Special Episode on Mirza Ghalib

 Following is the link of  special Urdu Live episode on Mirza Ghalib

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWdjgE-ow68&t=1414s

Urdu Live (episode 25) : Ghalib Special, released on Dec 27, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWdjgE-ow68&t=1414s

Urdu Live (episode 24) : Best of Urdu Live 2020, released on Dec 20, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IefhhvxPehE&t=863s

Selected Ghazals in Urdu Live (Episode 23)

Selected ghazals of Momin Khan Momin, Moin Ahsan Jazbi, Qateel Shifai, Makhdoom Mohiuddin, Bashir Badr and Nida Fazli are the highlights of Urdu Live (episode 23).

Every Sunday new episode of  this programme on sher-o-shayeri and Urdu adab is uploaded. Click on the following link to see this episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0Zj8Bc43zw

Urdu Poetry & Nature

 

Nature is always an integral part of Urdu poetry. Based on this theme Urdu Live's episode 21 brings out some of the best poetry on nature by poets like Allama Iqbal, Akhtar Shirani, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Sahir Ludhainvi and Munir Niyazi etc. The episode also covers some of the old Bollywood songs which have lots of manzar-kashii.

This episode can be seen by clicking following link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccJ5Jaq6oes

Urdu Live ( episode 21) Urdu poetry & nature (Manzar-nigaari) #shayeri aur manzarkashi - YouTube

Urdu Live's episode 22 will be on modern Urdu poet Nasir Kazmi. 

Every Sunday new episode of  this programme on sher-o-Shayeri and Urdu adab is uploaded. All episodes of Urdu Live is available on this channel

Urdu Live's Special Episode on Children

Urdu Live's special episode on children is released . Every Sunday new episode of  this programme on sher-o-Shayeri and Urdu adab is uploaded. Click on the following link to see this episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RadBxDx2kRo&t=424s

Happy Diwali

 

The Most Googled Urdu Poet

Special episode on Jaun Eliya, the most googled Urdu poet. To know his story and poetry, click on the link given below :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-dG_cJ9-yU&t=13s

All previous episodes of Urdu Live is available on this channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmiwwItQbDAt1CmL8idOVbg?view_as=subscriber

Spl Urdu Live Episodes on Majaz & Sahir

There are special coverage on renowned Urdu poets Asrarul Haq Majaz (Majaz Lakhnavi) and Sahir Ludhianvi in Urdu Live's 18th & 17th episode. Urdu Live is a weekly programme on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri.

Below is the link of URDU LIVE channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmiwwItQbDAt1CmL8idOVbg?view_as=subscriber

All previous episodes are also available on this channel

Getting Noticed

 By RAZA ELAHI

Khud ko tu suu-e-aa.iina-vaar dekh

Rukhsaar pe aayii ye bahar dekh

In muskuraahaton ko baar baar dekh

Chupke se tujhe koi dekh rha hai

Apni aankhon main chaaya khumaar dekh

Jhuki mizhgaa.n main kajal ki dhal dekh

Zulfon ke pech-o-kham ko baar baar dekh

Chupke se tujhe koi dekh rha hai

Nai pairahan main jalva-gah-e-naaz dekh

Ye apne badle badle se andaaz dekh

Andaz-e-guftuguu main nashaat-e-kaar dekh

Chupke se tujhe koi dekh rha hai

Apne be-qraar dil se nyi mulaqaat dekh

Kisi se milne ke liye dil-e-pur-iztiraar dekh

Khud ko aa.iine main baar baar dekh

Chupke se tujhe koi dekh rha hai

suu-e-aa.iina-vaar = towards mirror;

pech-o-kHam = perplexity, difficulty

pairahan = dress, apparel

jalva-gah-e-naaz = pride of exhibition

nashaat-e-kaar = joyful excitement.

dil-e-pur-iztiraar = heart full of restlessness

>

Spl Urdu Live episode Faiz Ahmad Faiz

There is a special coverage on Faiz Ahmad Faiz in the16th episode of Urdu Live, a weekly programme on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri.

