Urdunama

From Ghalib to Shakeel Badayuni, Bashir Badr, and Waseem Barelvi, Urdu poetry has long explored the delicate relationship between roshni (light) and tareeki (darkness). Through verses of hope, faith, longing, and resilience, poets remind us that even the faintest light can bring warmth to the darkest moments. In this special Diwali episode of Urdunama, Fabeha Syed delves into how roshni becomes a metaphor for inner strength, humanity, and the courage to keep believing. Discover how the true light we seek is often not around us, but within us.

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This week, we turn to 'vaqaar', meaning dignity, grace, and knowing your own worth. Through the poetry of Qateel Shifai, Jaun Elia, and Bashir Badr, we explore the different ways this idea takes shape. From the dignity of the gaze, to the quietness or thoughtful silence we sometimes mistake for grace, to the humility of staying grounded without making ourselves smaller, each poet offers a different way of looking at what it means to carry oneself with 'vaqaar'.
Along the way, we ask what dignity looks like beyond appearances, and whether the way we see others might tell...

From the chessboard of life to the conversation between a mountain and a squirrel, we explore bisaat, a word that speaks to capacity, capability, and our place in the world. But how do we measure our own abilities, and how often do we judge ourselves or others by the same standards? 

As part of our ongoing exploration of khudi, or our sense of self, this episode looks at what bisaat reveals about our strengths, our limitations, and the space we occupy in relation to others. Through the poetry of Jaun Elia and Allama Iqbal, we unpack the m...

What does mizaaj tell us about who we are? In this episode of Urdunama, we explore the Urdu word for temperament and disposition, and its connection to khudi, which is the idea of  the idea of selfhood popularised by Allama Iqbal. Through the poetry of Jaun Elia, Habib Jalib and Daagh Dehlvi, we reflect on how our natural tendencies shape us, how life experiences can change the way we express ourselves, and whether we can learn to respond to hardship with greater resilience. Because understanding who we are begins with understanding our own mizaaj. Tune in.

What does it mean to exist? Is wujood simply about being or does it also include the presence, influence and meaning that come with being?
In this episode of Urdunama, Fabeha Syed explores wujood (وجود) through poetry, unpacking the many ways poets have thought about existence. Sometines as presence, as rootedness, as freedom, and as the forces that shape the way we inhabit the world.
From Iqbal’s striking conversation between a tree and a desert bird to his idea of rising beyond the jazb-e-khaak, or the pull of the wordly desires, the episode looks at what it means...

Ahead of Bhagat Singh’s 119th birth anniversary, Urdunama explores a lesser-known aspect of the revolutionary’s intellectual life: his relationship with the Urdu language and literature.
In this episode, Fabeha Syed speaks to Professor Chaman Lal, former Professor and Chairperson of the Centre of Indian Languages at JNU and honorary advisor to the Bhagat Singh Archives & Resource Centre. A scholar and author of over 50 books, Lal has spent years researching Bhagat Singh’s writings, reading and intellectual legacy.
While Bhagat Singh did not write extensively in Urdu, the language was part of his early education and wider...

We all say we hate gossip, but somehow, someone else’s business is always a little too interesting. In this episode of Urdunama, Fabeha Syed takes a closer look at gheebat, meaning the art of talking about people behind their backs. From everyday gossip and the conversations that bring us closer to poetry by Firaq Gorakhpuri and Yagana Changezi, we explore why we love to talk about other people’s lives, what it does to our relationships, and where the line between venting and backbiting really lies. Tune in.

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What does it mean to tasleem something? More than simply accepting what is, tasleem can mean shades of acknowledgement, surrender, respect and making peace with what cannot be changed. In this episode of Urdunama, Fabeha Syed explores the word through the poetry of Ghalib, Hali, Javed Akhtar, Jigar Moradabadi and Hafeez Jalandhari, and discovers how acceptance can sometimes be its own form of courage.

