Remembering
Mir Taqi Mir: A presentation by Hilal Fareed
In 2006,
the 283rd birth anniversary of one of the greatest of
Urdu poets, Mir Taqi Mir was celebrated at London’s Nehru centre.
Born in Agra in 1723, Mir was orphaned at the age of ten. He went
through immense emotional and financial hardships in his life. In
his loneliness, Mir seems to have fallen for an ‘Imaginary
beloved’ in whose love he profusely wrote poetry. This was also
the time when Delhi suffered from the plundering raids by Nadir Shah
and Ahmad Shah Abdali. The painful destruction of Delhi forced Mir
to migrate to Lucknow under the patronage of Nawab Asif-ud Daula.
Mir died in Lucknow in 1810. Dr Hilal Fareed, the Vice President,
Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association, made this poetic
presentation on ‘Khuda-e-Sukhan’ or the greatest master of
language, Mir Taqi Mir.
A
Tribute to Bollywood's finest poet Sahir
Ludhianvi
Raza Ali
Abidi
Sahir Ludhianvi
In this extraordinary tribute to
Bollywood's finest poet, Sahir Luahianvi (1921-1980), the veteran
BBC journalist Raza Ali Abidi argues that Sahir created some of the
finest imagery of romance, patriotism, philosophy and devotion
to god for many Bollywood films. His anti-establishment poetry gave
voice to the weak and suppressed. He was at his best, says Abidi,
when it came to expressing the feelings of a woman, her dedication
to and rejection by her lover. In a programme organised by the
London based multi-faith organisation Roshani for Harmony, Abidi,
one of the finest broadcasters of Urdu language, presents this talk
in his inimitable style.
A
rare interview and recitation of Faiz Ahmed Faiz
NRIfm presents a rare tribute to one of
Urdu's greatest poets Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The programme was produced by
BBC TV's veteran journalist, now late Krishan Gould as a tribute to
Faiz soon after his death in November 1984. It includes excerpts of
a rare interview with Faiz in which the poet sheds light on some of
the unknown aspects of his life. It also includes a recitation of
what was the last Mushaira of Faiz.
Nehru Center in association with Indian
Muslim Federation, UK organised a remarkable tribute to the freedom
fighter, Congress leader and India's first education minister,
Maulana Azad. What came out so vividly was his unshaken faith in
India's inherent cultural unity and his deep commitment to secular
values. Yet he was a great and enlightened scholar of Islam and a
wonderful Urdu writer.
Maulana's
speech on dangers to Indian freedom
Nrifm.com presents an inspiring speech of Maulana Azad delivered on 2 October 1947, in which Maulana
talks about challenges before the newly independent India. He
appeals to the people of India to preserve peace and communal
harmony.
During
the thirties while fighting with Mahatma Gandhi against the
British Raj Maulana Azad spent many years in British jails.
And there he wrote imaginary letters to his friends that could
never be posted due to jail restrictions. Later these letters
were published in a collection, 'Ghubar-e-Khatir'. They are
classed as 'the finest pieces of Urdu prose'. Hindi poet Divya
Mathur reads one of Maulana's letters. To
listen in
click
here (Urdu)
To
listen in