Below is the link of URDU LIVE channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmiwwItQbDAt1CmL8idOVbg?view_as=subscriber

All previous episodes are also available on this channel

Special Urdu Live episode on Amir Khusro

There is a special coverage on the father of Urdu literature Amir Khusro in the 15th episode of Urdu Live, a weekly programme on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri.

Khusro is also known as father of qawaali. To see this special episode on Amir khusro, please visit the Urdu Live channel

Below is the link of URDU LIVE channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmiwwItQbDAt1CmL8idOVbg?view_as=subscriber

All previous episodes are also available on this channel

(elahi.rUrdu literatut

#urdulive #iqbal #kalam-e-iqbal #allamaiqbal #rekhta #urdushayeri

Hope & Determination

 

Spl Urdu Live Episode on Allama Iqbal

In the 14th episode of Urdu Live, a weekly programme on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri, there is a special coverage on Dr Allama Iqbal (1877-1938).  

Below is the link of URDU LIVE channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmiwwItQbDAt1CmL8idOVbg?view_as=subscriber

All previous episodes are also available on this channel

(elahi.raza82@gmail.com)

#urdulive #iqbal #kalam-e-iqbal #allamaiqbal #rekhta #urdushayeri

Urdu Live (Episode 13) Released

In the 13th episode of Urdu Live, a weekly programme on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri, there is a special coverage on Pravin Shakir. 

Below is the link of URDU LIVE channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmiwwItQbDAt1CmL8idOVbg?view_as=subscriber

All previous episodes are also available on this channel

(elahi.raza82@gmail.com)

Spl Coverage on Mir in Urdu Live (episode 12)

In the 12th episode of Urdu Live, a weekly programme on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri, there is a special coverage on Mir Muhammad Taqi Mir (February 1723 – September 21, 1810), also known as Mir Taqi Mir -- an Urdu poet of the 18th century Mughal India, and one of the pioneers who gave shape to the Urdu language itself. 

Besides this special coverage, the episode includes beautiful recitation of ghazals.  Below is the link of URDU LIVE channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmiwwItQbDAt1CmL8idOVbg?view_as=subscriber

All previous episodes are also available on this channel

(elahi.raza82@gmail.com)

11th episode of Urdu Live Released

11th episode of Urdu Live has been released. Urdu Live is a weekly programme on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri. It covers both literary as well as entertainment aspects  of this language. This episode has a special coverage on humour as well as some beautiful ghazals and nazm.

Last episode covered a detail coverage on prominent Urdu magazines of India, including Beesvin Sadi, Hareem, Bano as well as prominent magazines of children.

There was also a special coverage on acclaimed Urdu magazines Shama, Bano & Khilona as well as on Dehlvi family who used to bring out these magazines in the 8th episode of Urdu Live.

Earlier episodes have covered ghazal ka safar, journey of Urdu language and poetry on rains as well as special coverage on renowned writer and poet Ibn-e-Safi and Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi .

There are also my presentation ghazals and nazms.  Urdu Live also provides young and upcoming poets and ghazal singers, a platform to showcase their talents.  Below is the link of URDU LIVE channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmiwwItQbDAt1CmL8idOVbg?view_as=subscriber

Arrow of Glance

Kamaan-e-husn ne hum ko jo hadaf banaya hai

Tiir-e-nigah usne meri jaanib chalaaya hai

                                                    (Hadaf = aim)

# RAZA ELAHI

 

Spl Coverage on Urdu Magazines in 10th episode of Urdu Live

10th episode of Urdu Live has been released. Urdu Live is a weekly programme on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri. It covers both literary as well as entertainment aspects  of this language.This episode covers a detail coverage on prominent Urdu magazines of India, including Beesvin Sadi, Hareem, Bano as well as prominent magazines of children.

