Saadat Hasan: The man behind Manto
Urdu Literature

Saadat Hasan: The Man behind Manto

Here Manto lies buried—and buried in his breast are all the secrets of the art of storytelling – Saadat Hasan Manto. This is the second part of our series on the life and works of Saadat Hasan Manto. You can read the first part here. Saadat Hasan Manto, the greatest short story writer of India and Pakistan, has always fascinated Urdu literature lovers. Some say his ability to depict the reality of society with ease was what captivated the reader, others believe it was the way he challenged and changed…

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Urdu Literature

The Magic Of Gulzar Poetry

Simplify the complexities of life Sampooran Singh Gulzar, popularly known as Gulzar, weaves magic with his words. To be true he doesn’t pen words, but feelings. Gulzar is known to the world as a writer, lyricist, and director. But he is a poet at heart. When you read Gulzar’s poems you will understand that Gulzar doesn’t use words in the etymological sense. He uses words like an artist uses colors in his paintings. His perspective on life is unusual. His imagination is astonishing. He has understood the complexities of human life…

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Saadat Hasan Manto: Stories
Urdu Literature

Saadat Hasan Manto: A Portrait Through His Stories & Letters

This is the first part of our series on the life and works of Saadat Hasan Manto. Read the second part here. “For me, remembrance of things past has always been a waste of time, and what’s the point of tears? I don’t know. I’ve always been focused on today. Yesterday and tomorrow hold no interest for me. What had to happen, did, and what will happen, will” – Saadat Hasan Manto. Born in 1912 in the bread basket of British India, in the north-western state of Punjab, Saadat Hasan…

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Urdu Literature

Lihaaf By Ismat Chughtai : A Perspective

Lihaaf ( دیکھو) by Ismat Chughtai is one of the most controversial pieces in Urdu literary community. It caused enormous ripples in the community, which was once characterised (and still categorised) as one of the most conservative branches of South Asian literature. The agitation was so great that Chughtai was summoned to court with her friend Saadat Hasan Manto over their controversial pieces: Lihaaf and Buu, respectively. This article aims to provide a new, contemporary perspective on this famous work that was revolutionary for its time. About Ismat Chughtai Ismat Chughtai…

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Kaif Bhopali
Urdu Literature

Kaif Bhopali Poetry: An insight into the Indian Urdu poet

Kaif Bhopali was an Indian Urdu poet and lyricist. He penned lyrics for many Bollywood films including Pakeezah (1972) and Razia Sultan.  Kaif Bhopali’s style of poetry was very simple. In basic Urdu words, he could say meaningful deep things. A quick example of this style can be seen in his famous couplet: kaun aaega yahan koi na aaya hoga mera darwaza hawaon ne hilaya hoga Nawed Akhter, an independent Documentary Film-maker from Gurgaon, had the rare opportunity to spend some of his childhood days around Kaif Bhopali. Watch our exclusive conversation with where Nawed as…

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Urdu Literature

Baburnama: Journal of Mughal Emperor Babur

Written by Babur in Chagatai TurkishTranslated by Annette Susannah Beveridge Edited and introduced by Dilip Hiro Published by Penguin Books India Babur the conqueror, Babur the connoisseur, or Babur the raconteur; one is left wondering Pay no heed to those preconceived notions as Babur’s diary is not just a chronicle of a conqueror on a vanity ride. It’s a talking canvas that waxes eloquent on aesthetics, architecture, history, geography, and people, with war as its unwavering motif. Valour came naturally to Babur but what’s astonishing is that he had the…

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Manto and Ismat Chughtai
Urdu Literature

Saadat Hasan Manto and Ismat Chughtai: A Tale of Friendship

  Any celebration of friendship would become bootless without the mention of the unrivaled friendship between Saadat Hassan Manto and Ismat Chughtai.  Ismat was always encouraging of Manto’s work and Manto often teasingly took a jibe at Ismat as any friend would.  Their friendship demonstrates a unique diversion from the strong competition that is usually present between two contemporary writers. They strived together through the grave and unfortunate criticism attracted by their realistic short stories. Manto and Ismat’s relationship of friendship was so apparent that once a gentleman from Hyderabad wrote…

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Akhtar sheerani blog
Urdu Literature

Akhtar Sheerani: Romantic Urdu Poet – By Salman Danish Khan

  Akhtar Sheerani is considered to be one of the leading romantic poets of Urdu language. Born in Tonk, Rajasthan, his best-known collections of poetry include Akhtaristan, Nigarshat-e-Akhtar, Lala-e-toor, Tayyur-e-Aawara, Naghma-e-Haram, Subh-e bahaar and Shahnaz. Read full Poem- Ae Ishq Hume Barbaad Na Kar ऐ इश्क़ न छेड़ आ आ के हमें हम भूले हुओं को याद न कर पहले ही बहुत नाशाद हैं हम तू और हमें नाशाद न कर क़िस्मत का सितम ही कम नहीं कुछ ये ताज़ा सितम ईजाद न कर यूँ ज़ुल्म न कर बे-दाद न कर ऐ…

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Top 10 Ghalib Sher
Urdu Literature

Top 10 Mirza Ghalib Sher

Mirza Ghalib, was an eminent Urdu and Persian poet, who began composing poems at a tender age of 11. The language of his shayari is mainly Urdu but he also knew Arabic, Persian and Turkish. Here’s Top 10 Mirza Ghalib  Sher for you to rejoice: 1. Bazicha-e-atfal hai Duniya mere aage  Hota hai shab-o-roz Tamasha mere aage The world is a children’s playground before me Night and day, a new play is enacted before me 2. Aah ko chahiye ik umr asar hote tak Kaun jeetaa hai teri zulf ke…

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