The Urdu Ghazal Podcast

Send us a textSahir Ludhianvi (1921-1980), born Abdul Hayee in Ludhiana, was one of the most influential Urdu poets and lyricists of the 20th century. Born into an affluent family, Sahir's childhood was marked by his parents' troubled marriage and eventual separation. These early experiences of emotional turmoil profoundly influenced his poetry, infusing it with themes of pain, disillusionment, and social critique. He studied at Government College, Ludhiana, but left without completing his degree, moving to Lahore, where he began his literary career.         Sahir emerged as a prominent voice in progressive Urdu poetry during the 1940s. His first collection, "Talkhiyaan"(1945), established him as a bold new voice. After the Partition in 1947, he moved to Pakistan but quickly returned to India, settling in Mumbai, where he became one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated lyricists.         His major works include poetry collections, such as "Talkhiyaan," as well as "Parchhaiyan" and "Ao Ke Koi Khwab Bunein." Sahir's influence extended beyond literature into popular culture, making profound social commentary accessible to millions. He remains one of Urdu's most quoted poets, remembered for wedding artistic excellence with unwavering social commitment.         My book Sahir: A Literary Portrait was published by Oxford University Press in 2019. The Hindi version was published the following year by Vani Publications. The extended Urdu edition, beautifully translated by Stuti Agrawal, was published last year with great acclaim.

Send us a textKaifi Azmi, born Syed Athar Husain Rizvi in 1919 in Mizwaan village near Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh), was one of the most influential Urdu poets of the 20th century. He showed literary promise from an early age, penning his first ghazal at the age of eleven. Deeply moved by social injustice, he became associated with the Progressive Writers’ Movement (Taraqqi Pasand Tahreek) in the 1940s—a collective of writers who sought to use literature as a vehicle for social reform, equality, and resistance against colonial and feudal oppression.Kaifi’s political convictions led him to join the Communist Party of India, and he devoted his life to blending poetry with activism. He married Shaukat Kaifi, a noted stage and film actress, and their home in Bombay (now Mumbai) became a gathering place for artists, poets, and thinkers. His daughter, Shabana Azmi, is a celebrated actress who has carried forward his legacy of art with conscience.Kaifi Azmi received numerous honors, including the Padma Shri and the Sahitya Akademi Award, but his truest legacy lies in his moral voice. His poetry collections include Jhankar, Aakhir-e-Shab, and Awara Sajde. He remained committed to secularism, communal harmony, and social justice throughout his life, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire poets and activists alike. Kaifi’s life demonstrated that poetry could be both aesthetically refined and socially transformative. In the landscape of Urdu literature, he stands as a bridge—connecting the romantic tradition of Ghalib and Faiz with the socially conscious modernism that continues to influence poets today.

Send us a textAli Sardar Jafri (1913-2000) was one of the most prominent Urdu poets of the 20th century, born in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh. Coming from an aristocratic family, he was educated at Sultan-ul-Madaris in Lucknow and later studied at Aligarh Muslim University. He became deeply involved in the Progressive Writers' Movement during the 1930s and remained committed to leftist ideals throughout his life, joining the Communist Party of India. Jafri's poetry combined romantic lyricism with social consciousness, making him a unique voice in modern Urdu literature. He moved to Pakistan briefly after Partition but returned to India, settling in Mumbai, where he also worked in the film industry as a lyricist. His notable collections include Parvaan, Ek Khwaab Aur, and Mera Safar, which showcase both his romantic sensibility and political engagement.

Send us a textMajrooh Sultanpuri (1919-2000) was one of Urdu literature's most celebrated poets and a prominent lyricist in Hindi cinema. Born as Asrar ul Hassan Khan in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, he adopted the pen name ‘Majrooh’ (meaning ‘wounded’), which reflected the melancholic undertones often found in his work. He began his literary career as a progressive poet, deeply influenced by the Progressive Writers' Movement in Urdu literature. His early poetry dealt with themes of social justice, love, and human suffering, earning him recognition in literary circles. He was particularly known for his ghazals and nazms that captured the essence of human emotions with remarkable sensitivity. In the 1940s, Majrooh transitioned to writing lyrics for Bollywood films, where he achieved tremendous success. He collaborated with legendary music directors like Naushad, S.D. Burman and R.D. Burman created memorable songs. His film songs retained the literary quality of his poetry while appealing to mass audiences. Majrooh wrote lyrics for over 300 films during his career and received several awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist multiple times. Beyond cinema, he remained committed to Urdu poetry throughout his life, publishing several collections of his work. He passed away in 2000, leaving behind a rich legacy that bridged classical Urdu literature and popular culture.

Send us a textParveen Shakir (1952-1994) was one of the most celebrated Urdu poets, known for her distinctive feminist voice and innovative approach to ghazal poetry. Born in Karachi, she earned a Master's degree in English Literature and later worked as a civil servant in the Pakistani government. Shakir published her first poetry collection, "Khushbu" (Fragrance), in 1976, which immediately established her as a significant literary voice. Her subsequent collections included "Sad-barg" (1980), "Khud Kalami" (1990), and "Maah-e-Tamaam" (1994). Her poetry was groundbreaking for its frank exploration of women's emotions, desires, and experiences in a predominantly male literary tradition. Her work earned numerous awards, including the Pride of Performance, Pakistan's highest literary honor, posthumously in 1999. Tragically, she died in a car accident in 1994 at the age of 42, cutting short a brilliant career. Today, she is remembered as a pioneering voice who transformed Urdu poetry by bringing authentic feminine expression to classical forms, inspiring generations of poets and readers across South Asia.