There was also a special coverage on acclaimed Urdu magazines Shama, Bano & Khilona as well as on Dehlvi family who used to bring out these magazines in the 8th episode of Urdu Live.

Earlier episodes have covered ghazal ka safar, journey of Urdu language and poetry on rains as well as special coverage on renowned writer and poet Ibn-e-Safi and Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi .

There are also my presentation ghazals and nazms.  Urdu Live also provides young and upcoming poets and ghazal singers, a platform to showcase their talents.  Below is the link of URDU LIVE channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmiwwItQbDAt1CmL8idOVbg?view_as=subscriber

9th Episode of Urdu Live Released

9th episode of Urdu Live has been released. Urdu Live is a weekly programme on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri. It covers both literary as well as entertainment  aspects  of this language. 

There was a special coverage on acclaimed Urdu magazines Shama, Bano & Khilona as well as on Dehlvi family who used to bring out these magazines in the 8th episode.

Earlier episodes have covered ghazal ka safar, journey of Urdu language and poetry on rains as well as special coverage on renowned writer and poet Ibn-e-Safi and Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi .

There are also my presentation ghazals and nazms.  Urdu Live also provides young and upcoming poets and ghazal singers, a platform to showcase their talents.  Below is the link of URDU LIVE channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpPTzMohfyc&t=122s

8th Episode of Urdu Live Released; Spl Coverage on Shama, Bano magazaines

Urdu Live is a weekly programme on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri. It covers both literary as well as entertainment  aspects  of this language. 

There is a special coverage on acclaimed Urdu magazines Shama, Bano & Khilona as well as on Dehlvi family who used to bring out these magazines. There is also a ghazal recited by me and a nazm in voice of famous poetess Fahmida Riaz.

Earlier episodes have covered ghazal ka safar, journey of Urdu language and poetry on rains as well as special coverage on renowned writer and poet Ibn-e-Safi and Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi.

There are also my presentation ghazals and nazms.  Urdu Live also provides young and upcoming poets and ghazal singers, a platform to showcase their talents.  Below is the link of URDU LIVE channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmiwwItQbDAt1CmL8idOVbg?view_as=subscriber

Here is the reproduction of my write-up written in November 2019. This write-up is part of latest Urdu Live episode. Urdu Live is a weekly programme on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri. It covers both literary as well as entertainment aspects of this language. It discusses the journey of Urdu language etc.There are also my presentation ghazals and nazms. Urdu Live also provides young and upcoming poets and ghazal singers, a platform to showcase their talents. Below is the link of URDU LIVE channel. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrkZsOHyg5I&t=1096s

What You Need to Know About Urdu 

 

By Raza Elahi

Woh zabaan jo iss sarzameen se upaji 

Wahi zabaan apne vatan mein begaani ho gayee 

Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi)

At a time when Urdu has been gaining popularity in many western and European countries and is being taught in various universities in USA, UK, Japan and China etc., it is shocking to know that Punjab University in Chandigarh has mooted a proposal to club Urdu with foreign languages and disbanding its individual department. 

Though the decision is put on hold after it received flaks from all the quarters, yet it is enough to tell-a-tale of Urdu language in its own country where it is born and brought up. 

In 1969, when the then government decided to hold Ghalib’s centenary celebration, Sahir Ludhianvi sarcastically wrote: 

Jis ahd-e-siyaasat ne ye zinda zubaan kuchli 

Us ahd-e-siyaasat ko marhoom ka gham kyun hai? 

Ghalib jise kehte hain Urdu ka hi shaayar tha 

Urdu pe sitam dha kar Ghalib pe karam kyun hai 

 Today, a recap of history is required to make people understand that Urdu is not a foreign language but an Indian one like Hindi or Punjabi or any other Indian language. It is generally believed that Urdu originated around the late 18th century in Muslim army camps and cantonment bazaars; it means lashkar (army); and it is the language of the Muslims only. All these are not true. 

