Urdu Poetry and Poetics

Episode 10. Reflection: Jo Teri Bazm Se Nikla Poet: Mirza Ghalib by Faraz Ali bū-e gul nālah-e dil dūd-e chirāġh-e maḥfil jo tirī bazm se niklā so pareshāñ niklā ‎بوئے گل نالۂ دل دودِ چراغِ محفل ‎جو تری بزم سے نکلا سو پریشاں نکلا A few important points to note in the shi’r to explore at your own leisure. 1. The usage of poetic device ‘Husn-i ta’alil’. See definition below. 2. Three evocative examples engaging sight, smell, and sound. These are some observations we all witness and experience. 3. Melodic quality. Read the shi’r out loud to explore yourself. 4. The effect of meaning creation ‘Ma’ani Afirini’ generated with the possible implications of pareshani —— Husn-e Taʿlīl (elegance in assigning a cause) — 'taʿlīl means 'to establish a reason' or 'to express a reason. ḥusn-e taʿlīl is to give a fine and superior example of that action. If a reason is expressed for something such that even if it’s not real, it has in it some poetic richness and subtlety, and it has some affinity with reality and nature as well, then that is called ḥusn-e taʿlīl. Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc. Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms. You can engage with the project on instagram. Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content. www.zerzabarpaesh.com

Episode 09. Recitation: Ram, a nazm by Muhammad Iqbal Poet: Muhammad Iqbal Recitation by Faraz Ali Labrez hai sharāb-e-haqīqat se jām-e-hind
sab falsafī haiñ ḳhitta-e-maġhrib ke rām-e-hind ye hindiyoñ kī fikr-e-falak-ras kā hai asar
rif’at meñ āsmāñ se bhī ūñchā hai bām-e-hind is des meiñ hue haiñ hazāroñ malak-sarisht mashhūr jinke dam se hai duniyā meiñ nām-e-hind hai rām ke vajūd pe hindostāñ ko nāz
ahle-nazar samajhte haiñ is ko imām-e-hind ejaaz is charāġh-e-hidāyat kā hai yahī
raushan-tar-az-sahar hai zamāne meiñ shām-e-hind talvār kā dhanī thā shujāat meiñ fard thā
pākīzgī meiñ josh-e-mohabbat meiñ fard thā #urdu TRANSLATION: The attempt below is for assistance only and does not intend to capture the poetic excellence. The cup of Hind overflows with the wine of truth. Philosophers of the Western world are its devotees. The mysticism of her philosophers makes Hind’s star soar above all constellations. Thousands of angels have descended to proclaim Hind’s name before the world. And proud of his existence the discerning eye sees in Ram, a prophet. The glow from this lamp of wisdom makes Hind’s evening more radiant than the world’s daybreak. Valorous, brave, a master swordsman! In purity, in love, Ram, was unmatched #urdu Rām, the poem's subject, refers to the Lord Ramā, a Hindu deity and the protagonist of the Ramayana epic. He is a symbol of the triumph of truth over falsehood. Please read up about him yourself and save us the struggle of misrepresentation.  For Iqbal, Hindustan is a land of sages, seers, scholars and intellectuals; he appreciates the Hindustani mind's search for eternality, knowledge and wisdom. but Rām is also a Persian word which means subdued, tamed, submissive — one who is submissive or obedient. And is often used in idiomatic constructions.  i.e here are a few examples: 1. rām-karnā: to win over, tame, make loyal 2. rām-honā or ho-jānā: To be subdued 3. Nafs ko rām kernā -  Lord Ramā and his story are often referenced in idiomatic expressions like: * rām rām kerna: salute, greet, recite a holy name, seeking protection, to repent * rām-kahānī sunana: telling a really long story  Celebrating the syncretic tradition, Iqbāl not only uses Lord Rām as the subject of the poem, he also employs the Persian usage in the second line of the first shi'r.   ‘sab falsafī haiñ ḳhitta-e-maġhrib ke rām-e-hind’ What do you think the expression 'Rām-i Hind' implies here?  - Now look at the expression in the fourth shi'r praising Rām as Imām-i Hind.  hai rām ke vajūd pe hindostāñ ko nāz  ahle-nazar samajhte haiñ is ko imām-e-hind Urdu poetry is replete with references to Lord Ram and the episodes from The Ramayana. There are over 300 Ramayanas written in Urdu, many in Urdu verse known as manzum Ramayanas. 

Episode 08. Reflection: Challenges or Reading Iqbal Poet: Muhammad Iqbal by Faraz Ali Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc. Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms. You can engage with the project on instagram. Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content.

Episode 07. Excerpt: Dagh Dehlvi’s Story in ‘Kai Chand They Sar-i Asman’ by Shamsur Rahman Faruqi Poet: Dagh Dehlvi by Faraz Ali Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc. Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms. You can engage with the project on instagram. Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content. www.zerzabarpaesh.com

Episode 06. Story: Haider Ali Aatish in Lucknow Poet: Haider Ali Aatish by Faraz Ali Bāt meiñ farq na āney dījiye Jān jaati hai tau jāne dijiye Ān meiñ farq na āney dijiye Jān jati hai tau jāne dijiye بات میں فرق نہ آنے دیجۓ جان جاتی ہے تو جانے دیجۓ آن میں فرق نہ آنے دیجۓ جان جاتی ہے تو جانے دیجۓ Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc. Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms. You can engage with the project on instagram. Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content. www.zerzabarpaesh.com

Episode 05. Reflection: Temperament of Mirza Ghalib Poet: Mirza Ghalib by Faraz Ali zikr us parī-vash kā aur phir bayāñ apnā ban gayā raqīb āḳhir thā jo rāz-dāñ apnā ذکر اس پری وش کا اور پھر بیاں اپنا بن گیا رقیب آخر تھا جو رازداں اپنا Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc. Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms. You can engage with the project on instagram. Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content. www.zerzabarpaesh.com

