Urdunama

In this special episode of Urdunama, The Quint's Fabeha Syed decodes the theme of riwaaj meaning customs, through Urdu poetry. Poets have often commented over the riwaaj of corruption and social injustice. For this, Fabeha picks out Kaifi Azmi’s Taj Mahal and explains the poets POV. And for the riwaaj  of our syncretic culture, the host reads Urdu classical poet, Nazeer Akbarabadi whose work is a...

In this episode we explore what leads to a 'gunaah' or a sin. And how poets have expressed about what tempts them.  Tune in.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune in as The Quint pays a musical tribute to the King of Ghazal, Jagjit Singh.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

'Watan ka Raag' by Urdu poet, Pandit Brij Narayan Chakbast, and 'Mahatma Gandhi Ka Qatl' by Anand Narain Mulla. These two poems best describe the impact Gandhi had on Urdu poets of that time. Through these powerful nazms, various themes of Gandhi's philosophy come alive, only if we pay close attention to what Gandhi stood for.  Tune in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...

In this episode, we explore the many meanings and contexts of the word, 'Gulshan'. But before that, why don't you first think of your happy place?  Tune in, to find out the relevance of a 'happy place' and 'gulshan'. Host, producer and audio editor: Fabeha Syed Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we celebrate India's 75th Independence Day, we reflect on what it truly means to be free.  In this episode, we understand the theme of freedom - 'Azaadi', through the poems of Ali Sardar Jafri, Firaq Gorakhouri, and Faiz Ahmad Faiz.  Tune in.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we talk about the theme of victory through literature and poetry.  Tune in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune in as The Quint's Fabeha Syed pays a musical tribute to the man with a honey-laced voice.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, tune in to find out the meaning of 'Tahayyur', and what amazes the poets that they commit themselves to poetry.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The word 'Saaqi' meaning the bartender, or someone who serves alcohol, is often been used by poets in different ways. For instance, in this ghazal by Jigar Moradabadi, the word 'Saaqi' is used to describe a leader or 'imam': ye hai mai-kada yahan rind hai yahan sab ka saaqi imaam hai ye haram nahin hai ai shaiḳh ji yahan paarsai haraam hai In this week's episode of Urdunama, we understand the them...

In this episode, we explore the many meanings of having a 'voice', and using it for those who either don't have it or are often silenced by those in power.  To make this podcast, we found it vital to refer to the poetry of stalwarts like Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Sahir Ludhianvi, Majrooh Sultanpuri, and Jaun Elia among others.  Tune in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Urdunama, we remember legendary composer, Rahul Dev Burman, aka, 'Pancham Da', and his friendship with another legendary maestro, Gulzar. Host, writer, and audio editor: Fabeha Syed Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we explore the theme of Music through Urdu poetry, and what it is that makes the soundtrack of our lives.  Tune in.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we explore the word 'Tanha' and understand the theme of loneliness in Urdu Poetry. Tune in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Quint’s Urdunama turns 50 episodes old. On the 50th episode of your favourite podcast, we bring you a theme in poetry that you felt describes us the best – Sukoon. Sukoon means tranquillity, a sense of inner calm and peace, which, poets have described, comes as a result of acceptance and love. Tune in as Fabeha Syed recites Sahir Ludhianvi and Faiz – two of the tallest poets of the sub-contine...

Mumkin means possible, and possibility means imkaan — a remedy that brings relief to a grieving heart. In this episode, we explore how poetry could bring not just joy but also a relief to a troubled or grieving heart and therapy for our mental well-being. So, we thought what better way to understand the theme of possibility than poetry. In this episode of Urdunama, The Quint’s Fabeha Syed reads Al...

The word khwahish means desire, but when it's not fulfilled, it becomes 'hasrat' for the pining heart. In this episode of Urdunama, we understand how holding on to hasrat is a great way to accept life's uncertainties.  Tune in. Host, Writer, and Audio Editor: Fabeha Syed Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Pandemic has taught us many lessons. One of them is to not be oblivious to the world that we are living in.  How awake are we?  To answer that, we have tried to explore the word 'bedaar' through Urdu poetry. After all, to be 'Bedaar' is to be alive.  Tune in.  Host, Writer, and Audio Editor: Fabeha Syed Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...

In this episode, we take help from Shakespeare to understand the 'Quality of Mercy'. We also wrap our heads around the cause of 'be-rahm', merciless pain, as compassion first requires one to be humble.  Tune in. Host, Writer, and Sound Designer: Fabeha Syed Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Covid 19 surge this year proving to be deadlier than what it was the last year, we pray for 'khair' for everyone. Tune in.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Written by Javed Akhtar, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's iconic song 'Husn-e-jaana ki tareef mumkin nahi...' has always made us wonder about the word 'afreen'. 'Afreen' is an expression that is used to express our admiration for something or someone. And in this episode we dig deep, to find ways in which poets have written, praising about things that amused them and made them say, 'afreen'. Tune in. Host,...

In this special episode of Urdunama, we bring you the poetry of Urdu's female poets. Poets like Ada Jafferey, Fehmida Riaz, Kishwar Naheed, Zehra Nigah, and Parveen Shakir, among others, bring female perspectives to a genre that is largely ruled by male poets.  Tune in for some gems from these great women's shayari.  Host, Writer, and Sound Designer: Fabeha Syed Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Ban...

Author of the slogan that echoes in every protest, Josh Malihabadi was a poet who challenged the British in his fierce style of writing. The poet par excellence, Josh Malihabadi was also close to India’s first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who he considered his ideal. Josh was conferred Padma Bhushan in the year 1954. His fiery poetry was anti-establishment, anti-religiosity, and spoke di...

Bohot barbaad hain lekin sadaa-e-inqalaab aaye Wahin se vo pukaar utthega jo zarra jahaan hogaa This couplet by Ali Sardar Jafri points out the essence of the individual struggles in a revolution that brings people together who desire to change the society, a corrupt system, and so on. But every inquilaab comes only when there is the dissent that needs to be voiced. To celebrate this voice of resi...

As the world is rejoicing the arrival of many vaccine candidates in different countries, we take a look at the idea of recovery in Urdu poetry. In this episode, The Quint's Fabeha Syed recites Ghalib, Muztar Khairabadi, and also, Sahir Ludhianvi's nazm against the politics of religion, '26 January'.  Tune in.  Host, Writer, and Sound Designer: Fabeha Syed Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz...