The Mind Behind Ashu Mishra’s Heart-Touching Ghazals | Rekhta Room. Season 1 Episode 7

What happens when philosophy finds its way into a ghazal?In Episode 7 of Rekhta Room, poet Ashu Mishra sits down with Faisal Fehmi to talk about his unusual journey from computer science and a gold medal in philosophy to writing Urdu poetry.Ashu traces his love for literature back to his school years, discovering Premchand, Renu and Agyeya on his journalist uncle’s bookshelf. He began writing in Hindi before finding his way to the Urdu ghazal around 2016.The conversation moves naturally between poetry and philosophy, creativity and craft, social media and the temptation to write for views. Ashu also challenges the romantic idea of aamad, arguing that a sher is not simply a divine gift. It grows from everything a poet has read, experienced and quietly absorbed.There are conversations about Dostoevsky and Premchand, Shoojit Sircar and Vishal Bhardwaj, the importance of chanchalpan in poetry, and what makes the great poets unforgettable.And before the episode ends, Ashu Mishra does what he does best. He recites one of his own ghazals.Rekhta Room is an intimate podcast from Rekhta Foundation, bringing together poets, writers, artists and new voices for unhurried conversations about Urdu, creativity, life and the stories behind their work.