The fact is Urdu had been in existence for several centuries before and was the language of all the people of Delhi and its neighbourhood. The similar sounding Turkish word ‘ordu’, which means army, has nothing to do with the language Urdu. 

 The word ‘Urdu’ was primarily referred to the city of Shahjahanabad as Urdu-e-Mu’alla-e-Shahjahanabad (the exalted court/city of Shahjahanabad) and the language of the people in and around the city was referred as Zabaan-e-Urdu-e-Mu’alla-e-Shahjahanabad. Over the period of time Zabaan-e-Urdu-e-Mu’alla-e-Shahjahanabad became shortened as Zabaan-e-Urdu which later became Urdu (zabaan). And thus, the name Urdu came into the existence for the purpose of the language spoken in and around Shahjahanabad / Delhi. 

 According to renowned critic and author Shamsur Rahman Faruqi, Mir Taqi Mir, in his Nikat-ush Shu’ara (c. 1752) describes the poetry in rekhta as the poetry written in the language of the Urdu-e-Mu’alla (which means the city of Shahjahanabad). Faruqi also said, “None stopped to consider that the only foreign armies in India during and from the 1780s were British (and some French). There were no Arabic or Persian or Turkish speaking armies in India from the 1780, and the language of Urdu had by then been in existence for several centuries. Thus the name ‘Urdu’ which came into use apparently in 1780 could not have been given to the language because of the putative army connection.” 

 A product of Indo-Persian blend, Urdu has been in the past known by many names like zabaan-e-dehli, hindavi, dihlavi, zabaan-e-urdu, gujri, dakhani, hindi, hindostanee and rekhta etc. 

  During Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526) and Mughal Empire (1526 to 1857), the court language was Persian (and or on some instances Turkish) but the common man’s language was a mixed language known as zabaan-e-dehli (dihlavi) or hindavi. This language of the street, however, did not get any patronage from the rulers of Delhi. It evolved only through people to people contacts at battlefield, caravansarais, shrines of sufis, workshops and marketplaces. Besides words from braj, khari boli, saraiki, awadhi and other local dialects, this language also had Persian, Turkish and Pashto words.

In early 14th century Amir Khusro (1253–1325) began writing his poetry in this mixed language instead of his earlier expertise in Persian to connect more and more to common people. During the same period, Alauddin Khijli had spread the Delhi Sultanate to Gujarat. Khijli’s Turk commanders shifted with their staff and their families to Gujarat and zabaan-e-dehli or hindavi got intermixed with Gujrati and became Gujri or Gojri. 

 After Khijlis, Tughlaks ruled Delhi. The second of the Tughlak kings, Mohammad bin Tughlak moved his Capital and the entire population of the city in 1327 from Delhi to Deogri (Daulatabad). A few years later he shifted the Capital back to Delhi, but many Delhiwallas stayed back and their language began to mix with Marathi. Towards the end of 14th century, a well-known sufi saint Khawaja Banda Nawaz Gesu Daraz left Delhi for Daulatabad in the wake of constant attacks by Mongols on Delhi. He later settled in Gulburga (Karnataka) at invitation of the Bahmani Sultan Tajuddin. When Gesu Daraz was moving out of Delhi, a large number of his followers and their families accompanied him. Some stayed back in Daulatabad, giving another dose of zabaan-e-dehli or hindavi to the already existing language mixed with Marathi, while other moved with the saint to Gulbarga spreading it to the north Karnataka. 

 The zabaan-e-dehli’s journeys through Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka incorporated words from languages/dialects of these regions into it and over a period of times got transformed into a fully developed language known as dakhani. In 1518, the Bahmani kingdom broke up into five smaller sultanates of Bidar, Ahmadnagar, Berar, Bijapur and Golcanda and the latter two even started using dakhani as court language in place of Persian. All the major poetic forms – ghazal, masnavi, qaseeda and masnafi – evolved in dakhani in this region only. Some of the early exponents of ghazals were Quli Qutub Shah (1580-1611) and Wali Mohammad Wali (1667-1707). 

