Listen with Irfan

Irfan in conversation with the Padhaku Nitin fame Nitin Thakur.

New Delhi World Book Fair, 9 February 2025

It was an unexpected meeting on the final day of the New Delhi World Book Fair. As I mentioned earlier, we had planned to meet that week, but by chance, he stumbled upon me, and we ended up having a lively gupshup right in the midst of the book fair’s hustle and bustle.

Nitin Thakur, as I know him, is a wonderful human being and a deeply inquisitive journalist. Though our meetings have been rare, his work and reputation always reach me. With no pretensions and no hesitations, we spoke openly—from books to human behavior to the times we live in.

Looking forward to many more such conversations in our upcoming meeting. Enjoy!

Cover Photo Credit: Nitin Thakur's FB Profile.

Cover Design: Irfan

Narrator: Irfan

Many of the books written by my friend Ashok Pande are cherished not only by lovers of classical literature but also by Gen Z readers. Writing in Hindi on a wide range of subjects, he brings an inimitable style and a wealth of experiences that make his works truly incomparable.

His travel memoir Jitni Mitti Utna Sona is available online and can also be heard in my voice on Audible.

"In this book, you will not only experience the cultural richness of the Rann society, which thrives in the lap of the Himalayas under extreme conditions, but you will also encounter the indomitable spirit and extraordinary courage that make life in these remote valleys possible."

Here is an excerpt.

BECOME A PATRON : 

Work on Listen with Irfan takes time, money and hard work to produce. As of now it is being done voluntarily with the family, friends and listeners who came forward for hand holding from its inception.  If you like the Podcasts, admire it, and benefit from its content, please consider awarding us an honorarium to make the future of this Podcast Channel robust and assured.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

यहाँ आपको मिलती हैं वो दुर्लभ आवाज़ें खुद बोलती, गाती और बहस करती। मनोहर श्याम जोशी, कमलेश्वर, कृष्णा सोबती, बी वी कारंत, शमशेर बहादुर सिंह, बलराज साहनी, अज्ञेय, रसूलन बाई, निर्मल वर्मा, मंगलेश डबराल, राजेंद्र यादव, चंद्रकांत देवताले, भवानी प्रसाद मिश्र, इस्मत चुग़ताई, सत्यदेव दुबे, त्रिलोचन, अमरीश पुरी, इब्राहीम अल्क़ाज़ी, मोहन उप्रेती, गोरख पांडेय, नैना देवी, वीरेन डंगवाल, मन्नू भंडारी, भीष्म साहनी, देवकी नंदन पांडे आदि के अलावा अनगिनत भारतीय और विदेशी समकालीन विचारक, कलाकार, लेखक, कवि और सांस्कृतिक लड़ाके। किताबों पर चर्चा के पॉडकास्ट, संगीत, फिल्म रिव्यू और स्ट्रीट रिकॉर्डिंग्स का एकमात्र पॉडकास्ट मंच। 

Details to support this Podcast Channel i.e. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen with Irfan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ :-

Bank Name: State Bank Of India

Name: SYED MOHD IRFAN

Account No:32188719331

Branch: State Bank of India, Vaishali Sec 4, Ghaziabad

IFSC–SBIN0013238

UPI/Gpay ID irfan.rstv@oksbi

PayPal ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠paypal.me/farah121116⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

RazorPay etc ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://irfaniyat.stck.me/⁠⁠⁠

Excerpts from an exclusive evening with legendary Bollywood and International star, author and motivational speaker recite poems of Jalal al-Din Muhammad RUMI, the 13th Century Poet, Jurist, Islamic scholar and Sufi mystic from Persia.

India Islamic Cultural Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

16th February 2025

ft Atul Tiwari and Sachchidanand Joshi,Presence: Prakash Jha, Rang Prasang, NSD

11 February 2025

Bharangam, New Delhi

Report: Irfan

Moderator: Priyanka Sharma

Organized by National School of Drama, Student Union

Occasion: Bharat Rang Mahotsav, 2025

Date: 11.02.2025, New Delhi

Recorded and curated by Irfan

Salima Raza is a veteran personality in the world of radio, television, theatre, and films, whose illustrious career has been an inspiration to many.

