Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota? The World of Ghalib with Amit Basole

Mirza Ghalib, one of Urdu’s greatest poets, masterfully wove metaphysical reflections into his verse, questioning the nature of reality, existence, and perception. On the occasion of his 156th death anniversary, we revisit his poetry through a selection of verses from Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota: The World of Ghalib, a six-part series presented by Amit Basole, a poetry aficionado and faculty in economic...

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And it’s no surprise that Ghalib is one of the most adored, emulated (and imitated) Urdu poets. More than a hundred and fifty years after he passed into the ages, Ghalib’s legacy lives on and has acquired new vigour in contemporary music, literature, cinema and pop culture. Perhaps the most enduring of his legacies is the ghazal, a poetic form that is o...

So far in this series, we have explored various facets of Ghalib — Ghalib the lover, Ghalib the mischievous, Ghalib the belligerent. Yet, the question has always lingered after reciting his verses: Was Ghalib being a deliberately difficult poet? Did his poetry demand grappling with the intellect in an effort to understand it? Or, was it trite and meaningless and merely designed to confound? If you...

Ghalib is timeless, but he is equally very much a man of his times. In this episode, we revisit the man in the moment. We eavesdrop on the days of his youth, a teenaged poet writing in chaste Persian. We hobnob with his coterie of disciples and patrons, friends and foes. We hear from Ghalib’s contemporaries in the poets’ society, some of whom taunt him saucily for the apparent incomprehensibility...

Ghalib on religion would have crashed Twitter. Much ink, and blood, have been spilt over religion and faith throughout human history. Yet, nothing stopped Mirza Ghalib from playfully exploring these realms, where even the boldest present-day poets tread with caution. Ghalib on Twitter would have been a powder keg but, in those arguably more patient and forgiving times, not only did his tongue-in-c...

Host Amit Basole ponders the enigma of Ghalib the lover: How did Ghalib speak of love? Whom did Ghalib love? He transports you to the heart of the ghazal. Zia Mohyeddin , the British-Pakistani actor renowned for giving voice to the lyrical seduction of Ghalib’s poetry, died on February 13, 2023. Ghalib is a state of mind beyond the narrow confines of nation, religion and other notional boxes in wh...

Yun Hota To Kya Hota? translates simply to ‘What If?’ This exciting new show from Radio Azim Premji University explores the life and times of Mirza Asadullah Khan, one of the most influential writers in Urdu, known to us by his nom de plume — Ghalib. There are stories that Ghalib told, and there are stories told about Ghalib. Address your letter to “Ghalib, Delhi” and it will reach me, the great m...