1 October is observed as the International Day For the Older People. So, we decided to explore buzurgi, meaning wisdom of an old person. Tune in as we, through the works of poets like Firaq Gorakhpuri, Ismail Merathi, among others, look at what it means to be a 'buzurg'.

Tune in!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Experts and film historians nod in agreement every time they remember Dev Anand and his love for Urdu. One of the stars of the DilipKumar-Raj Kapoor-Dev Anand triumvirate, Dev was known to enjoy his dialogues and songs written in Urdu.

In this special episode of Urdunama we celebrate the legend's love for the language and what could possibly be attributed to his initial training in the language. 

Tune in!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The longest reigning British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II passed away on 8th September at the age of 96. Her funeral ceremony is set to be held on Monday, 19th September in Westminster Abbey. Hundreds of foreign royals and heads of state are expected to attend the funeral, and the event is said to be the biggest diplomatic gathering in decades. 
The British people are mourning the death of their queen as they wait for 12 hours in an 8 km long queue to pay their respects and see the queen's coffin in London. But, why is she passing away so overwhelming for us, Indians? The answer is simple - because this momentous occasion makes one sit up and take notice of the legacy the British Crown will always be remembered for. 
A lot had been written against the Crown. One of the texts that remind us of the horrific crimes committed during the Raj against Indians is an iconic poem by Josh Malihabadi. Tune in to this episode of Urdunama, Fabeha Syed talks about the angrezi hukoomat, the 'Badshaahat' of King George VI,  and reads Malihabadi's iconic poem, 'East India Company ke Farzandon se Khitaab' (An Address to the Heirs of the East India Company).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every single death by suicide is a public health concern. So, to create awareness,10th September is observed as World Suicide Prevention Day. In this episode, we explore the theme of 'zindagi' meaning life through Urdu poetry.

Tune in. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is no pleasure without pain, anxiety, uncertainties, insecurities, sadness, grief, and a whole bunch of other emotions. It's only when we are stricken with one or more of these unpleasant feelings that we long for emotions that are happy and can bring joy to our hearts.

Once we are able to achieve these most cherished feelings is when we can experience pleasure.

In Urdu, the word 'lutf' denotes pleasure, joy, enjoyment, and excitement. Tune in as we read some of the poetry that show us ways poets have sought 'lutf' in their lives.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legendary Pakistani singer Nayyara Noor passed away on 20 August in Karachi. She'll be remembered for her genteel nature and her simplicity that made her stand apart from her peers. As her fans across the globe mourn this huge loss, we take a look at her journey from Guwahati to Karachi, and how she became the voice for some of Faiz's iconic nazms.

Tune in!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lord Krishna's Bhakti surpasses geographical, social, and religious realms. While almost all languages in India have their own odes to Lord Krishna, perhaps such Urdu literature is lesser known.

This Janmashtami, we look at how one can find the gems of Krishna Bhakti written by some of the prominent Urdu poets such as Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Nazeer Akbarabadi, and Hafeez Jalandhari.

Tune in!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To understand the idea of secularism, going back to books is often considered a better way. Yet, those who love poetry swear by some of the gems written in Urdu and revere them as antidotes to hatred or any socio-cultural chaos.  

So, to prove the point that poetry can cure most ills, we turn to poets like Mir Taqi Mir and Mirza Ghalib in this special episode of Urdunama with Fabeha Syed. Tune in as we attempt to find our Secularhythm through some verses.

Tune In!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From detecting evidence of clouds on a planet for the first time to being able to see Jupiter with its moon in a 'new light', the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope is hailed as the most powerful space science telescope ever built. This will enable the scientists to study even the distant galaxies with the help of not only the images but also the detailed data. The telescope is engineered for ground breaking discoveries, thereby changing the future of astronomy. 

To celebrate this historic moment, we take a look at 'kahkashan' meaning the universe, and how it continues to inspire poets. Tune in.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bhupinder Singh, the man with a velvet voice that could tend to a broken heart or reassure an anxious mind, passed away on 18 July 2022. Apart from being a celebrated singer, he was also a talented guitarist. From Madan Mohan to RD Burman, his beautiful partnerships gave the music industry some gems that it would continue to cherish for years to come.

But if it wasn't for Pancham, we would not have gotten a youthful guitarist in Bhupinder Singh. Do you remember the songs with some of his iconic guitar riffs?

Tune in, as we celebrate the work of the maestro whose awaaz will always be remembered.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices