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Tuesday, August 12, 2025
TopicUrdu Literature

Topic: Urdu Literature

When Mirza Ghalib was told to his face that his verse was meaningless

In 'The Essential Ghalib’, Anisur Rahman presents an exemplary selection of Mirza Ghalib’s Urdu couplets, translated in English along with critical commentaries.

This is how an Urdu weekly ‘punched’ Sir Syed’s Muslim reformist movement

While Sir Syed’s advocacy for realism and scientific thinking drew attacks such as being labelled a ‘satan’ and ‘a leader of thieves,’ Altaf Hussain Hali’s poetry, which promoted reason and advised moving away from artificial metaphors, was largely deemed un-Islamic.

A Moradabad-born hakim’s love for Sherlock Holmes and English gave birth to Urdu crime fiction

In 'Urdu Crime Fiction 1890–1950’, author CM Naim writes how Urdu readers in India were introduced to the adventurous tales of Sherlock Holmes by Muhammad Muhsin Faruqi.

Urdu literature has ignored Dalit Muslims. Pasmandas must own the language

Ashraaf Muslims never truly included Pasmandas in Urdu literature. It's still the language of the elite.

Imtiaz Ali Taj gave Urdu literature Anarkali, Chacha Chakkan. But the world forgot him

It was Imtiaz Ali Taj’s 1931 play that helped K. Asif create magic with Mughal-e-Azam in 1960.

On Camera

Caged parrot or fearless eagle? India should give the Shastri formula a try

While the CBI has built its reputation as a premier crime investigation agency by cracking high profile cases, many other cases have remained unresolved or resulted in acquittals.

How mining, manufacturing & power sectors weighed on India’s industrial output since January 2024

India’s industrial output growth saw a 10-month low in June, with Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growing by mere 1.5% as against 1.9% in May 2025.

Can’t restrict ‘extent of induction’—why SC struck down gender quotas in Army’s JAG recruitment

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ruled that the Indian Army cannot cap the number of women in its Judge Advocate General (JAG) branch...

Modi’s ready to risk it all for farmers. Farm reform can answer Trump with new Green Revolution

Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.