I had the privilege of meeting her on 31st January 2025 in Mumbai, where she currently resides.

As someone who has admired her work for years, I can never forget her iconic radio show "Awaz-aur-Andaz" on FM, which she co-presented with the late V.M. Badola, the renowned journalist and actor. Excerpts from Awaz-aur-Andaz (recorded in 1997) can be heard at the end of this Guftagoo.

Our conversation was recorded at Andalucia, Raheja, Mudh, Mumbai, with the kind support of Kumud Mishra and Ayesha Raza, and I was accompanied by Pramod Singh.

**

(Inputs received from Salima Raza's friend Ravi Dutta who has asked AI and asked about her where abouts)

Salima Raza is an Indian radio broadcaster, theatre actor, director and, more recently, playwright. She matches the person you described.

Key points about her

• She has worked in radio for over six decades. In India she is best known for the All India Radio FM programme Awaz aur Andaz, which she co-presented with the late V.M. Badola.

• There is a clear Oman connection: she provided the English voice-over for the official 1990 Oman TV documentary 20 Years of Broadcasting in Oman. That aligns with her time at Radio Oman during the period you were there.

• She has a long association with theatre, beginning with Delhi’s Yatrik group in the 1960s. She later won a Best Actress award at the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards for her performance in Nati Binodini.

• In her mid-to-late 80s she remained active. Around 2023–24 (when she was described as 85), she wrote and directed her first full play, Majaz Zinda Hai, a musical dramatisation of the life of the Urdu poet Majaz Lucknawi. It was staged at Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai and later at the India International Centre in Delhi.

• She has also appeared in films, including Phillauri (2017), Ram Singh Charlie (2020) and the 2025 series Mira and the Ghost.

• She is related to the legendary performers Zohra Sehgal and Uzra Butt (her aunts). After the death of her husband of 56 years she moved from Delhi to Mumbai, where she continues to live and work.

Photo Irfan

Conversations and Encounters Inside the Delhi Metro

The Delhi Metro, beyond being a mode of transportation, serves as a microcosm of the city itself, bringing together people from all walks of life. Inside its sleek compartments, daily commuters engage in a rich tapestry of informal chats and encounters, creating a unique urban culture.

From fleeting exchanges about delayed trains to spirited discussions on politics, cricket, and Bollywood, the conversations are as diverse as the passengers. Students compare notes on exams, professionals discuss office woes, and elderly passengers share anecdotes about a city that has changed before their eyes.

Some encounters are serendipitous—strangers bonding over a shared alma mater, a lost object being returned, or travelers offering tips for navigating the city. Others are humorous and fleeting, such as passengers cracking jokes about the metro’s infamous rush-hour crowds or offering unsolicited advice to someone on the phone.

Despite the occasional chaos, the metro also fosters moments of kindness. People offer their seats to the elderly, share earphones to listen to a trending song, or help tourists find their way. These everyday interactions transform the Delhi Metro into more than just a transit system—it becomes a space where stories are shared, connections are formed, and the pulse of Delhi's life is felt.

In these brief yet meaningful encounters, the metro reveals the essence of the city's spirit: vibrant, chaotic, and undeniably human.

Naresh Saxena Born 16 January 1939, Gwalior/Recorded by Irfan, in collaboration with Anirban Sadhu.

9 August 2022, Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi

Photo, Cover and Podcast Production Irfan

@Memorywala

Recorded by Irfan on 16th November 2024, Delhi NCR

Usha Priyamvada stands as a luminary in Hindi literature, celebrated for her profound contributions to the art of creative writing. Her stories and novels are a testament to her mastery in capturing the subtle nuances of human emotions, relationships, and societal dynamics. With a unique blend of simplicity and depth, she has carved a niche for herself in modern Hindi literature.

Recorded by Irfan

15 November, 2024

Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi