin
Send us Fan MailMomin Khan Momin (1800-1851) was one of the most significant poets of the late Mughal period in Delhi. Born into a family of physicians, he was educated in Persian, Arabic, and traditional Islamic sciences. His real name was Muhammad Momin Khan, but he is known by his pen name ‘Momin.’ Momin was associated with the court of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, where he was
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5, Episode 5--Maulana Altaf Husain Hali
Send us Fan MailMaulana Altaf Husain Hali (1837-1914) was a significant Urdu poet and writer from the nineteenth century. He was born in Panipat and wrote in classical Persian and Urdu poetic traditions. However, after meeting Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, he became an essential voice for social reform and modernization in Muslim society. Hali's most famous work is the ‘Musaddas-e-Hali,’ a long poem t
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 4--Mirza Ghalib
Send us Fan MailMirza Asadullah Baig Khan, better known as Mirza Ghalib (1797-1869), was one of the most influential and celebrated Urdu poets. Born in Agra during the decline of the Mughal Empire, he moved to Delhi after his marriage at a young age, where he spent most of his life. Despite facing personal tragedies, including the deaths of all seven of his children in infancy and persistent finan
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 3: Mir Taqi Mir
Send us Fan MailMir Taqi Mir (1723-1810) was born in Agra into a family that enjoyed great respect because of his father’s spiritual leanings. His father inspired Mir to follow the path of universal love and compassion. A tragedy struck when Mir was still young. He fell in love with an extended family member he could not marry. Heartbroken, he left Agra for Delhi, but that city was already in turm
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 5 Episode 2--Khwaja Mir Dard
Send us Fan MailKhwaja Mir Dard (1721-1785) was born to a highly respected religious family in Delhi. His father had relinquished his position in the Court to lead the life of a Sufi. Dard, therefore, received his spiritual education from his father. Although many poets left Delhi during the invasions of Nadir Shah and Ahmed Shah Abdali, Dard stayed in Delhi and witnessed horrible atrocities. He a
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast (TUGP), Season 5 Episode 1: Sauda
Send us Fan MailMirza Mohammad Rafi Sauda (1713-1781) belonged to a family of traders who had migrated to India from Afghanistan. Because of his father's influence in the social circles, Sauda had easy access to nobility and social prestige that others longed for. But this situation didn’t last long. When Delhi came under attack, the family had to find a new place to live. Nawab Asifuddaulah
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 20--Zehra Nigah
Send us Fan MailZehra Nigah, lovingly called Zehra Aapa, was ten years old when her family moved from Hyderabad, her place of birth, to Karachi after the Partition. Her father was a civil servant who had a deep interest in literature. He passed on his love of books to his children, who excelled in various literary and artistic fields. Zehra Nigah started writing early and gained great popularity a
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 19-- Rahat Indori
Send us Fan MailRahat Indori was born in Indore in 1950 in a family that was going through a rough financial time, and as a result, he had to face the brutal realities of life, starting in his childhood. Despite these challenges, he struggled to get a good education, including a doctoral degree. His poetry had an element of directness that summed up the social and political difficulties facing ord
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 18-- Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi
Send us Fan MailKunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi 'Saher" was born in 1909 in Sahiwal. After the partition, his family moved to Fazilka. His poetry was stylistically similar to the works of Allama Iqbal and Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The Haryana Urdu Akademi instituted an award in his honor that has been presented yearly since 1990. Bedi was also associated with the film industry, producing three films a
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 17-- Saghar Siddiqui
Send us Fan MailSaghar Siddiqui was born in 1928 in Ambala. He started writing poetry at a young age. In 1947, when he was 19, he migrated to Pakistan during the partition and settled in Lahore. In his later life, he fell into depression, became addicted to drugs, and turned into a homeless beggar. He would often hold mushairas on the footpaths in candlelight. He continued to write ghazals, though
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 16- Obaidullah Aleem
