19/06/2023
URDU BAGH
EP 01: Urdu Poets Khaleel ur Rehman Azmi & Kamal Siddiqi: Huma & Sumaiya Share Memories of Their Family
I’m pleased to launch a new podcast, URDU BAGH (اُردُو بَاغ - उर्दू बाग़), a series of anecdotal history, celebrating the life and work of Urdu’s literary giants, mainly through the memories of their family members, friends, historians and activists.
Huma Khalil and Sumaiya Kamal Siddiqui are in conversation with me. Both of them are first cousins, and daughters of eminent Urdu poets, Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi and Kamal Ahmed Siddiqi, respectively. Another Urdu legend, Shahryar, is also their family. They share their memories and anecdotes associated with their families.
Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi:
تری صدا کا ہے صدیوں سے انتظار مجھے
مرے لہو کے سمندر ذرا پکار مجھے
तिरी सदा का है सदियों से इंतिज़ार मुझे
मिरे लहू के समुंदर ज़रा पुकार मुझे
tirii sadaa kaa hai sadiyo.n se intizaar mujhe�mire lahuu ke samundar zaraa pukaar mujhe
Huma’s father, Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi (1927 – 1978) of Aligarh fame is considered one of the founders of new nazm in Urdu. Scholar, Critic, Academic and poet, Azmi is widely respected for initiating a new trail in Urdu criticism with his books which are prescribed all over the world in various universities and colleges as a part of the Urdu syllabus. He is known to have taught Urdu to the legendary Urdu scholar, Prof Ralph Russel of SOAS, London.
Khalil-ur-Rehman Azmi’s books include Kaghzi Pairahan, Naya Ahad Nama, Nai Nazm Ka Safar, Fikr-o-Fan, Zawiay-e-Nigah, Mazameen-e-Nau, Muqaddama-e-Kalam-e-Aatish, Taraqqi Pasand Tahreek, Urdu Mein Taraqqi Pasand Adabi Tahreek and Zindagi Ai Zindagi.
Kamal Ahmed Siddiqui:
کچھ لوگ جو خاموش ہیں یہ سوچ رہے ہیں
سچ بولیں گے جب سچ کے ذرا دام بڑھیں گے
कुछ लोग जो ख़ामोश हैं ये सोच रहे हैं
सच बोलेंगे जब सच के ज़रा दाम बढ़ेंगे
kuchh log jo ḳhāmosh haiñ ye soch rahe haiñ
sach boleñge jab sach ke zarā daam baḌheñge
Sumaiya’s father Kamal Ahmed Siddiqi (1926- 2013) was a poet, broadcaster, writer, scholar and a painter who spent most of his working life at All India Radio in Srinagar, Kashmir as a programmer.
A Phd from JNU on Ghalib, Kamal Ahmed Siddiqui is known to have interviewed and recorded a large number of legendary Urdu poets of his time such as Jigar Moradabadi, Josh Malihabadi and Firaq Gorakhpuri for All India Radio and Doordarshan. He cherished his friendship with Urdu stalwarts such as Majaz, Mira Ji, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ali Sardar Jafri, Ale Ahmad Suroor, Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi, Ehtesham Hussain, Akhtarul Iman and Showkat Siddiqui.
He authored several books including Baadbaan, Jawahraat, Kohsar Gaate Hain, Intekhab, Bayaz e Ghalib: Tahqeeqi Jayaza, Urooz aur Ahang, Urooz Marooz, Kashmir Ek Manzarnama, Ghalib Ki Shanakht & Muqadma e Zaban e Urdu.
SHAHRYAR:
سیاہ رات نہیں لیتی نام ڈھلنے کا
یہی تو وقت ہے سورج ترے نکلنے کا
सियाह रात नहीं लेती नाम ढलने का
यही तो वक़्त है सूरज तिरे निकलने का
siyaah raat nahii.n letii naam Dhalne kaa�yahii to vaqt hai suuraj tire nikalne kaa
Akhlaq Mohammad Khan ‘Shahryar’ (1936 – 2012) was an academic, poet and lyricist who went on to receive the prestigious literary awards in India, Sahitya Akademi and Jnanpith, for his collection of poems, Khwab Ka Dar Band Hai.
He became a household name as a film lyricist for writing songs in films such as Gaman, Umrao Jaan and Anjuman. Shahryar published his first poetry collection ‘Ism-e-azam’ in 1965, followed by other collections ‘Satvan Dar’, ‘Hijr Ke Mausam’ and 'Khwab Ka Dar Band Hai'.
Urdu Bagh is a podcast series produced by Pervaiz Alam and Achala Sharma for Cine Ink, a hub of podcasts, based in London.Presented and produced by Pervaiz Alam for London-based, Cine Ink, a hub of podcasts in Hindi and Urdu languages, the series ‘Urdu Bagh’ is available on all major podcast networks.
Please click the following links to listen to Urdu Bagh:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVxqfuFoRIE&t=879s
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/urdu-bagh/id1692939966?i=1000617277900
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/78WIMXOCNt9Mcuy77pwCGk?si=dWrXefeWQT6JdWVmTmr8mQ