And when Wali visited Delhi in 1700, all the renowned poets of the city like Abru Shah Mubarak, Khan Arzoo and Zuhuruddin Hatim were writing in Persian at that time. Wali’s poetry in dakhani took the world of literature in Delhi by storm and soon all the master poets started trying their hand in this language. So, the language that had first set out in 1304 from Delhi returned to the city as an established language, which further got evolved and was later known as rekhta (meaning mixed). 

  After few decades of Wali’s visit to Delhi, Mirza Rafi Sauda (1713-1780) and Mir Taqi Mir (1722-1810) were prominent poets of rekhta. Ghalib had famously said: 

  Rekhte ke tum hi ustad nahii ho ‘Ghalib' 

 Kahte hain agle zamane main koi 'Mir' bhi tha 

 (‘Ghalib’, you're not the only master of rekhta They say there used to be a ‘Mir’ in the past). 

 The first use of word ‘Urdu’ (as a language) came from Ghulam Hamadani Mushafi around 1780 in some of his couplets: 

  Khuda rakkhe zabaan hum ne suni hai Mir-o-Mirza ki 

 Kahen kis munh se hum ai Mushafi Urdu hamari hai 

(May God preserve it, i have heard the speech of Mir and Mirza How can i truthfully, Oh Mushafi say that my language is Urdu?) 

  Albatta rekhta main hai Mushafi ko daava

 Yaani kai hai zabaandaan Urdu ki voh zabaan ka

(Mushafi claims expertise in rekhta And that means he is master of Urdu language, too) 

  Till mid-19th century Urdu language was also known as Hindi (don’t confuse with today’s Hindi written in Devnagri). In fact, Ghalib, who also wrote extensively in Persian, called his Urdu work as “Hindi.” 

 But Britishers, who used to call this language as hindostanee, sowed the seeds of separating it into two different languages in early 19th century. And thus, sanskritised hindostanee became Hindi and persianised hindostanee called Urdu. Though Urdu and Hindi became two languages, yet Urdu was never seen as a language of Muslims only in initial days of their separation.

 Renowned historian Irfan Habib said in a lecture that as per a survey done in 1879, “the circulation of Urdu newspapers were eight times than those of Hindi papers in India. Everyone... Hindu, Muslim or Punjabi were well-versed in Urdu. This proves the fact that religion had got nothing to do with it then.” Its “ganga-jumni,” multi-cultural ethos are well recorded with a galaxy of non-Muslims counted among both classical and modern poets, novelists and writers etc. 

 Furthermore, Urdu language gave the country some of the most popular slogans/songs of the independence movement during the freedom struggle like inquilab, zindabaad; sarfroshi ki tamanna aaj mere dil main hai....; sare jahan se achcha..... etc. It is really sad that many of us don’t know the vast and well-recorded history of this language. 

This pain is clearly reflected in this couplet of Rashid Banarsi: 

  Agar Urdu pe bhi ilzaam hai baahir se aane ka 

 To phir Hindostaan kis ka vatan hai hum nahin samjhe 

(If even Urdu is accused of coming from “outside,” 

 Then we cannot understand whose homeland India is) However, in the last 7-8 years, there is a notable surge of interest in Urdu poetry especially among non-Muslim youths. Whether it is a packed house in plays laced with Urdu dialogues and poetry like Mughal–e-Azam and Ghalib etc., or huge turnout in literary festivals and mushairas like Jashn-e-Rekhta, Jashn-e-Viraasat-e-Urdu, Jashn-e-Adab and Jashn-e-Bahar etc., or a cluster of shayari groups on social media, their enthusiasm towards this sweet language is a ray of hope in an otherwise gloomy scenario for the language.