Episode 04. Ghazal: Daim Pada Hua Poet: Mir Taqi Mir Recitation by Faraz Ali daa.im paḌā huā tire dar par nahīñ huuñ maiñ ḳhaak aisī zindagī pe ki patthar nahīñ huuñ maiñ kyuuñ gardish-e-mudām se ghabrā na jaa.e dil insān huuñ piyāla o sāġhar nahīñ huuñ maiñ yā-rab zamāna mujh ko miTātā hai kis liye lauh-e-jahāñ pe harf-e-mukarrar nahīñ huuñ maiñ had chāhiye sazā meñ uqūbat ke vāste āḳhir gunāhgār huuñ kāfar nahīñ huuñ maiñ kis vāste aziiz nahīñ jānte mujhe la.al o zamurrad o zar o gauhar nahīñ huuñ maiñ rakhte ho tum qadam mirī āñkhoñ se kyuuñ dareġh rutbe meñ mahr-o-māh se kam-tar nahīñ huuñ maiñ karte ho mujh ko man.a-e-qadam-bos kis liye kyā āsmān ke bhī barābar nahīñ huuñ maiñ 'ġhālib' vazīfa-ḳhvār ho do shaah ko duā vo din ga.e ki kahte the naukar nahīñ huuñ maiñ دائم پڑا ہوا ترے در پر نہیں ہوں میں خاک ایسی زندگی پہ کہ پتھر نہیں ہوں میں کیوں گردش مدام سے گھبرا نہ جاے دل انسان ہوں پیالہ و ساغر نہیں ہوں میں یارب زمانہ مجھ کو مٹاتا ہے کس لیے لوح جہاں پہ حرف مکرر نہیں ہوں میں حد چاہیے سزا میں عقوبت کے واسطے آخر گناہ گار ہوں کافر نہیں ہوں میں کس واسطے عزیز نہیں جانتے مجھے لعل و زمرد و زر و گوہر نہیں ہوں میں رکھتے ہو تم قدم مری آنکھوں سے کیوں دریغ رتبے میں مہر و ماہ سے کم تر نہیں ہوں میں کرتے ہو مجھ کو منع قدم بوس کس لیے کیا آسمان کے بھی برابر نہیں ہوں میں غالبؔ وظیفہ خوار ہو دو شاہ کو دعا وہ دن گئے کہ کہتے تھے نوکر نہیں ہوں میں Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc. Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms. You can engage with the project on instagram. Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content. www.zerzabarpaesh.com

Episode 03. Reflection: Veil of Dust Poet: Mir Taqi Mir by Faraz Ali مت سہل ہمیں جانو پھرتا ہے فلک برسوں تب خاک کے پردے سے انسان نکلتے ہیں mat sahl hameñ jaano phirtā hai falak barsoñ tab ḳhaak ke parde se insān nikalte haiñ Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc. Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms. You can engage with the project on instagram. Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content. www.zerzabarpaesh.com

A Ghazal by Mir Taqi Mir Recitation by Faraz Ali kartā nahīñ qusūr hamāre halāk meñ yā-rab ye āsmān bhī mil jaa.e ḳhaak meñ garmī nahīñ hai ham se vo ai rashk-e-āftāb ab aa gayā hai farq bahut us tapāk meñ is Dhang se hilā ki bajā dil nahīñ rahe us gosh ke guhar se dam aa.e haiñ naak meñ ab ke junūñ meñ fāsla shāyad na kuchh rahe dāman ke chaak aur garebāñ ke chaak meñ kahiye latāfat us tan-e-nāzuk kī 'mīr' kyā shāyad ye lutf hogā kisū jān-e-pāk meñ ‎کرتا نہیں قصور ہمارے ہلاک میں ‎یا رب یہ آسمان بھی مل جائے خاک میں ‎گرمی نہیں ہے ہم سے وہ اے رشک آفتاب ‎اب آ گیا ہے فرق بہت اس تپاک میں ‎اس ڈھنگ سے ہلا کہ بجا دل نہیں رہے ‎اس گوش کے گہر سے دم آئے ہیں ناک میں ‎اب کے جنوں میں فاصلہ شاید نہ کچھ رہے ‎دامن کے چاک اور گریباں کے چاک میں ‎کہیے لطافت اس تن نازک کی میرؔ کیا ‎شاید یہ لطف ہوگا کسو جان پاک میں

Zer Zabar Paesh is a platform for the study of Urdu poetic tradition by Faraz Ali. It aims to make this tradition accessible to people with a genuine interest in classical and contemporary Urdu verse and its vast apparatus—including approaches to deep reading, poetics, canon and history, criticism and scholarship, etc. It is an attempt to bring “the tāq-i nisyān” طاقِ نِسْیاں (niche of forgetfulness) into relief and cultivate the faculty of imagination تخيّل(takhayyul). This episode explains the five aspects of the project. - Muntakhab vasāʾil - Zer-i ghawr - Farogh-i zawq - ʿUlamāʾ-yi adab - Lutf-i ishārāt It is an attempt by Faraz Ali to bring “the tāq-i nisyān” طاقِ نِسْیاں (niche of forgetfulness) into relief and cultivate the faculty of imagination تخيّل(takhayyul). Faraz Ali is an award-winning experiential designer and performing artist practicing in physical, digital, and poetic realms. You can engage with the project on instagram. Instagram.com/zer_zabar_paesh Or explore the mobile version of the official website to get access to curated content. www.zerzabarpaesh.com