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Bollywood songs turn us all into Grammy award-winning bathroom singers! But wait, do you know the meaning of every word you sing? Especially the ones in Urdu? On Urdunama, our host Fabeha Syed takes one word at a time and breaks it down for you.
Be it the protest poetry of Faiz, or Sameer's 90s nostalgia, we have it all. If you like Urdu and poetry, this podcast is for you!
Be it the protest poetry of Faiz, or Sameer's 90s nostalgia, we have it all. If you like Urdu and poetry, this podcast is for you!
237 Episodes
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In this episode of Urdunama, Fabeha Syed explores the word Fursat, those rare moments of time when you can pause, breathe, and just be. What does it mean in Urdu poetry? We look at the ashaar of Ghalib, Faiz, and Sahir, tracing how each poet reflects on these small luxuries: the freedom to imagine, the quiet spaces that let life breathe, and the way even fleeting moments can feel enormous. From daydreaming about the beloved to feeling the weight of solitude and the world’s relentless pace, fursat becomes more than just leisure, it’s a window into the soul. Tune in.
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This week on Urdunama, we talk about manzar, a word that means a view, a scene, a spectacle. In Urdu poetry, though, it’s more than just scenery; it’s like a theatre of the mind where words create pictures and feelings at the same time. With the verses of Gulzar, Nida Fazli, and Bashir Badr, we look at how one simple manzar can open up entire worlds of silence, dreams, and reflection.
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For centuries, Urdu has been part of a shared cultural space, shaped by people from diverse communities and traditions. Yet this fact is often forgotten or pushed aside. That’s why the new anthology Whose Urdu Is It Anyway? feels so important.
Edited and translated into English by writer, literary historian, and translator Dr. Rakhshanda Jalil, the book brings together 16 Urdu short stories written by non-Muslim writers. The collection features powerful voices such as Krishan Chander, Rajinder Singh Bedi, Kanhaiya Lal Kapoor, and Gulzar, among others. Together, their stories challenge the stereotype that Urdu belongs to a single identity, reminding us instead that it has always been a language of many, reflecting universal themes of love, loss, displacement, and belonging.
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1Shiddat means intensity, the force of feeling when emotion refuses to stay small. It is love that burns without pause, grief that floods without mercy, joy that shakes the soul to its core. Shiddat is the storm within us, the fire in every longing, the ache in every absence. It does not whisper; it roars. In Urdu poetry, shiddat is the heartbeat of passion and pain alike, where words become flames, and silence carries weight.
In this episode of Urdunama, we step into the world of shiddat through the verses of poets who captured the fiercest shades of the human heart.
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Khaak means dust, humble, weightless, and ever-returning to the earth. It is where all journeys end and where every beginning quietly stirs. Khaak carries the memory of everything it has touched, walls once standing, feet once wandering, lives once lived. In Urdu poetry, khaak becomes a reminder of impermanence, of the fragility of glory, and of the beauty in humility. It speaks of both finality and renewal, of endings that feed beginnings.
In this episode of Urdunama, we walk with khaak through the verses of poets who have found in it life’s deepest truths.
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Zakhm means wound, but in poetry, it is more than just pain. It is memory stitched into skin, heartbreak carried in silence, and love that once cut deep. A zakhm can be raw or hidden, healing or haunting. In Urdu verse, it becomes a canvas, where sorrow turns into metaphor, and suffering into something almost beautiful. Zakhm isn’t just what breaks us; it’s what shapes us.
In this episode of Urdunama, we explore the many meanings of zakhm through the verses of poets who transformed pain into poetry. Join us as we reflect on how wounds, seen and unseen, leave marks that often speak louder than words.
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Hassaas means sensitive, a word that lives in the pauses, in the glances that linger a little longer, in the hearts that feel too much, too deeply. To be hassaas is to notice what others miss, to carry invisible weight, to be moved by the slightest shift in the air. It is a gift of awareness, but also a quiet ache—a constant hum beneath the noise of the world. In Urdu poetry, hassaas becomes the soul of expression, where pain, love, and truth are felt in their purest forms.
In this episode of Urdunama, we explore the delicate world of hassaas through verses that honour vulnerability, emotional intensity, and the quiet power of those who feel deeply. Join us as we reflect on sensitivity, not as fragility, but as a different kind of strength.
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Beyhis means numb—an absence of feeling that grows not from peace, but from exhaustion. It is the quiet void after too much pain, the stillness that follows when even sorrow becomes heavy to carry. Beyhis is not indifference; it is the body and soul’s final defense, a silence that shields, a pause that protects. In Urdu poetry, it becomes a haunting space—where once there was fire, now only cold remains.