Send us Fan MailObaidullah Aleem was born in Bhopal in 1939. His family moved to Pakistan at the time of partition. He received higher education at the University of Karachi while pursuing several creative interests. He made an impressive debut as a radio and TV artist. Still, due to the discrimination he faced as an Ahmedia, everything came to a halt in 1978 when he was made to resign because of
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 15--Khaleel-ur Rehman Azmi
Send us Fan MailKhaleel-ur Rehman Azmi, a leading Urdu poet and literary critic, was born in 1927. He received his higher education at the Aligarh Muslim University, where he taught Urdu. He was posthumously elevated to the rank of a Professor. He wrote extensively on the progressive writers’ movement and is considered a pioneer of Modernism in Urdu. He mentored the leading British Urdu scholar Ra
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 14--Hastimal Hasti
Send us Fan MailHastimal Hasti (1946-2024) came from a humble background in Rajasthan but gained fame while working for the film industry in Mumbai. His poetry found a common ground between Urdu and Hindi, and as such, he endeared himself to a diverse audience. His ghazal, ‘Pyaar ka pehla khat likhne mein vaqt to lagta hai,’ was sung by Jagjit Singh, and it became an instant hit. He is also the au
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast--Season 4 Episode 13, Shahid Kabir
Send us Fan MailShahid Kabir was born in May 1932 in Nagpur. He started writing short stories and ghazals early and earned fame and name recognition after he began writing for films. In 1957, he authored a play about the life of Mirza Ghalib that was staged at Rastrapati Bhawan. His books include Kachchi Deewaarein (Novel, 1958) and ghazal collections such as Charon-or (1968) and Mitti Ka Makan (1
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 12--Andleeb Shadani
Send us Fan MailAndleeb Shadani was born in Moradabad district, UP, in 1904. He studied Persian at the Punjab University and earned a doctoral degree in England in 1934. He taught at the Hindu College in Delhi before moving to Dacca University. His poetry collection is called Nishaat-e-Rafta. He died in July 1969 in Dacca in what was still East Pakistan. Many singers, including Jagjit Singh, have
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast: Gulzar 90th Birthday Special Episode
Send us Fan MailOn August 18, 2024, we celebrate the 90th Birthday of Gulzar Sahib. Some people say age is nothing more than a number, yet we can’t deny that it is an important milestone. Gulzar’s creative spark is as bright as it has been over the years. He leads a busy life, reading, staying in touch with his friends, and writing new stuff, maybe poetry or something difficult to put in a box. As
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 10--Sudarshan Faakir
Send us Fan MailSudarshan Faakir, an exceptional nazm and ghazal poet, was born in 1934 in Jalandhar. He studied at the DAV College and earned a master's degree in Political Science. His first job was at the local radio station, but other opportunities attracted him, and he got into directing stage plays and movies. Although he started writing at a young age, his talent surfaced once he becam
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 9--Naresh Kumar Shaad
Send us Fan MailNaresh Kumar Shaad was born in a village near Hoshiarpur in 1927. He earned great admiration as a poet, prose writer, translator, and editor of several literary journals. Drinking became his weakness and caused him much grief. His father, Dard Nikodari, was also a poet and one of the distinguished disciples of master poet Josh Malsiyani. Therefore, it was natural that Shaad acquire
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 8: Abbas Tabish
Send us Fan MailAbbas Tabish, a famous Mushaira poet, was born in 1961. His ghazal poetry is known for amalgamating contemporary sociopolitical themes with the intoxicating flavor of the classical ghazal of the late 19th century. He teaches at the Government College University in Lahore. One of his famous couplets goes like this: chaand chehre mujhe achhe to bahut lagte haini’shq main us se karung
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 7--Amjad Islam Amjad
Send us Fan MailAmjad Islam Amjad was a multi-talented poet, lyricist, and TV serial creator who significantly contributed to Urdu literature. He was born in Lahore in 1944. He held several high positions in institutions connected with arts, entertainment, and education and received several honors from the government and other national and international organizations. He thoroughly mastered the ar
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 6--Kaif Bhopali