 I conclude this write-up with a nazm on Urdu written by me: 

  Shahad shahad si shireen ye zabaa.n Urdu

 Khusboon se moattar ye zabaa.n Urdu 

 Suniye, aayie, farmaiye 

 Guft-o-shuniid ki hasiin ye zabaa.n Urdu

 Husn-o-ishq ki ruuh-o-ravaa.n 

 Shaiistagii ki hai pahchaan Urdu 

 Nigahoon se jab koi bolta hai 

 Samajh jao, aa gyi usse ye zabaa.n Urdu 

 Hindi ki hi to ye ik bahen hai 

 Phir kyun mitate ho nishaan-e-Urdu 

 Zamane se raha hai vajuud iska 

 Sambhal jao aye dushmanaa.n-e-Urdu 

 Shahad shahad si shireen ye zabaa.n Urdu 

 Khusboon se moataar ye zabaa.n Urdu ---------------------

(elahi.raza82@gmail.com) 

  The write-up was published earlier in Nov 2019

 http://razaelahi.blogspot.com/2019/11/what-you-need-to-know-about-urdu.html

6th Episode of Urdu Live Released

Urdu Live is a weekly programme on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri. It covers both literary as well as entertainment  aspects  of this language. This episode has ghazal ka safar. Earlier episodes have special coverage on renowned writer and poet Ibn-e-Safi and Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi, besides poetry on rains and the journey of Urdu language etc.There are also my presentation ghazals and nazms.  Urdu Live also provides young and upcoming poets and ghazal singers, a platform to showcase their talents.  Below is the link of URDU LIVE channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrkZsOHyg5I&t=1096s

5th Episode of Urdu Live Released

By Raza Elahi

The 5th episode of URDU LIVE, a programme based on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri, has been released today. In this episode, there is a special coverage on renowned writer and poet Ibn-e-Safi. Besides this, there is a presentation of my ghazal and nazm.

URDU LIVE, which is hosted by me, is produced with the intention of promoting Urdu language, especially among youths. It discusses works of prominent poets, novelists and writers etc., as well as provides young and upcoming poets and ghazal singers, a platform to showcase their talent.

Young poets and ghazal singers can send their videos at elahi.raza82@gmail.com or can whatsapp at 9870477658.

Below is the link of URDU LIVE (episode 5).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL3rVPAEzEo&t=109s

4th Episode of Urdu Live Released

By Raza Elahi

The fourth episode of URDU LIVE, a programme based on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri, has been released today. In this episode, there is a special coverage on renowned writer and humourist Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi. Besides this, there is a presentation on rain and poetry and beautiful nazms of two contributors.

URDU LIVE, which is hosted by me, is produced with the intention of promoting Urdu language, especially among youths. It discusses works of prominent poets, novelists and writers etc., as well as provides young and upcoming poets and ghazal singers, a platform to showcase their talent.

Young poets and ghazal singers can send their videos at elahi.raza82@gmail.com or can whatsapp at 9870477658.

Below is the link of URDU LIVE (episode 4).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxLzgC4lGjU

Rain Drops

Third Episode of URDU LIVE Released

By Raza Elahi

The third episode of URDU LIVE, a programme based on Urdu adab and sher-o-shayeri, has been released today. In this episode, there is a special coverage on a well-known Urdu writer of Bihar, Late Justice Shamim Ahsan Saifi sb. Bihar has produced several eminent Urdu writers like Sulaiman Nadvi, Manazir Ahsan Gilani, Abdul Qavi Desnavi, Paigham Afaqui, Jabir Husain, Sohail Azimabadi, Hussain Ul Haque, Dr. Shamim Hashimi, Wahab Ashrafi, Shafi Javed and Shamim Ahsan Saifi etc.

