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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
  • Dua as Faith, Action and Inheritance: Reading Ghalib, Munawwar Rana and Kaifi Azmi

    Dua as Faith, Action and Inheritance: Reading Ghalib, Munawwar Rana and Kaifi Azmi
    Jan 4 2026
    In Urdu poetry, dua is never just prayer but it is a reflection of how a poet relates to hope, faith, and control.For Ghalib, dua is too uncertain. He chooses action over waiting, offering his entire self instead of trusting outcomes.For Munawwar Rana, dua is absolute assurance, a mother's prayer that walks beside him like protection, unquestioned and complete.And for Kaifi Azmi, dua becomes the final gift that a father offers when strength, means, and time have run out, leaving only blessing and trust in the child’s choice.Three poets. One word.And three very different ways of believing in what prayer can do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    14 mins
  • Reading Ghalib's 'Koi Umeed Bar Nahin Aati': Ego and Self Awareness Without Apology

    Reading Ghalib's 'Koi Umeed Bar Nahin Aati': Ego and Self Awareness Without Apology
    Dec 27 2025
    Reading Ghalib's 'Koi Umeed Bar Nahin Aati': Ego and Self Awareness Without ApologyDescription: Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan, known to the world as Mirza Ghalib, remains a towering figure in Urdu poetry for his rare ability to capture complex emotions with striking simplicity. In this episode, we step into Ghalib’s world through one of his most well-known ghazals, 'Koi Umeed Bar Nahin Aati.' The reading reveals a poet who is deeply human and full of flaws and contradictions, and yet remarkably alert to his own shortcomings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    16 mins
  • Falsafa in Life: Understanding Iqbal’s Philosophy of Grief

    Falsafa in Life: Understanding Iqbal’s Philosophy of Grief
    Dec 20 2025
    What is Falsafa? It’s the philosophy that pushes us to explore ideas with wisdom, and with a humility in which every certainty melts away. We explore this week's theme, 'falsafa' through Iqbal’s 'Falsafa-e-Gham'. He shows that grief isn’t just pain but it’s the light inside the heart, the silent music and the rouge for the soul that beautifies it. He goes on that loss and sorrow awaken us, polish the spirit, and reveal life’s deeper truths, depth and beauty we might otherwise miss. tune in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    18 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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