Send us Fan MailKaif Bhopali was born in 1917 in Bhopal to a family of Kashmiri origin. He gained great fame as a literary poet and film lyricist. Who has not heard and appreciated Mohd Rafi’s classic hit song, ‘Chalo Dildaar Chalo,’ from Kamal Amrohi’s 1972 film ‘Pakeezah?’ Kaif Bhopali wrote that song. Jagjit Singh also popularized several ghazals by Kaif in his melodious voice. The following co
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 5--Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi
Send us Fan MailAhmad Nadeem Qasmi, a leading figure in modern Urdu literature, was born in 1916 near Sargodha. After earning his master's degree, he worked in the Reform Commissioner’s office in Lahore in 1936. During the 1940s, his friendship with Manto inspired him to write scripts for films, but none of those films came to fruition. Following the Partition, he worked briefly as a script
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 4 -- Khumar Barabankavi
Send us Fan MailKhumar Barabankvi (1919 – 1999) was named Mohammed Haidar Khan by his parents. His uncle ‘Qaraar Barabankvi’ was a well-known poet of Barabanki who guided Khumar at a young age. His brother Qazim Haider ‘Nigar’, who died at an early age, was also a poet. It was, therefore, natural for the young lad in the family to follow in the footsteps of his elders. He selected ‘Khumar’ as his
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 3 -- Sahir Hoshiarpuri
Send us Fan MailSahir Hoshiarpuri (1913-1994) is less well-known than Sahir Ludhianvi, but they share some commonalities. They were born in places (Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur) that are geographically close. Their ghazal poetry is heart-touching and drowns the reader in the emotional fervor of evocative words. Sahir Hoshiarpuri, originally named Ram Parkash Sharma, studied Persian at the prestigious G
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 2--Qateel Shifai
Send us Fan MailQateel Shifai, originally named Mohammad Aurangzeb, was born in Haripur in Hazara District in 1919. His father's sudden demise disrupted his higher education. He tried his luck in business but failed. He moved to Lahore in 1946, which was the start of his literary life. He earned great fame as a film lyricist and a literary poet. He published nearly 20 books of ghazals and poe
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Season 4 Episode 1 --Shakeel Badayuni
Send us Fan MailShakeel Badayuni was born in Badaun in 1916 and received higher education at the Aligarh Muslim University. He became interested in poetry and wanted to be a romantic poet, which was unusual because, at that time, the progressive writer’s movement was at its peak. But Shakeel decided to be an interpreter of his heart. After working in Delhi for a few years, he moved to Bombay in 19
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Episode 20 Season Finale -- Gulzar
Send us Fan MailGulzar was born in Dina (District Jhelum, now in Pakistan) in 1934. After partition, the family split and moved to Delhi and Mumbai. Partition and the horrors of partition significantly influenced young Gulzar, and later in his life, he published short stories and a novel about this apocalyptic event. As a student, he was impressed by the poetry of Tagore and Ghalib. After a short
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Episode 19--Javed Akhtar
Send us Fan MailJaved Akhtar was born in Gwalior. There is hardly any other Urdu poet connected to such eminent and epoch-making personalities on either side of his birth—maternal and paternal—where the legacy of poetry and knowledge is continuous and uninterrupted. Who wouldn’t know Allama Fazle Haq Khairabadi? He was a talented man and a great scholar of his time. Ghalib appreciated him and was
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Episode 18 -- Shahryar (1936-2012)
Send us Fan MailPoet Shahryar was born in 1936 in a small town near Bareilly, and early in his life, he came under the influence of Khaleelur Rehman Azmi, a prominent Urdu critic and poet. He joined the Aligarh Muslim University, where he earned his doctoral degree. Shahryar started his career at the Anjuman Taraqqqi-e Urdu, where Professor Ale Ahmad Suroor was the President. Later, he moved to t
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Episode 17 -- Jayant Parmar
Send us Fan MailJayant Parmar, born in Ahmedabad in 1954, overcame socio-economic barriers to get a good education and succeed as a poet. He also gained fame as an accomplished painter. His work has won recognition both at the national and state levels. He won the coveted Sahitya Akademi Award in 2008 and three state Sahitya Akademi awards between 2001 and 2008. Six collections of his poems and gh
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Episode 16 -- Dr. Bashir Badr
Send us Fan MailDr. Bashir Badr was born in Ayodhya in 1935. He received his college education at Aligarh Muslim University, where he earned his graduate and doctoral degrees. He spent most of his life as a college professor, first in Aligarh and then in Meerut. He now lives in Bhopal. He was awarded Padma Shri in 1999, and the same year, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award for one of his poetry
