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Urdunama

Urdunama

Written by: The Quint
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About this listen

 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!2024 The Quint Art
Episodes
  • The Beauty of the Pause: Understanding “Vaqfa” in Urdu Poetry

    The Beauty of the Pause: Understanding “Vaqfa” in Urdu Poetry
    Apr 1 2026
    After a short vaqfa, Urdunama returns with an episode on the very idea of pause. What does a simple break or interval mean in the language of Urdu verse?Through lines by Mir Taqi Mir, Ahmad Mushtaq, and Aziz Bano Darab Wafa, we explore how pauses, silences, and brief halts often carry as much meaning as the words themselves. In poetry, the space between two phrases can deepen emotion, shape rhythm, and allow a thought to breathe.This episode looks at how poets turn a vaqfa into metaphor which sometimes becomes a moment of rest, sometimes looks like a distance between longing and fulfilment, and sometimes it feels like the space where meaning emerges before the next line begins. Tune in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    13 mins
  • What 'Sahra' Means in Urdu Poetry: Desert and the Lover’s Wilderness

    What 'Sahra' Means in Urdu Poetry: Desert and the Lover’s Wilderness
    Mar 14 2026
    In the vocabulary of Urdu poetry, sahra, meaning the desert, is far more than a barren landscape. It is a metaphor for the inner wilderness of the heart: solitude, longing, and the untamed intensity of love. In this episode, we wander through verses by Mirza Ghalib, Daagh Dehlvi, and Jaun Elia to explore how poets transform the desert into a space of vahshat, searching, and emotional vastness. Tune in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    14 mins
  • Love With 'Ikhlas': Beyond the Valentine Glow | Urdunama Podcast

    Love With 'Ikhlas': Beyond the Valentine Glow | Urdunama Podcast
    Feb 14 2026
    In Valentine’s month, we are drawn to a picture-perfect version of love that is warm, dazzling, and effortless. Yet real love asks for more than beauty. It calls for ikhlaas meaning pure intention to be sincere and have honest devotion that persists even when the glow fades. True love thrives in patience, understanding, and care, beyond grand gestures and fleeting romance.In this episode, we draw wisdom from literary masters like Ahmad Faraz, Rahat Indori, and Jaun Elia, celebrating a sincerity that holds the courage to love, to be loved, and ultimately, to become love itself. Tune in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    11 mins
All stars
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Easy listening, flowed well between hindustani, urdu and hindi. always keeps the audience engaged.

Interesting definitely

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it's sweet and beautiful. Also a place to learn a few popular Urdu words. I have been listening to it since episode 1.

Love the content, and the delivery.

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Beautiful rendition of this beautiful language.
Fabiya nicely explains difficult words with modern context. The background music gels with the poetry. The selection of poetry is also very interesting.

Beautifully presented

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