Justice Shamim Ahsan Saifi sb (1934-1994), an ex-Patna High Court judge, is also known for organising a widely-acclaimed mushaira in Muzaffarpur in 1982, which was attended by almost all the major poets of that time -- Majrooh Sultanpuri, Fahmida Riyaz, Moin Ahsan Jazbi, Khumar Barabankvi, Basheer Badr and Waseem Bareilvi etc.

URDU LIVE, which is hosted by me, is produced with the intention of promoting Urdu language, especially among youths. It discusses works of prominent poets, novelists and writers etc., as well as provides young and upcoming poets and ghazal singers, a platform to showcase their talent.

Young poets and ghazal singers can send their videos at elahi.raza82@gmail.com or can whatsapp at 9870477658.

Below is the link of URDU LIVE (episode 3).

https://youtu.be/_e9hafH6IaQ

URDU LIVE (episode 2) Released

By Raza Elahi

The second episode of URDU LIVE, a programme based on Urdu adab, has been released today. The programme, which is hosted by me, is produced with the intention of promoting Urdu language, especially among youths. Besides discussing works of prominent poets, URDU LIVE also provides young and upcoming poets and ghazal singers, a platform to showcase their talent. They can send their videos at elahi.raza82@gmail.com.

Below is the link of URDU LIVE (episode 2) as well as some pics/clips of the first episode of the programme.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf_lbI6qyvE&t=3s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOT5M3mJ068

A Pause!

Impression of Character

Chashm-e-Mai-Farosh

Daulat-e-Husn

By RAZA ELAHI

रुख़-ए-रौशन पे ये जो टीका लगा रखा है

गोया दौलत-ए-हुस्न पे पहरा लगा रखा है

उसकी अदाओं के तब-ओ-ताब का क्या कहना

जैसे रौज़न-ए-माह से एक नूर आ रखा है

ताबानी उसके पैरहन-आराई की ऐसी

मानो ज़मीन पे ही क़ौस-ए-क़ुज़ह छा रखा है

सुख़न-तराज़ियाँ भी उसकी इतनी दिल-आवेज़

जैसे मुतरिब ने नया कोई राग सजा रखा है

सताइश में उसके क्या क्या लिखोगे 'रज़ा'

वो हक़ीक़त है और तुमने ख़्वाब बना रखा है

rukh-e-raushan = bright face; tiika = a piece of jewellery tied on forehead; tab-o-taab = amazing; rauzan-e-maah = window of moon; taabaanii = brightness; pairahan-aaraa.ii = embellishing dress; qaus-e-quzah = rainbow; sukhan-taraaziyaa.n = styles of conversations; dil-aavez = attractive; mutrib = singer; sataa.ish = praise

It's All In The Eyes

Circle of Desires

Dream Girl

Lockdown Exercise

My ranking for this is as follows:

Actor: 1. Dilip Kumar 2. Amitabh Bachchan 3. Nasiruddin Shah 4. Sanjeev kumar /Amir Khan 5. Johny Walker

Actress: 1. Meena Kumari 2. Nargis 3. Shabana Aazmi 4. Rekha 5. Tabu

However, after receiving lists from various people (see the lists below) and taking their rankings in consideration it seems the final ranking is as follows:

Actor: 1. Dilip Kumar 2. Amitabh Bachchan 3. Aamir Khan 4. Nasiruddin Shah 5. Shahrukh Khan

Actress: 1. Meena Kumari 2. Nargis 3. Rekha 4. Waheeda Rahman 5. Madhubala/Madhuri Dixit

Some of the lists received:

Hina Shaista: 1. Dilip Kumar 2. Sanjeev kumar 3. Shahrukh khan 4. Amitabh Bachchan 5. Nasiruddin shah

Taiyaba Haq: Dilip Kumar, Dharmendra, Rajesh khanna, Aamir khaN, Shahrukh khaN

Syed Aijazuddin: Dilip Kumar, Sohrab Modi, Balraj Sahni, Ompuri, Naseeruddin Shah