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What does ghutan truly mean? Is it physical suffocation, an eerie silence, or the weight of deep loneliness? Or is it that heavy feeling of being trapped inside an overwhelming wave of emotion?

In this episode of Urdunama, Fabeha Syed breaks down the word through the poetry of legends like Kaifi Azmi and Gulzar, among others. She traces how ghutan evolves from a simple physical sensation to a complex emotional, social, and political struggle, and ultimately, a universal longing to breathe, speak, and laugh freely again.

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Firaq Gorakhpuri was born on 28 August 1896 as Raghupati Sahaay Firaq. On his birth anniversary, we return to a poet who changed how love could be written about in Urdu.

Firaq writes of ishq, but also of what accompanies it: desire, qurbat, longing, loneliness, memory and dard. What sets him apart is the attention he pays to these emotions. He doesn’t just describe them; he looks closely at what they do to us.

In this episode, we follow some of his best-known verses and his deeply personal nazm “Jugnu” to grasp a sense of Firaq’s world...

In Urdu poetry, “marz” does not always mean an illness. It can be the weight of guilt, a restless heart, someone else’s manipulation, or even the problems affecting an entire society. In this episode of Urdunama, we look at verses by Ameer Minai, Rahat Indori, Akbar Allahabadi and Hali to explore how each poet gives “marz” a different meaning, and how the idea of a cure changes with it.

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What does it mean to be khud-mukhtaar? In this Independence Day episode of Urdunama, Fabeha Syed looks at the Urdu word for being independent, self-governing and able to make your own choices. But khud-mukhtaari is not simply about doing what you want. It also means living with the consequences of your choices. Through the poetry of Allama Iqbal, Munawwar Rana, and others, this episode explores ideas of freedom, choice, selfhood and responsibility, and what it really means to have ikhtiyar over your own life.

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We usually think of gumraah as someone who has been led astray. But is that all the word means?

In this episode of Urdunama, we unpack the word, 'gum-raah', through the poetry of Khumar Barabankvi and Muneer Niazi among others.  Along the way, we discover that gumraahi isn't always about taking the wrong path. Sometimes it begins with trust. Sometimes with love. Sometimes with a destination that opens into countless new roads. And sometimes, what looks like losing your way turns out to be finding a completely different one.
Tune in to discover why one simple U...

Most of us hear the word 'gumshuda' and think of a missing person. Urdu poetry has other ideas.
In this episode of Urdunama, we explore how this simple word takes on many different meanings in poetry. Through these ashaar by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Ahmad Mushtaq, and others, 'gumshuda' becomes much more than someone who has disappeared. It can be a lost voice, an unfinished song, an incomplete project, a wandering mind, a forgotten childhood, or even a part of ourselves that slowly disappears with time. It can also be that elusive creative spark, or an idea that catches...

What does it really mean to be gumnaam?
Often translated as "anonymous" or "unknown," the Urdu word carries a much deeper meaning. In this episode of Urdunama, we explore how gumnaam is used in Urdu poetry to reflect on forgotten contributors, invisible lives, fame, love and the underlying tension between recognition and obscurity. Through verses by Nida Fazli, Qateel Shifai, Ahmed Faraz and Meena Kumari Naaz, the episode asks a timeless question: Is being unknown always a misfortune, or can anonymity sometimes be its own kind of freedom? Tune in

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We usually translate gum as "lost". But that's only half the story.
In Urdu, gum isn't always about something disappearing. Sometimes it's a misplaced key. Sometimes it's your peace of mind. Sometimes it's simply getting so lost in your thoughts that the rest of the world fades into the background.
This episode marks the beginning of a special Urdunama mini-series exploring a family of Urdu words that begin with gum. Over the next few episodes, we'll see how this one simple prefix gives rise to very different meanings, proving that a single word can open the door...

Guru Dutt's films continue to resonate decades after they were made, but what was the man behind the camera really like? In this episode of Urdunama, we explore the life, cinema, and legacy of Guru Dutt through the unique lens of Dastan-e-Guru Dutt. Joining us is India's first female Dastango, Fouzia Dastango, who brings this celebrated performance to audiences across the country.

