Naraz [Angry]

Do Kadam Aur Sahi is an excellent compilation of selected poems by the renowned Urdu poet Rahat Indoori. The compiler, Sachin Chaudhary, has named the collection as ‘selected pearls of the ocean’. The magic that flows from the pen of Rahat Indauri gives a different feeling.

This book is about Sahir Ludhianvi, one of the greatest poets and lyricists of Hindi films. Sahir Ludhianvi, whose original name was Abdul Hayee, wrote poems that were different from his contemporaries who limited themselves to singing paeans on god, beauty, or wine. Instead, his poems were about other things: declining values of society, the meaninglessness of war and the subsummation of love by consumerism.

Dr. Bashir Badra is considered an poet of such stature, who has not only transcended into his readers' hearts and minds through the fame of his published couplets but also into the literary hall of fame of well-received poets. For his contribution to Urdu and Hindi literature, he was awarded the prestigious Padma Shree in 1995. Dr. Badra has been a part of many prestigious mushayraas world over. Dr. Badra's style of poetry resonates with the common man and demystifies the world of Urdu shayari while staying true to its essence. 

Kurukshetra is a Hindi classic. It gives an extraordinary account of the Kurukshetra war mentioned in the Mahabharata. It describes in vivid details the armed confrontation that took place between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. This bloody war lasted eighteen days. The author's own views on war are showcased in this work. He criticizes war but also admits that it is a necessary evil. It describes the demerits of war and the damage it does to mankind, through the medium of poetry.

Mirza Ghalib was an Urdu poet who is known for his unique and smooth style of writing. This book is a compilation of the events which happened throughout his life, along with few of the poems written by him. The poems in this book are an ideal listen for people who are fascinated by Urdu poetry but do not understand the nastaliq, the script in which Urdu is written.  

This book by Prakash Pandit reflects upon the life of an 18th-century Urdu poet named Meer Taqi Meer who lived in Mughal, India. Meer Taqi was one of the pioneers who gave shape to the Urdu language. A few of his important literary works are given in a separate section of the book. He was one of the principal poets of the Delhi school of Urdu ghazal, and most of his literature has been written under his nom de plume, Mir.

In this classic autobiography, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi recounts the story of his life, entwining memories of his childhood, marriage, experiences in South Africa and later with the freedom movement with his constant struggle to attain absolute truth and his quest to be one with God. Narrated in Gandhi's simplistic prose, Satya ke Saath Mere Prayog: Ek Atmakathaa is a glimpse into the life and mind of the man who would lead his country to freedom and be hailed as the greatest figure of the 20th century.

Ghalib is the greatest Urdu poet and one of the greatest in any Indian language. He would rank perhaps among the great poets of the world. With Meer Ghalib, Iqbal and Faiz, to name only four, the firmament of Urdu poetry is truly star studded, with numerous starlets strewn around. Ghalib has not only a pride of place among them; his stature is growing with every passing decade. In fact it is well nigh impossible to do full justice to his poetry, particularly the ghazal in translation. The best that could be done was to translate the verses into independent rhymed couplets.

अब वक्त आया है बैचेनी भरी आदतों को छो़डने का। इस पुस्तक को हाथ में लेकर कसम खाएँ कि ‘हम गलत आदतों को छोड़, अच्छी आदतों को अपनाएँगे।’ जो अब आसान है।

The story of Yayati is perhaps one of the most intriguing and fascinating episodes of Mahabharata. Yayati was a great scholar and one of the noblest rulers of olden times. He followed the shastras and was devoted to the welfare of his subjects. Even the king of gods, Indra, held him in high esteem. Married to seductively beautiful Devyani, in love with her maid Sharmishtha, and father of five sons from two women, Yayati unabashedly declared, 'My lust for pleasure is unsatisfied'. His quest for the carnal continued.

Dilli Darbaar is the story of a young, jovial techno-geek called Rahul Mishra and his journey from being a careless flirt to a responsible man. Rahul moves from a small town to Delhi for better future prospects, and this brings about changes in his life and lifestyle to which he must adapt. His mantra in life is 'there is always a shortcut to success' - which he ironically proves right through his own eccentric ways. Dilli Darbaar is also about Paridhi, a typical East Delhi girl, and her path, as well as Rahul's, to finding the meaning of love, trust, friendship and life.

Khair Chhodo is a niche collection of poems written by Vishwa Deepak. In this book, the poet has tried to include poems on various emotions like love, valor, revolution, family relations, etc. The metaphors and similes used in his poems are refreshingly new, and the abstract references used by him in some places enchant you. But the real treat for the listener will be the introduction of a relatively new genre called Triveni.

Buddha ke ye sutra hame jagne ke liye prerit karte hai. Ve kahte hai jo bhi soye-soye ji raha hai vah maut me ja raha hai aur jo jagkar ji raha hai vah amrit path par chalne laga. Bhitar jagte hi uska pata chalta hai jo mit hi nahi sakta.

First published in 1930, Kankal is among the only two completed novels by famous ‘Chhayavadi’ Hindi poet and playwright Jaishankar Prasad. Kankal is his exploration into the prevalent social issues of Indian society, as well as his critique of religious institutions, superstitions, and their role in the exploitation of women.  

Geetashree is one of the few authors who incorporates the local flavor and life references of both village life and a metropolis in her writings. This is not to say that she does not have her repertoire of dense lingo, traces of which can be seen in her writing as well. Litti-Choka and the anthology of 10 stories within it are a prime example of this.