Urdu is a hybrid language that is based on the spoken languages of Northern India with a generous overlay of Arabic and Persian words. ‘Urdu’ is a Turkish word, which means a camp. When Muslims from ...

Renowned literary figure Amjad Islam Amjad in a recent live session with Tajdar Zaidi of Qissa Khwaan fame discussed the schism in Urdu poetry following the partition of the Sub-Continent. According ...

There were several writers who grappled with these ideas in Urdu literature, however they were not formally conceptualised until Muhammad Hussain Azad, Altaf Hussain Hali and Shibli Nomani began to ...

Note: This story was originally published in October 2022 as part of Outlook issue 'Recasting Shiva'. It is being replugged on World Poetry Day 2023 as Outlook revisits the power of poetry in a world ...

Jaun Elia, the boy from Amroha who kept a piece of the city in his heart forever, is known for his rebellious spirit and the intense emotions that can be felt in his poetry. His life was marked by a ...

Dr. Abid Moiz, physician and scholar, argues that Urdu must move beyond poetry to embrace science and modern knowledge. His ...

If you were looking for a perfect conclusion to a picture-perfect evening of poetry, it was provided by Professor Waseem Barelvi, as promised by his presence among a galaxy of Urdu poets. A packed ...

“My love, I cannot tell the tale of all the things I want from you. A hundred longings fill my soul, a thousand yearnings throng my heart.” — Mir Taqi Mir Of late there has been a renewed interest in ...

Uski baaton mein mera dil aa gaya, Poet Minu Bakshi talks about her latest collection of poems, Barish-e-Rahmat. Ab toh woh taa-umr dhokha khayega... This couplet embedded in one of the poems embodies ...