 From the melancholy of Pyaasa and the loneliness of Kaagaz Ke Phool to Guru Dutt's collaborative spirit, his portrayal of women, and the enduring relevance of his work, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on one of...

Why do two equally qualified people end up with completely different careers? Why does one marriage survive while another falls apart? Why do some people seem to meet the right person at the right time, while others do everything "right" and still don't get the life they hoped for?
When we run out of explanations, we often reach for one word: naseeb
In this episode of Urdunama, Fabeha Syed explores one of Urdu's most layered words through the poetry of Nida Fazli, Ahmed Faraz and Sudarshan Faakir. More than fate or destiny, naseeb is the language of...

A salesperson can sell you a dream. Social media can sell you a lifestyle. Sometimes, your own heart sells you hope. That's fareb.

Often translated as deception, fareb isn't quite the same as dagha. A stranger can deceive you; only someone you trust can betray you. Through the poetry of Fana Nizami Kanpuri, Mirza Ghalib, Bahadur Shah Zafar and Momin Khan Momin, we explore false promises, self-deception and why the hardest illusions to let go of are often the ones we create ourselves. Tune in.

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Mumbai is halfway through June and still waiting for the monsoon. Every few days the forecast promises rain, and every few days the clouds seem to change their mind. So, it feels like an act of 'daghaa'
Often translated as betrayal, 'dagha' is more than just being deceived. It is the hurt that comes when trust is broken. Through the poetry of Shakeel Badayuni and Qateel Shifai, we explore friendship, loyalty, disappointment and the peculiar ways human beings let one another down. What makes betrayal hurt? Why does a friend's failure feel different from a stranger's? And can...

As another summer pushes temperatures to record highs, darja-e-haraarat , meaning 'degree of heat', has become part of our daily vocabulary. We hear it in weather reports, worry about it when a child feels warm, and increasingly experience it in a world shaped by climate change.
On this week's Urdunama, we explore the Urdu word haraarat. While it literally means heat or temperature, poetry gives the word a far richer and tender life. it can signify warmth, affection, vitality, conviction, and even the spark of resistance.
Through verses by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Muztar Khairabadi and Majaz Lakhnavi, Fabeha Sye...

World Environment Day may come around once a year, , but the questions it raises remain. As temperatures rise and green spaces shrink, the humble shajar feels less like a poetic image and more like a reminder of what sustains us.
On this week's Urdunama, we explore the Urdu word shajar, meaning tree. In poetry, a tree is never merely part of the landscape. It can offer shade to a weary traveller, bear the fruits of patience and perseverance, or remind us of the roots that anchor us to our origins.
Through verses by Bashir Badr, Javed Akhtar...

“Ujaale apni yaadon ke hamare saath rehne do,
na jaane kis gali mein zindagi ki shaam ho jaaye.”

With Bashir Badr sahab’s passing on May 28, Urdu poetry lost one of its warmest and most humane voices. In this episode of Urdunama, we remember the poet who made shayari feel intimate, conversational and deeply personal. From love and loneliness to loss, memory, riots and modern city life, Bashir sahib wrote about ordinary human emotions in a way generations instantly connected with.

Fabeha Syed revisits some of his most iconic ghazals and reflects on the quiet...

In Urdu, 'nadarad' means 'ghayab', when something is absent, has disappeared or is missing. Until you see how it’s used in poetry.
It’s usually not just about something being gone. It’s about something that should have been there but is not.  A person who didn’t show up. A message that never came. A moment that didn’t happen the way you thought it would, and has left you with an overwhleming need for closure. 
That’s why the word has many layers to it and poets like Momin Khan Momin and Mirza Ghalib have talked ab...