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Episode 15 --Nida Fazli
Send us Fan MailNida Fazli (1938-2016) was born in Delhi into a family of Kashmiri descent, but he grew up in Gwalior. During the partition, his parents migrated to Pakistan, but he decided to stay in India. Early in his life, he was influenced by the poetry of saints and bhaktas like Kabir, Surdas, and Mirabai, and this was his inspiration for writing poetry in Hindi, Gujarati, and Urdu. Later in
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast Episode 14-- Parveen Shakir
Send us Fan MailParveen Shakir (1952-1994) attained fame early when her first poetry collection was published in 1976. The literary career that followed consisted of several acclaimed poetry collections and honors. She was highly educated, earning her degrees from Karachi and Harvard Universities. She was selected for the Pakistan Civil Service, and her untimely death in a car accident shocked eve
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Episode 13 --Jaun Elia
Send us Fan MailJaun Elia (1931-2002) was born in Amroha, a town in Uttar Pradesh. He migrated to Pakistan in 1957 with some reluctance, but the agony of migration that forced separation from his roots never left him. Coming from a highly literate family, Jaun gained a good grounding in Eastern and Western philosophy and Islamic and Sufi belief systems at an early age. Although he was born into a
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Episode 12 --Nasir Kazmi
Send us Fan MailNasir Kazmi (1925-1972) was born in the Indian town of Ambala in Punjab and moved to Lahore after partition. He was associated with Radio Pakistan for several years. His poetry is known for its mellow and soft lyricism and is rich in novel similes and metaphors. It is rooted in the prakritic tradition of Mir Taqi Mir and reflects sad tones reflecting the uprootedness and tragedy of
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast, Episode 11 --Ahmad Faraz
Send us Fan MailAhmad Faraz (1931-2008) was a close friend of both Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Ali Sardar Jafri, and he followed in their footsteps to be an icon of modern progressive poetry. Because he opposed the military rule of Zia-ul Haq, he was arrested, lost his job, and on his release, he went into a self-imposed exile, spending many years in foreign lands. He started as a romantic poet, and when
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast: Season 3 Episode 10--Majrooh Sultanpuri
Send us Fan MailMajrooh Sultanpuri (1919-2000) was called Mir Taqi Mir of Urdu poetry, as someone who had fully internalized the legacy of ghazal writing. The humanistic aspects of Marxism are very much present in his poetry. He was a poet of the people, which is what he wanted to be. He had one slim volume of poetry that he expanded every few years. Since some of the keywords were common among th
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast Episode 9: Kaifi Azmi
Send us Fan MailKaifi Azmi (1919-2002) was born in a conservative Muslim family near Azamgarh in UP, but he adopted socialism as his creed. He was an active participant in the Communist Party of India. He published his first collection of poems called Jhankaar in 1943. Sajjad Zahir welcomed Kaifi as a valuable addition to the front-ranking poets in the assembly of Urdu poetry. His entry into Hindi
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast S3 E8 - Jan Nisar Akhtar
Send us Fan MailJan Nisar Akhtar (1914 – 1976), father of poet Javed Akhtar, was a part of the Progressive Writers Movement and a famous lyricist for several Bollywood movies. He was the son of poet Muztar Khairabadi and great-grandson of freedom fighter Fazle-Haq Khairabadi. From his early days, he was sympathetic to progressive thinking. Although he wrote both ghazals and poems, we find the sou
The Urdu Ghazal Poetry: Season 3 Episode 7 --Jigar Moradabadi
Send us Fan MailJigar Moradabadi (1890-1960) was born in Benaras. Because he lost his father at an early age, he struggled to get a start in life and gain proficiency in Urdu and Persian. Due to his friendship with Asghar Gondvi, he settled in Gonda, a town near Lucknow. Jigar kept alive the classical, rhythmic traditional style of ghazal writing, and his name often occurs near the top of twentiet
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast S3 Episode 6-Majaz Lakhnavi
Send us Fan MailAsrarul Haq Majaz (1911-1955) of Lucknow lived a relatively short life of 44 years, but within this short time, he made a significant impact with his alluring poems and captivating ghazals. Although he was not an excellent academic student, he influenced many people during his stay at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). He wrote his best work while at Aligarh. He composed the Tarana,
