Urdu Blog
Ghulam Nabi Azad criticised for oath in English, Urdu speakers upset
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has faced criticism from Urdu speakers for taking oath in English.
Azad, a former Union Minister and an ex-Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, was expected to take the oath in Urdu, the official language of the state which he belongs to.
Besides, Indian Muslims predominantly speak Urdu and are [...]
Urdu Poetry: 200 Ghazals and Nazms
Urdu poetry transcends geographical boundaries and is understood and loved by millions who can’t read a word written in Urdu script. I am happy that my other blog now has a collection of 200 selected ghazals and Nazms, each in Urdu, Hindi and Roman English scripts, for the benefit of readers. Read.
Due to the linguistic [...]
Campaign for Urdu signboards in Mumbai
The campaign to put up signboards in Urdu that has set off in Mumbai. It’s been quite long since we last heard of such a drive from anywhere in India.
The Qaumi Majlis-e-Shoora (QMS) has started the ‘Urdu tehreek’ and nameplates written in Urdu have been put up again. The drive has started from Bhindi Bazaar [...]
Noor: A standard Urdu monthly for children
For almost six decades, Noor, has been the leading children’s magazine in the country and has helped keeping Urdu alive among the young ones in India.
The Noor digest is published from Rampur (Uttar Pradesh) and is a must in every household where Urdu is spoken. Along with Umang and Payam-e-Talim, Noor is among the few [...]
Demise of Urdu poets: Ramz, Ghulam Rizvi Gardish
Eminent Urdu poet Mohammad Ahmad Ramz died in Ghaziabad on April 2. He was the foremost modernist poet.
Ramz was born in Sitapur in 1932. He emerged as a leading poet at the peak of moderist movement, especially in the 70s. Earlier known as Ramz Sitapuri, his collection of poetry ‘Savaad-e-Rang’ got popularity.
His couplet: SaaNsoN [...]
Naiyer Masud: Foremost short-story writer of our times
One of the foremost Indian writers, Naiyer Masood, is known for his masterful portrayal of the Lucknow of yore. But Masood dislikes nostalgia.
A flagbearer of post-modernist tradition in Urdu, his short-stories reflect the decline of Lucknow, once the epitome of culture and civility in India. But the stories no way lament the loss [...]
Saraswati Samman to Naiyer Masud, Iqbal Award to Majeed
Renowned Urdu litterateur Naiyer Masud has been selected for this year’s Saraswati Samman, which is given by KK Birla Foundation, annually to an Indian author in any of the languages of the country.
Masud is one of the greatest Urdu short-story writers and has become a legend in his lifetime. A translation of his short-stories, which [...]
Urdu Mushairas and Urdu poets
Shahar-e-Sukhan is Dr Malikzada Manzoor Ahmad’s interesting account of the poets who ruled the Mushairas half-a-century ago. Separate chapters on 26 major poets including the likes of Salam Machhlishahri, Fana Nizami Kanpuri, Ravish Siddiqui, Masood Akhtar Jamal, Allama Anwar Sabri, Mirza Ahsan Ahmad Beg, Hindi Gorakhpuri and Salam Sandelvi.
Chapters on poets like Jigar Muradabadi, Nushoor [...]
Delhi Urdu Academy awards announced
The Delhi Urdu Academy has announced its annual awards for the year 2008. The All India Bahadur Shah Zafar Award (Rs 1.11 lakh) goes to Professor Syed Mohammad Aqeel Rizvi.
The prestigious Pt Brijmohan Dattatreya Award will be conferred on Anand Mohan Zutshi Gulzar Dehalvi. The award carries Rs 51,000 cash and memento. Mahfoozur Rahman and [...]
Renowned Urdu poet Manzoor Hashmi passes away
One of leading Urdu poets, Manzoor Hashmi, passed away in Aligarh, reports reaching here said. He was born in Badaun in 1933 and after his matriculation from Haldwani, studied at Aligarh.
He did his graduation and PG from Aligargh Muslim University. Manzoor Hashmi retired as Deputy Librarian from Maulana Azad Library. He was published in reputed [...]
Fikr Taunsvi: A great satirist
Until a few decades back, Fikr Taunsvi’s ‘Pyaaz ke Chhilke’ was one of the most popular columns and the readers would wait for the newspaper every day just to read his piece and later discuss it.