After a short vaqfa, Urdunama returns with an episode on the very idea of pause. What does a simple break or interval mean in the language of Urdu verse?
Through lines by Mir Taqi Mir, Ahmad Mushtaq, and Aziz Bano Darab Wafa, we explore how pauses, silences, and brief halts often carry as much meaning as the words themselves. In poetry, the space between two phrases can deepen emotion, shape rhythm, and allow a thought to breathe.
This episode looks at how poets turn a vaqfa into metaphor which sometimes becomes a moment of rest, sometimes looks...

In the vocabulary of Urdu poetry, sahra, meaning the desert, is far more than a barren landscape. It is a metaphor for the inner wilderness of the heart: solitude, longing, and the untamed intensity of love. In this episode, we wander through verses by Mirza Ghalib, Daagh Dehlvi, and Jaun Elia to explore how poets transform the desert into a space of vahshat, searching, and emotional vastness. Tune in.

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In Valentine’s month, we are drawn to a picture-perfect version of love that is warm, dazzling, and effortless. Yet real love asks for more than beauty. It calls for ikhlaas meaning pure intention to be sincere and have honest devotion that persists even when the glow fades. True love thrives in patience, understanding, and care, beyond grand gestures and fleeting romance.
In this episode, we draw wisdom from literary masters like Ahmad Faraz, Rahat Indori, and Jaun Elia, celebrating a sincerity that holds the courage to love, to be loved, and ultimately, to become love itself. Tune in...

Junoon is often translated as passion or madness, but in Urdu poetry it carries layered, sometimes conflicting meanings. For poets like Mirza Ghalib, junoon is dangerous if exposed or fully unpacked. It then becomes a force so raw that it can undo the self. 
If Ghalob's junoon is intense, self-aware, and often destructive, poets like Ahmad Faraz and Ameer Qazalbash later engage with the same intensity differently. Where Ghalib is wary of junoon’s excess, they explore what happens when that intensity is held with awareness and direction when madness becomes purposeful rather than consuming.
This episode tra...

In this episode, we sit with the Urdu word 'mehnat' which is usually translated as 'hard work', but carrying far more tiredness, repetition, and lived experience.
Moving between everyday life and Urdu poetry, the episode pushes back against the idea that hard work always guarantees success. From the comforting language of motivational culture to the kind of labour that happens quietly, without visibility or reward, 'mehnat' here is effort that continues even when energy runs low and outcomes remain uncertain.
At the centre of the episode is Kaifi Azmi’s nazm Makan, which speaks directly to inequality, to...

In Urdu poetry, dua is never just prayer but it is a reflection of how a poet relates to hope, faith, and control.
For Ghalib, dua is too uncertain. He chooses action over waiting, offering his entire self instead of trusting outcomes.
For Munawwar Rana, dua is absolute assurance, a mother's prayer that walks beside him like protection, unquestioned and complete.
And for Kaifi Azmi, dua becomes the final gift that a father offers when strength, means, and time have run out, leaving only blessing and trust in the child’s choice.
Three poets. One wo...

Reading Ghalib's 'Koi Umeed Bar Nahin Aati': Ego and Self Awareness Without ApologyDescription: Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan, known to the world as Mirza Ghalib, remains a towering figure in Urdu poetry for his rare ability to capture complex emotions with striking simplicity. In this episode, we step into Ghalib’s world through one of his most well-known ghazals, 'Koi Umeed Bar Nahin Aati.' The reading reveals a poet who is deeply human and full of flaws and contradictions, and yet remarkably alert to his own shortcomings.

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What is Falsafa? It’s the philosophy that pushes us to explore ideas with wisdom, and with a humility in which every certainty melts away.  We explore this week's theme, 'falsafa' through Iqbal’s 'Falsafa-e-Gham'. He shows that grief isn’t just pain but it’s the light inside the heart, the silent music and the rouge for the soul that beautifies it.  He goes on that loss and sorrow awaken us, polish the spirit, and reveal life’s deeper truths, depth and beauty we might otherwise miss. tune in.