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast--S3 E5 Sahir Ludhianvi
Send us Fan MailAmong the modern progressives and those who were also associated with the film industry, Sahir Ludhianvi (1921-1980) occupies a very special place. It has to do with his celebrity status as much as his romantic poetry that appealed to a new generation of young people in post-independent India. Sahir was also a powerful voice against social injustice, exploitation, denial of women’s
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast-S3 E4 Hasrat Mohani
Send us Fan MailHasrat Mohani (1875-1951) revived the Urdu ghazal after the onslaught of the Nayi Shaa’yari (New Poetry). He infused it with socio-political zeal while retaining its lyricism and charm. He learned from past masters like Mir and Ghalib about how feminine beauty is captured in verse. There is a visible influence of Mus-hafi, but his more important contribution lies in the fact that h
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast: Episode 3 Josh Malihabadi
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I present the ghazal poetry of Josh Malihabadi. He got his education at St. Peter’s College in Agra and a brief stint at Tagore’s University at Shanti Niketan. He founded the progressive magazine Kaleemin Delhi, and after the independence, he was appointed editor of Aajkal, a government of India literary publication, where he worked for eight years. His decision to
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast Episode 2: Faiz
Send us Fan MailFaiz Ahmed Faiz (1911-1984) is a milestone in the ghazal tradition as the climax of liberal Urdu poetry. He was a significant departure from Iqbal and the elasticity of the ghazal structure that allowed a new creative poetic transformation. His verse's captivating musicality is unsurpassed in contemporary Urdu poetry. Faiz’s poetry, soaked in the kernel of tagazzul, the lyrica
The Urdu Ghazal Podcast Episode 1: Firaq
Send us Fan MailThe Urdu Ghazal Podcast presents the ghazal poetry of a leading poet in each episode. In this first episode, we present the magnificent poetry of Firaq Gorakhpuri who brought the taste of Sanskrit and Hindi poetic rasa into his compositions. He not only excelled in ghazal, but the rubai collections authored by him are also memorable for the exposition of feminine beauty in all its
Episode 28: Embers by Intizar Husain
Send us Fan MailIntizar Husain was born in a small town in the district of Bulandshahr, UP, and his family migrated to Pakistan in 1947. But it seems that he left his heart behind because not only pre-partition India but the dominant themes in the Indian culture, including folk tales and ancient epics, stayed in his consciousness. He repeatedly used these themes in his stories and novels. His 1979
IndiStories Episode 28: Embers by Intizar Husain
Send us Fan MailIn this Season finale, I present a short story by Intizar Husain, the eminent short story writer, and novelist of the Indian subcontinent. He was born in a small town in the district of Bulandshahr, UP, and his family migrated to Pakistan in 1947. But it seems that he left his heart behind because not only pre-partition India but the dominant themes in the Indian culture, including
IndiStories Episode 27: 'The Woman and the Leopard' by Fahmida Riaz
Send us Fan MailThis is a short story by Fahmida Riaz, a poet, distinguished author, and tireless fighter for women’s rights. She was born in Meerut in 1946, and after the partition, her family settled in Hyderabad, Sindh. During the dictatorial regime of Zia Ul Haq, she was charged with several crimes, and she sought refuge in India and spent seven years in exile. On Women’s Rights, she once said
IndiStories Episode 26: Open! by Saa'dat Hasan Manto
Send us Fan MailSaadat Hasan Manto’s name should be familiar to listeners of this Podcast because his short story Toba Tek Singh was the first story to be featured in this Podcast. Manto gained great fame as a playwright and a short story writer in pre-partition India, but his greatest achievement was how he captured the brutality unleashed by India’s partition and how women suffered the most in t
IndiStories Episode 25: Duusri Naak by Yashpal
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I present a short story written by Yashpal, an eminent Hindi writer whose work has been compared with that of Munshi Prem Chand. Yashpal was born in Kangra Hills in 1903. He was an early follower of Gandhi Ji's non-violent approach, but after meeting Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev at the National College in Lahore, he became a full-fledged revolutionary, turning him
IndiStories Episode 24: Diya Jale Saari Raat by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