In this episode of Urdunama, we explore the layered meaning of beyhis through verses that reflect emotional withdrawal, inner fatigue, and the ache of feeling too much, for too long. Join us as we uncover the poetry in numbness—and the quiet truths it tries to hide.
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Malaal means regret, a soft ache that lives in silence, in the pause between what was and what could’ve been. It is not always loud or visible, but it lingers in missed chances, in unsent letters, in goodbyes that never found their words. Malaal doesn’t ask to be resolved; it asks to be remembered. In Urdu poetry, it becomes the quiet thread that ties together loss, longing, and lessons not yet learned.
In this episode of Urdunama, we sit with malaal, not to escape it, but to understand it. Through verses soaked in memory and emotion, we explore how poets have turned regret into reflection and sorrow into something beautifully human.
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Yaqeen means belief, an unshaken trust, a light that holds steady even in the darkest hour. It is the quiet strength behind every decision, the invisible thread that pulls us forward when everything else falters. Yaqeen doesn’t always roar; sometimes, it’s a whisper that refuses to fade. In poetry, it becomes a force, of faith, of love, of conviction, that anchors the soul in a world of doubt.
In this episode of Urdunama, we explore the depth of yaqeen through verses that speak of courage, clarity, and quiet confidence. Join us as we trace how poets have held on to belief, not as blind certainty, but as a powerful act of hope.
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Saaneha means tragedy, a moment that splits time into before and after. It arrives uninvited, heavy and abrupt, leaving behind silence louder than words. A saaneha isn’t just an event, it’s an emotional landscape, marked by loss, disbelief, and the slow rebuilding that follows. In Urdu poetry, saaneha becomes a language of grief, but also of resilience, how pain is remembered, carried, and sometimes, turned into verse.
In this episode of Urdunama, we dwell on saaneha through the eyes of poets who have captured sorrow with grace. Join us as we explore how poetry gives shape to what feels unspeakable, and how even tragedy can hold the faint outline of beauty.
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Mutma’een means content, an inner stillness that cannot be shaken, a quiet trust in the rhythm of things. It is not the absence of longing, but the soft presence of peace amidst it. To be mutma’een is to rest in the heart’s own knowing, to breathe without needing answers, and to carry calm like a companion. In a world built on urgency, mutma’een arrives like dusk—unhurried, whole, and luminous.
In this episode of Urdunama, we sit with the word mutma’een, tracing how poets have expressed calm, surrender, and soulful contentment in their verses. Join us as we explore how poetry teaches us to be still, even when the world won’t.
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Chashma means spring—a quiet source where life begins, hidden beneath the surface until it chooses to rise. It is not loud like a storm, but steady like hope. In Urdu poetry, chashma becomes a symbol of purity, emotional release, and quiet resilience. It is the moment the heart overflows, the tear before it falls, the breath before a beginning. A chashma doesn’t just quench—it reveals. It reminds us that from the deepest stillness, something sacred can flow.
In this episode of Urdunama, we trace the gentle path of chashma through verses that speak of renewal, longing, and the beauty of emergence. Join us as we explore how poetry captures the grace of what quietly begins, yet never truly ends.
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Nagpur Police have filed sedition charges against Pushpa Sathidar — wife of late Ambedkarite activist and actor Vira Sathidar, and two unnamed individuals for the recital of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poem Hum Dekhenge at Vira’s annual memorial on 13 May. But what is it about this poem that repeatedly stirs controversy? What history shaped its creation, and why does it still resonate and rattle - decades later? In this episode of Urdunama, The Quint’s Fabeha Syed unpacks the verses of Hum Dekhenge and explores the enduring power of Faiz’s words.
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Dariya means river—a vast, flowing force that carries more than just water. It carries time, memory, silence, and song. A dariya can be gentle or wild, still or storming, but it always moves forward—like longing, like grief, like life itself. In Urdu poetry, dariya becomes a metaphor for emotions too deep for words, for generosity without end, and for the quiet strength it takes to keep flowing, no matter the weight it bears.
In this episode of Urdunama, we wade through the poetic depths of Dariya, exploring how poets have turned rivers into mirrors of the soul. Join us as we trace its current through verses that speak of love, loss, vastness, and the beauty of surrender.