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This week in UIrdunama, we explore poems that live inside our zehn, meaning our mind. But this internal world of the zehn keeps colliding with the one that belongs to the heart and its jazbātiyat (emotion driven clarity) that won’t be silenced. From Barelvi’s guiding light in confusion, to Jazib’s heart triumphing over intellect, to Javed  Akhtar’s inner world in flames where only one surviving corner remains, these ashaar show how thoughts and feelings collide, break, and endure in every human experience. Tune in. 

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In this week's Urdunama, we speak about 'Soch', meaning a personal lens through which we look at everything.
With the intensity of Mohsin Naqvi, the softness of Bashir Badr, the sharp pain of heartbreak from rejectioon in Parveen Shakir's ghazal, and the mature understanding of boundaries in intimacy in Ahmad Faraz's nazm 'bhali si ek shakl thi', Fabeha Syed unpacks how thoughts shape love, loss, and the stories we tell ourselves.
Because real life isn’t just about what happens to us, it’s about hum kis soch mein mubtala hain? (what kind of thinking are we caught...

In this week’s Urdunama, we remember Dharmendra not only as Bollywood's "Greek-God" hero but essentially as a man defined by two qualities - Pur-kashish (full of charm) and Shaista-mizaaj (gentle in nature). From humble beginnings in Punjab to a stunning, record 300 plus film-career, he was a man in love with Urdu zabaan.

Join us for a brief tribute to a star whose charm and grace remain unforgettable.

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Tasalli is a feeling of comfort, reassurance, and emotional support. It is what helps the heart feel calm when someone listens without judgment, shares your pain or simply lets you be with your emotions. Urdu poets like Aarzoo Lakhnavi write about tasalli as the space to process grief, letting tears flow and giving the heart time to settle. or, rather the lack of it when the poet is also expecting more than just words to pacify him. Jan Nisar Akhtar shows how tasalli can come from presence and intimacy, like a hand on the heart or words that make...

In poetry, “Sannata” isn’t just silence but the stillness where everything stops. It is the absence of sound, of presence, of movement, yet it carries a strange weight. Poets like Gulzar, Ameer Qazalbash, Abbas Tabish and Manmohan Shukla ‘Talkh’ have turned this silence into a living emotion. For Gulzar, sannata comes sneakily, filled with the fear of losing someone. Ameer Qazalbash writes of a silence that feels like the aftermath of a tragedy. Abbas Tabish’s interpretation of sannata shows emotional distance between two people, And in Talkh’s verse, sannata becomes deeply personal, its the kind that takes away the...

In Urdu, chain means comfort, meaning when the heart finally feels at ease. Bechaini is the opposite. It is the restlessness that keeps you awake, searching for something more, something else.
Poets like Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Shaikh Ibrahim Zauq, and Josh Malihabadi wrote from this space between calm and chaos. Maybe that’s what it is. Not choosing between comfort and restlessness, but learning to live with both and to let chain and bechaini speak to each other inside of us. Tune in as Fabeha Syed reads works of these masters among others. 

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Roshni, meaning 'light', in Urdu poetry is never alone. It gains meaning only when contrasted with darkness, whether that’s doubt, loneliness, or the moments that challenge our hearts. Poets show us that hope isn’t about perfection; it’s about courage, resilience, and the quiet moments when even a small glimmer can guide us.
From Shakeel Badayuni’s faith tested by doubt, to Bashir Badr’s morning breeze reminding us of small joys, and Waseem Barelvi’s light that moves and spreads wherever it can — roshni is alive and shared. In Urdu poetry, roshni is more than illumination...

In this episode, we explore Urdu word Ranj, sorrow, grief, and the small heartbreaks that shape our lives. From Sahir to Dagh, Shakeel, and Irfan, each poet has experienced, expressed, and understood Ranj in their own way. Sometimes it becomes empathy, sometimes resilience, and sometimes a quiet irony.
We unpack these layers through poetry and reflection, showing how Ranj is not just about pain but also about how we feel, endure, and even find meaning in it. Tune in.

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