Send us Fan MailIt is a romantic story written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, who is remembered as a novelist, story writer, film director, and distinguished journalist. Although I did not fully subscribe to the communist worldview, when I picked up a copy of BLITZ weekly magazine as a student, I immediately jumped to what was called the Last Page. This place was reserved for a column by Khwaja Ahmad Abba
IndiStories Episode 23: Chief Ki Daa'vat by Bhisham Sani
Send us Fan MailBhisham Sahni, the younger brother of famous Bollywood actor Balraj Sahni, was born in Rawalpindi in 1915. Throughout his life, Bhisham Sahni’s name was associated with progressive causes and movements. He is most remembered for his epic novel Tamas in which he soulfully narrated the 1947 riots he witnessed in the city of his birth. Sahni also wrote plays, and two of his creations,
IndiStories Episode 22: Nazzara Darmiyaan Hai by Qurratulain Hyder
Send us Fan MailWelcome to IndiStories Episode 22. Qurratulain Hyder, Aini Aapa to her friends, was an outstanding literary personality who wrote both in Urdu and English. Her novel Aag Ka Dariya (the River of Fire), her magnum opus, bears a comparison to Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude. In this episode, I present her Urdu short story Nazzara Darmiyaan Hai, which is one
IndiStories Episode 21: Roz by Agyeya
Send us Fan MailWhen we look at the landscape of modern Hindi fiction, there are a few names like Munshi Prem Chand that take the top spot, but there are a few others who made lasting contributions to the art of storytelling. One such name that comes to my mind is Agyeya. He was born in Kasia, a small town in Uttar Pradesh, in 1911 in a Punjabi Brahmin family and he adopted an unusual pen name, Ag
IndiStories Episode 20: FALLS by Geetha Nair G
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I present FALLS, a short story by Geeetha Nair G. It is about a romance that happened many years ago. Still, a chance encounter brought back memories of what looked real at one time, but underneath, it was a show rather than a commitment. We calculate how our future will play out, but the arc of life is unpredictable. All our plans and schemes can unravel as time m
IndiStories Episode 19: A. Hameed
Send us Fan MailIf you love good Urdu prose, we have a real gift for you. A. Hameed was a Pakistani novelist and story writer who wrote fiction with a poetic flair. Using metaphors, mainly drawn from the beauty of nature, he weaved a net of words that enveloped the reader in its fold. He was born in Amritsar in 1928 and wrote about 200 novels and nearly 100 books for children. He was awarded the P
IndiStories Episode 18: Kashmir Valley's Sofia Bano by Humra Quraishi
Send us Fan MailThe story “Kashmir Valley’s Soofiya Bano” was written by Humra Quraishi. Set against the backdrop of the devastating floods in the valley in 2014, we learn from the story about the painful search of a mother for her missing son. The son was arrested and then he fell into the black hole of the security apparatus. The story starts with the description of the flooded Srinagar home of
IndiStories Episode 17: Upendranath Ashk
Send us Fan MailThe story titled "Pinjara" was written by Upendranath Ashk, a famous novelist, story writer, and playwright. He was born in Jalandhar, in 1910. He worked for All India Radio for many years and invented what came to be known as naturalistic Hindi theater. Upenderanath Ashk had complete mastery over Hindi and Urdu and his books were published in both these languages. In 194
IndiStories Episode 16: Krishan Chander
Send us Fan Mail"Puure Chaand Ki Raat" is a story written by Krishan Chander, the eminent Urdu fiction writer, who weaved poetry into his prose writing. This love story is set in Kashmir and even if you have never visited this place you can smell the purified and fragrant air of the Valley in Krishan Chander’s writing. Love can take many forms, but if you have loved someone deeply your l
IndiStories Season 2 Episode 15 -- Static A.D. by Ameta Bal
Send us Fan MailWe start the second season with a fascinating story titled "Static A.D." written by Ameta Bal. The story is drawn from the "Anthology of New Writing by Women Writers" produced by the Punch literary magazine and edited by Shireen Quadri. This anthology is a beautiful collection. Get a copy of this book, and you can spend hours reading these fascinating tales. &q
IndiStories Episode 14 Munshi Premchand
Send us Fan MailThe Chessplayers as a piece of historical fiction is a class by itself. At the surface level, it is the story of two petty Nawabs who were obsessed with the game of chess, but at the deeper level, it is the story of the fall of Oudh, and even the fall of independent India. Once the British took hold of Oudh, very little could come in their way to grasp the remnants of the Mughal Em
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