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Aab means water, but in Urdu, it means so much more. It is life in motion, purity that flows, the quiet resilience of a stream shaping stone. Aab is not just liquid, it is legacy. It reflects the sky, carries the weight of time, and remembers every path it has carved. In poetry, aab becomes a symbol of honour, emotion, and endless movement, of tears unshed and rivers unspoken. It quenches not just thirst, but longing.
In this episode of Urdunama, we follow the currents of aab through the verses of poets who’ve seen water as witness, healer, and metaphor. Join us as we explore how something so fluid holds the deepest truths.
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Amn means peace—a soft hush after the storm, a breath that finally lands, a silence that doesn’t weigh heavy but heals. It is the stillness between heartbeats, the warmth in a world often too cold. Amn doesn’t demand attention; it settles gently, quietly shifting the shape of things. It is both a personal refuge and a collective longing—a space where conflict ceases and compassion begins. In a world carved by noise and unrest, amn becomes the poetry of presence, of healing, of hope.
In this episode of Urdunama, we trace the essence of amn through the verses of poets who’ve written about peace—not just as absence of war, but as presence of understanding, softness, and unity. Join us as we listen closely to the language of calm, and the dreams it dares to hold.
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Saraab means mirage—a vision shimmering in the distance, beautiful but unreachable. It is the illusion that pulls us forward, even when the heart knows it may vanish. Saraab is the hope we chase in the heat of longing, the dream dressed as truth, the promise that disappears when held too tightly. Yet within every saraab lies a story—of desire, of pursuit, of learning to let go. It teaches us that not everything we see is meant to be found, and not every journey leads where we thought it would.
In this episode of Urdunama, we take you on a journey of revival through the words of poets and their timeless verses, exploring how poetry breathes new life into emotions, memories, and dreams.
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Khayal means thought—a fleeting whisper of the mind, soft as mist, yet powerful enough to stir oceans within. It is where memory meets imagination, where reality bends gently into reverie. Khayal doesn’t follow rules; it flows, drifts, pauses, and returns when you least expect it. It is the beginning of poetry, the seed of longing, the silence between words. In khayal, we find not just what we think—but who we are when we dare to feel.
In this episode of Urdunama, we take you on a journey of revival through the words of poets and their timeless verses, exploring how poetry breathes new life into emotions, memories, and dreams.
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Vahm means illusion, a flicker of doubt that blurs the line between what is and what we imagine. It is the shadow that dances just outside certainty, the echo of a thought that may never be real—but feels all too true. Vahm doesn’t arrive with answers; it tiptoes in with questions, unsettling and soft. It weaves stories out of silence, painting fears where there may be none. Yet within vahm lies the delicate beauty of perception—the way we see, feel, and sometimes misread the world.
In this episode of Urdunama, we take you on a journey of revival through the words of poets and their timeless verses, exploring how poetry breathes new life into emotions, memories, and dreams.
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بہت اعلیٰ! آپ نے بہت خوبصورت تشریح کی ہے ۔
love from Pakistan. madam judayi pa bana lo.
Need a better singer, haha
Amazing podcast!
Amazing podcast 👍
Lovely background music at the start. Source?
Love your voice.. ❤️
loving this podcast. remembering the old late night radio talks. keep up the good work
Y'all be speaking in English when the title says Urdu. I'm here to learn the language by listening and so on tho the host speaks somewhat Urdu (sometimes she too switches to English suddenly and you be like wth!?) but most other people sticks to English for whatever reason smh!
You have a great voice, diction and command over the language. Bless your heart.
I really appreciate. I love urdu literature and enjoy listening to this professional podcast.
Lots of love from punjab. my favorite podcast. big respect 🌻🌻🌻
fabiha your podcast is good as always, please keep it as a source of light during these dark times!
Buhat khub..
koi na koi khushi muqtasar hi sahi,, par hoti zaroor hai. I kno its not a part of a couplet,, but i like this line 👌👌
yaad e maazi azaab hai ya rab,, cheen le mujhse Haafiza mera waah,
my favourite episode, so beautifully explained and expressed. definitely going to use some words to express to my loved ones
What a beautiful podcast !! Wish it was much much longer
What an absolute gem this podcast is. I'm so glad you are making this, and that I discovered it :)
hi fabeha, i would like to tell that you got such a beautiful voice. its so soothing so melodious... cannot appreciate more. i will maybe find some sher or shayari on your voice which can express the feeling more accurately. also, can you please make a podcast on "whats the difference between sher and shayari?" or maybe just comment here thank you. may your voice survive for ages.