Urdu Service

What a dream!

Iftikhar Arif is one of the most respected voices in contemporary Urdu literature. A celebrated poet, scholar, and intellectual, his work blends classical tradition with modern thought, reflecting deep cultural insight and moral clarity. Formerly the Chairman of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, he is widely admired for his contribution to poetry, language, and public discourse across the Urdu-spea...

In this episode of Urdu Service , we delve into the timeless poetry of the legendary Mirza Ghalib . We explore one of his most iconic ghazals, "Yeh Na Thi Hamari Qismat," a masterpiece that captures the essence of unrequited love, destiny, and human longing.

Siraj Aurangabadi (1712–1763) was a profound mystic and a foundational figure in classical Urdu poetry. Often associated with the "Aurangabad school," he served as a vital bridge between the ancient Deccani style and the modern Urdu ghazal.

Faiz Ahmed Faiz to a dear friend!

In this poem, the renowned Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz describes an evening in incarceration, challenging the darker fascist forces. He emphasizes that while they may be able to silence human voices, they cannot prevent the moonlight from reaching the prisoners as they spread their legs in the jail courtyards.

Amjad Islam Amjad (4 August 1944 – 10 February 2019) was one of Pakistan’s most popular and beloved Urdu poets. His poetry captures love, loss, and quiet longing with remarkable simplicity and emotional depth. In this recitation, we listen to one of his enduring poem.

Majaaz, a key figure in early 20th-century Urdu poetry, is known for blending romanticism with social consciousness. His work addresses themes of love, longing, and existential anguish, resonating with readers and establishing him as a beloved poet. Using simple yet evocative language, Majaaz's poetry is accessible and influential, celebrated for its emotional depth and lyrical beauty.

Qateel Shifai

While we celebrate this happy occasion, let's look at some other aspects of this experience.

Let's talk about love and its myriad faces.

Winter blues- autumn, poetry, ghazals, coffee, reading books by the fireside-missing someone dearly to share all the sensuous details of this profoundly nostalgic season.

Let us celebrate the fathers and father figures in our lives.

Nida Fazli, who lived from 1938 to 2016, was a prolific writer, poet, songwriter, dialogue writer, and journalist in both Urdu and Hindi. He contributed a unique tone and style to Urdu poetry that was previously overlooked by the literary elites. His poetry introduced a new poetic idiom to Urdu that resonated with and influenced the younger generation. Fazli's writing is characterized by simplicit...

Is it possible for words to truly capture the essence of motherhood? What are your thoughts?

Let's continue celebrating the unique artistic talents of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and his ability to find humor in drab life situations.

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan was an Urdu poet, translator, journalist, prose writer, and lyricist. Film lyrics came easy to him; he could write the songs on demand in as little as ten minutes, which often proved immensely popular. Raja Mehdi Ali khan brought the linguistic finesse of the Urdu ghazal to the mainstream Indian film industry. Madan Mohan-Raja Mehdi Ali Khan's partnership produced some of the m...

Pakeezah: Meena Kumari's swan song, which took fifteen years to complete, was applauded for cinematographic larger-than-life film sets, music, poetry, dance, and costumes. 

Meena Kumari, Hindi cinema's "great tragedienne,' tried her hand at Urdu Poetry. Tanha Chand (Lonely Moon), a collection of Meena Kumari's poems, was compiled by famous lyricist Gulzar and published after her death in 1972. I write, I recite – an album consisting of Meena Kumari's verses under the label of LP Vinyl Record was released in 1971, and two renditions from her album are included in this...

Let's celebrate love, life, spring, and happiness!

This episode remembers the magical voice of Amin Sayani that brought back many memories of yesteryears of Bollywood music broadcasted from Radio Ceylon and Binaca Geet Mala.

December is the birth month of Mirza Ghalib. This episode celebrates his life through his life account and poetry.

Let's get acquainted with a prominent Urdu poet of our times- Hassan Abbas Raza

Let me take you decades back when  Amanat Lucknavi wrote the first stage drama of Urdu literature in 1853. It had 830 couplets and eight characters that appeared on the stage. Today we call such dramas musicals.

Let's listen to the lifelong journey of the famous ghazal singer of our times~ Jagjit Singh.