Ramlal Bhatia, who wrote under the pseudonym Fikr Taunswi, also wrote ‘Teer-o-Nashtar’ for Biswin Sadi. Unfortunately not enough [...]
Kaifi Azmi’s nazm on Hazrat Imam Husain
Hazrat Imam Husain
On the occasion of Yaum-e-Ashura, here is Kaifi Azmi’s Nazm
in the praise of Hazrat Imam Husain.
hurriyat ko aaj phir hai ibn-e-Haider kii talaash
vaqt ko phir hai karoRoN meN behtar kii talaash
zindagi ko phir ek jaaN-baaz rahbar kii talaash
phir javaanii khone ko hai voh nishaan-e-hurriyat
phir huii hai dosh-e-Abbas dilaavar kii talaash
phir hummiyat uThi [...]
Urdu Awards to Waris Alvi, Mansha Yad
Renowned Urdu critic from India Waris Alvi and litterateur Mansha Yad from Pakistan have been selected for the 12th Alami Urdu Adab Award given by Majlis-e-Farogh-e-Urdu Adab (Doha, Qatar).
Alvi is one of the most oustanding modernist critics in Urdu. He is known for his straightforward criticism. The jury comprising Prof Gopi Chand Narang, Mazhar Imam, [...]
Ghaus Ansari’s autobiography in Urdu
No autobiography in Urdu in recent times has hooked readers to the extent as Professor Ghaus Ansari’s ‘Umr-e-Rafta’, which tells the fascinating journey of the writer, his early days in Lucknow, his struggle and subsequent migration to Europe.
Such is his eye for minute details and his memory that the reader becomes a fellow traveller with [...]
Waseem Barelvi’s Collections of Poetry
Two collections of ghazals and Nazms of Waseem Barelvi have been released recently.
‘Aankhon Aankhon mein rahe’ and ‘Meraa Kyaa’ has brought the best of Waseem Barelvi.
The articles of master poets of the past including Nushoor Wahidi, Shamim Kirhani and Firaq Gorakhpuri on Wasim’s poetry have been included.
Nushoor Vahidi has written that from Meer [...]
Two more Urdu monthly digests stop publication
The closure of two more monthly Urdu digests has not been noticed in mainstream Urdu press, as they were magazines that catered to popular interest.
The two Urdu digests, “Sadha Rang’ and ‘Talash’ ceased publication. Earlier, Chahar Rang, Hazar Rang, Aalami Digest, Aatish-e-Gul and Nikhat-e-Gul disappered from the market due to decline in readership.
Now Huma remains [...]
Jolt to Urdu-lovers in Mumbai: Closure of Maktaba Jamia
Urdu lovers are shocked with the news that the Maktaba Jamia’s Mumbai branch will be finally closed on November 30. For six decades Maktab that had a vast treasure of books, was a centre for Urdu-lovers and had become an institution under Shahid Ali Khan.
Reacting to the decision, Nida Fazli said that Government should take [...]
Unique Mushaira: Non-Muslim Urdu poets enchant audience at historic Sholapur mushaira
A unique Mushaira was organised in Sholapur in Maharashtra recently where only the non-Muslim poets of Urdu recited their poetry.
Mahendra ‘Ashk’ presided over the Mushaira and gave an introductory speech about Urdu language, literature and the tradition of Mushairas. Shyama Singh Saba, a poetess, recited the Naat.
She read out a few ghazals also [...]
BBC Urdu promoting ‘Your Edition’ at Lucknow, Bhopal and Hyderabad
The BBC Urdu team visited three cities in India recently to promote its website. At all the three places the response was overwhelming. It was a good initiative despite lack of adequate preparedness at local level before organising the event.
Still, people came in large numbers in all the cities. Many were not familiar with [...]
Faruqi’s Urdu novel ‘Kai Chand the Sar-e-Aasman’
Hardly any novel in Urdu has generated so much heat in recent years as renowned litterateur Shamsur Rahman Faruqi’s ‘Kaii Chaand thay Sar-e-Aasmaan’, which is probably the first literary work in Urdu published by Penguin.
Faruqi’s literary standing is such that Urdu world naturally expected a magnum opus from him. The fact that he [...]
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