Urdu Bagh

Renowned broadcaster Raza Ali Abidi, formerly with the BBC Urdu Service in London, is in conversation with Pervaiz Alam, sharing his life and work on Cine Ink podcast series ‘Urdu Bagh’.

Known for his hugely popular radio programmes such as Kutub Khana, Jarnaili Sadak, Sher Darya and Rail Kahani, Raza Ali Abidi, is still active on social media where he posts regularly on YouTube and Facebook, attracting hundreds of comments to his popular series ‘Lafzon Ka Safar’.

Raza Ali Abidi was born in 1935 in Rookie, District Haridwar, India, but migrated to Pakistan along with his parents in 1950, where he reported for various newspapers before joining the BBC Urdu Service London in 1972.

A prolific writer, Abidi has authored about 25 books, including Urdu ka Haal, Apni Awaz (short stories), Jaan Saheb (short Stories), Radio ke Din, Jaanay Pehchaaney, Malika Victoria aur Munshi Abdul Kareem, Mujhe Sab Yaad Ha and Jarnaili Sadak.

His latest Urdu book ‘Begum Samru’ (September, 2023) tells the story of Farzana aka Joanna, the supreme commander of 3,000 troops, including at least a hundred European mercenaries, in the 18th-century Sardhana, India. Later, Joana was known as Begum Samru.

Urdu Bagh (اُردُو بَاغ - उर्दू बाग़) is a podcast series of anecdotal history, celebrating the life and work of Urdu’s literary giants. Presented and produced by Pervaiz Alam for London-based, Cine Ink, a hub of podcasts in Hindi and Urdu languages, the series is available on all major podcast networks.

Presented and produced by Pervaiz Alam for London-based Cine Ink, a hub for podcasts in Hindi and Urdu, the series is also accessible on major social media platforms, including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. On X: @pervaizalam. All Cine Ink podcasts can be found on its website, www.cineink.com.

Huma Khalil and Sumaiya Kamal Siddiqui are in conversation with broadcaster Pervaiz Alam. Both of them are first cousins, and daughters of eminent Urdu poets, Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi and Kamal Ahmed Siddiqi, respectively. Another Urdu legend, Shahryar, is also their family. They share intimate details, memories and anecdotes associated with their fathers and Chacha, Shahryar.

Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi:
Huma’s father, Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi (1927 – 1978) of Aligarh fame is considered one of the founders of new nazm in Urdu. Scholar, Critic, Academic and poet, Azmi is widely respected for initiating a new trail in Urdu criticism with his books which are prescribed all over the world in various universities and colleges as a part of the Urdu syllabus. He is known to have taught Urdu to the legendary Urdu scholar, Prof Ralph Russel of SOAS, London.

Khalil-ur-Rehman Azmi’s books include Kaghzi Pairahan, Naya Ahad Nama, Nai Nazm Ka Safar, Fikr-o-Fan, Zawiay-e-Nigah, Mazameen-e-Nau, Muqaddama-e-Kalam-e-Aatish, Taraqqi Pasand Tahreek, Urdu Mein Taraqqi Pasand Adabi Tahreek and Zindagi Ai Zindagi.

Kamal Ahmed Siddiqui:
Sumaiya’s father Kamal Ahmed Siddiqi (1926- 2013) was a poet, broadcaster, writer, scholar and a painter who spent most of his working life at All India Radio in Srinagar, Kashmir as a programmer.

A Phd from JNU on Ghalib, Kamal Ahmed Siddiqui is known to have interviewed and recorded a large number of legendary Urdu poets of his time such as Jigar Moradabadi, Josh Malihabadi and Firaq Gorakhpuri for All India Radio and Doordarshan. He cherished his friendship with Urdu stalwarts such as Majaz, Mira Ji, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ali Sardar Jafri, Ale Ahmad Suroor, Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi, Ehtesham Hussain, Akhtarul Iman and Showkat Siddiqui.

He authored several books including Baadbaan, Jawahraat, Kohsar Gaate Hain, Intekhab, Bayaz e Ghalib: Tahqeeqi Jayaza, Urooz aur Ahang, Urooz Marooz, Kashmir Ek Manzarnama, Ghalib Ki Shanakht & Muqadma e Zaban e Urdu.

SHAHRYAR:
Akhlaq Mohammad Khan ‘Shahryar’ (1936 – 2012) was an academic, poet and lyricist who went on to receive the prestigious literary awards in India, Sahitya Akademi and Jnanpith, for his collection of poems, Khwab Ka Dar Band Hai.

He became a household name as a film lyricist for writing songs in films such as Gaman, Umrao Jaan and Anjuman. Shahryar published his first poetry collection ‘Ism-e-azam’ in 1965, followed by other collections ‘Satvan Dar’, ‘Hijr Ke Mausam’ and 'Khwab Ka Dar Band Hai'.

Urdu Bagh is a podcast series produced by Pervaiz Alam and Achala Sharma for Cine Ink, a hub of podcasts, based in London.

Presented and produced by Pervaiz Alam for London-based Cine Ink, a hub for podcasts in Hindi and Urdu, the series is also accessible on major social media platforms, including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. On X: @pervaizalam. All Cine Ink podcasts can be found on its website, www.cineink.com.