Mohsin: Dilip Kumar, Amir Khan, Pran, Shahrukh khan, Amitabh Bachchan

Imran: Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachan,Sohrab Modi, Amir Khan , Nawazuddin sidiqui

Khaja Hashmi: Dileep Kumar, Balraj Sahni, Naseeruddin Shah, Irfaan Khan, Nawazuddin sidiqui

Shazi Shah: Amitabh Bachan, Naseeruddin Shah, Amir khan, Akshay kumar and Hrithik Roshan

Samin Chishti: Shahrukh khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachan, Ranbir Kapoor

Munnawar Shah: Amitabh Bachan, Rishi Kapoor, Amir Khan, Shahrukh khan, Ranbir Kapoor

Rushi Shah: Dileep Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Sunil Dutt, Dev Anand, Amitabh Bachan

Shireen: Dileep Kumar, Johny walker, Naseeruddin Shah, Amitabh Bachchan, Amir khan

Yasir Barevi: Dileep Kumar, Guru Dutt, Amir khan, Amitabh Bachan, Dev Anand

Afshan Jabeen: Dileep Kumar, Amitabh Bachan, Raj Kumar, Amir Khan , Shahrukh Khan

Qausain Hashmi: Shahrukh Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Manoj Bajpayee, Amir Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui

ACTRESS

Hina Shaista: 1. Nutan 2. Vyajenti mala 3. Madhubala 4. Nargis 5. Madhuri dixit and Meena Kumari

Taiyaba Haq: Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Rekha, Juhi chawla, Divya Bharti

Syed Aijazuddin: Devika Rani, Meena kumari, Nutan, Waheeda Rahman, Rekha/Deepika

Mohsin: Waheeda Rahman, Nargis,Kajol, Kareena, Vijayenti mala

Imran: Waheeda Rahman, Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, Meena Kumari, Madhubala

Khaja Hashmi: Meena Kumari, Nargis, Waheeda Rahman, Madhuri Dixit, Kajol

Shazi Shah: Rekha, Shabana Azmi, Madhuri Dixit, Priyanka Chopra and Kareena kapoor

Samin Chishti: Kajol, Deepika, Jaya bachchcan, SriDevi, Anushka Sharma

Munnawar Shah: Shabana Azmi, Madhuri Dixit, Kajol, Deepika, Alia bhatt

Rushi Shah: Nargis, Nutan, Madhubala, Sharmila tagore, Deepti Naval

Shireen: Nargis, Waheeda Rahman, Nutan, Shabana Azmi, Rekha

Afshan Jabeen: Nargis, Rekha, Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Deepika Padukone

Qausain Hashmi: Dia Mirza, Swara Bhaskar, Kareeena Kapoor, Richa Chadha, Nargis Fakhri

(elahi.raza82@gmail.com)

True Love

Lockdown Exercises: My Favourite Poets & Poetry

My Best World XI (since 1980) for Test, ODI and T20

Just to kill time during lockdown, I have selected my all-time (since 1980) World XI for Test, ODI and T20 matches.

Cut-off year is 1980 because probably from this time onwards, I have been following cricket. While selecting the teams, I have considered the peak performances of the players.

Shane Warne, Muttahiah Murlidharan and Saqlain Mushtaq are undoubtedly the best spinners of the last four decades and as per work-load-management, they have been included in Test, ODI and T20 teams respectively.

Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara are the only three players figuring in all the three teams. Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar are considered as openers for ODI & T20 matches.

Some good performers of the game of their time like Zaheer Abbass, Bret Lee, Ricky Ponting, Virender Shewag, James Anderson, de Villiers, Sangarkara, Rahul Dravid, Jeff Thompson, Ian Botham and Kapil Dev fail to make cut into my teams.

Further, no player from England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka has figured in any of the three teams.

Let’s have a look:

Gifts of God

Your Poet

Arrow of Glance

Dasht-e-Tanhaii

CORONA ALERT