Send us a textJan Nisar Akhtar (1914-1976) was a distinguished Urdu poet, lyricist, and writer who left an indelible mark on modern Urdu literature and Indian cinema. Born in Gwalior, he came from a literary family and developed his poetic sensibilities at an early age.Akhtar was known for his progressive ideals and was associated with the Progressive Writers' Movement. His poetry reflected a social consciousness, humanism, and a profound concern for the struggles of ordinary people. He wrote extensively in various forms, including nazms (free verse poems) and ghazals, with themes ranging from love and romance to social justice and political awareness.In addition to his literary work, Jan Nisar Akhtar made significant contributions to Indian cinema as a lyricist and screenwriter. He penned memorable songs for numerous Bollywood films, bringing poetic elegance to popular cinema. His film lyrics retained the literary quality of his poetry while appealing to a mass audience. His works include several poetry collections, and his writings continue to be celebrated for their lyrical beauty, social relevance, and artistic merit.He passed away in 1976, leaving behind a rich corpus of work that continues to inspire readers and writers in the Urdu literary world.

Send us a textAhmad Faraz (1931-2008) gained prominence for his passionate ghazals and progressive poetry. His distinctive style blended classical Urdu poetry traditions with contemporary themes. What he wrote was characterized by romantic intensity, social consciousness, and political resistance. His verse focuses on love, loss, and human dignity, while also addressing issues of social justice and political oppression. Some of his most famous poetry collections include Tanha Tanha and Dard-e-Ashob. His ghazal Ranjish Hi Sahi became particularly iconic and was popularized through Mehdi Hassan's rendition.During General Zia-ul-Haq's military regime, Faraz faced persecution for his progressive views and spent several years in self-imposed exile in London, Canada, and Europe. His resistance poetry during this period earned him great respect among both intellectuals and the general public.Faraz received numerous awards, including the Pride of Performance (1989) and Hilal-e-Imtiaz (2004). He passed away in Islamabad in 2008, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to influence Urdu literature. His poetry remains widely read and recited, particularly his verses on love and social justice, which resonate across generations.

Send us a textFaiz Ahmad Faiz (1911-1984) was one of the most celebrated and most loved Urdu poets of the last century. Faiz began his literary career in the 1930s and became associated with the Progressive Writers' Movement, which sought to use literature as a tool for social reform. His poetry masterfully combined classical Urdu literary traditions with revolutionary themes, addressing issues of social justice and political oppression. He served in the British Indian Army during World War II, and then worked as a journalist and editor for various publications. After independence, his leftist politics brought him into conflict with the military government. He was imprisoned from 1951 to 1955 on charges of conspiracy against the state, during which time he wrote some of his most powerful poetry. Faiz spent years in exile during the 1960s and 1970s, living in Lebanon, Moscow, and London. He received numerous honors, including the Lenin Peace Prize in 1962. His verses, particularly "Hum Dekhenge" (We Shall See), became anthems of resistance across South Asia. Faiz's work transcended political boundaries, earning him recognition as a poet who gave voice to the oppressed while maintaining the highest artistic standards. He died in Lahore in 1984, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire poets and activists worldwide.Surinder Deol published an authoritative commentary on Faiz’s life and his work titled FAIZ: From Passionate Love to a Cosmic Vision with a Foreword by Professor Gopi Chand Narang (Rupa Publishers, 2021). The book is available from Amazon and other online book sellers.

Send us a textRaghupati Sahay, known by his pen name Firaq Gorakhpuri (1896-1982), was one of the most celebrated Urdu poets of the 20th century. Born in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, he bridged cultural and religious divides through his literary work. Firaq was not only a poet but also a distinguished academic and critic. He served as a professor of English literature at Allahabad University for many years and was deeply influenced by both Eastern and Western literary traditions. His academic background in English literature brought a unique perspective to his Urdu poetry.He received numerous honors during his lifetime, including the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1960 and the Jnanpith Award in 1969, making him one of the few Urdu poets to receive this highest literary honor in India. Firaq continued writing until he died in 1982, leaving behind a rich legacy of ghazals, nazms, and rubaiyaat.Surinder Deol’s book about Firaq’s poetic contributions and his life will be published by RUPA later this year.

Send us a textAsghar Hussain, known by his pen name Asghar Gondvi, was born in 1884 in Gorakhpur. Despite formally studying only up to the 8th class, Asghar achieved mastery of Urdu, Persian, and Arabic through self-study, and also gained proficiency in English. He was under the spiritual influence of Sayed Abdul Ghani Kazmi, a religious saint and mystic, and led a life of piety and self-control. Asghar worked in various occupations - he traded optical items, worked in the railway engineering department, and later worked at the India Press in Allahabad. He was associated with the Urdu magazine ‘Hindustani’ as an editor for many years, working under Tej Bahadur Sapru's Hindustani Press. He became a close associate of the famous poet Jigar Moradabadi, who guided him in his poetry. Jigar was married to a sister of Asghar's wife. His poetry collections include ‘Nishat-e-Rooh’ (Bliss of the Soul) and ‘Surood-e-Zindagi’ (Song of Life). Asghar Gondvi died in 1936 due to a paralytic stroke. While his work is relatively small compared to that of classical poets, the quality and spiritual depth of his poetry make it superior in its own right. His poetry continues to be celebrated for its mystical content, philosophical depth, and the unique way he expressed spiritual love through the traditional imagery of romantic Urdu poetry.